Audio Crackling Windows 7

Your laptop would have have a Realtek audio driver pre-installed. Assuming that driver is still installed, switch to the Windows native audio driver to test the speakers. Open the Device Manager (type devmgmt.msc in the Windows search box). Expand the 'Sound, video & game controllers' and right click on 'Realtek High Definition Audio'. Select to 'Update Driver Software'.

I have been going bat-shit insane trying to figure out WHY my speakers are hissing/crackling. I have found the solution!:confused: Jeez, I feel like an audio weeny:). I discovered that when a software update from Windows 7 had not been installed, I would receive the annoying hissing sound.

Click on 'Browse my computer for driver software'. Click 'Let me pick from a list of drivers on my computer'. Put a check in the box 'Show compatible hardware' if not already checked. In the list of devices, click 'High Definition Audio' (the native driver). Click 'Next'. On the Update Driver Warning box, click 'Yes' (install the driver).

Restart the laptop if prompted. If not prompted, then no need to restart. [To get back to the Realtek driver, do it again but reverse the names in steps 1 and 6.] If the speakers crackle even with the native driver then it could well be hardware failure. Contact tech support to have it repaired. Your laptop would have have a Realtek audio driver pre-installed.

Assuming that driver is still installed, switch to the Windows native audio driver to test the speakers. Open the Device Manager (type devmgmt.msc in the Windows search box). Expand the 'Sound, video & game controllers' and right click on 'Realtek High Definition Audio'. Select to 'Update Driver Software'. Black Mesa Crash Fix.

Click on 'Browse my computer for driver software'. Click 'Let me pick from a list of drivers on my computer'. Put a check in the box 'Show compatible hardware' if not already checked. In the list of devices, click 'High Definition Audio' (the native driver).

Click 'Next'. On the Update Driver Warning box, click 'Yes' (install the driver). Restart the laptop if prompted. If not prompted, then no need to restart.

[To get back to the Realtek driver, do it again but reverse the names in steps 1 and 6.] If the speakers crackle even with the native driver then it could well be hardware failure. Contact tech support to have it repaired. Dear Jimco, From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

I will never see you in person, and you are likely thousands of miles away from me as I write this message. You are a human being, with your own interesting life, and stories, values and experiences. But I will never know you for the person that you truly are. And that's okay. Not all relationships are meant to last a lifetime.

But in this fleeting moment, you are in my thoughts, Jimco, because you kick ***. You, a complete stranger, has helped me, a complete stranger, without asking for reward or recognition. You dont seek fame, nor do you seek power. But you make the world a better place. I have spent DAYS trying to figure out how to resolve the issue with my crackling speakers. I was convinced it was due to some sort of signal interference, and it was beyond frustrating and irritating.

It lit me on fire to hear crackling during my music. It ate away at my very soul. But, Jimco, after following your advice, you have changed my life.

I uninstalled that silly Realtek driver, and I am a new, happier man, who will now listen to music in peace, and focus my attention on bigger problems facing this earth. In helping me Jimco, you have made the world a better place, and me, a better man. I thank you once again. Stay true, stay proud my friend. God bless you Jimco.

Since I posted the instructions 2 years ago in this thread, I have received comments from others about the same problem you are having. The problems seem to occur only with Windows 10. Here is an amended set of instructions that might or not work for you. Note that you might have to do step 7 differently from the original instructions, and the name of the native driver might show as 'Intel' High Definition. Open the Device Manager (find it in the Control Panel, or type devmgmt.msc into the search box). Expand the 'Sound, video & game controllers' and right click on 'Realtek High Definition Audio'. Select to 'Update Driver Software'.

Click on 'Browse my computer for driver software'. Click 'Let me pick from a list of drivers on my computer'. Put a check in the box 'Show compatible hardware' if not already checked [but SEE NOTE]. In the list of devices, click 'High Definition Audio' (the native driver). Click 'Next'. On the Update Driver Warning box, click 'Yes' (install the driver). Restart the laptop if prompted.

If not prompted, sometimes you have to restart, sometimes not. [To get back to the Realtek driver, do it again but reverse the names in steps 2 and 7.] NOTE: if you have a 2-in-1 model and do not see a 'High Definition Audio' option after step 6, then uncheck 'Show compatible hardware'. Then in step 7, if you see 2 'High Definition Audio' devices, select the 2nd one. On some models the native driver is called Intel High Definition Audio.