HP Vectra VE 5/series 2 - Manual (Page 81)

The Volume is Too Low
The computer has two output jacks, Stereo Out on the rear of the computer and a headphones
jack on the front panel, which provide the same output signal. This is a low-distortion output
that cannot drive (without amplification) low-impedance devices such as speakers. If you plug
devices with a low-impedance (less than 32 ohms) into the Stereo Out jack or the headphones
jack, the volume will be low.
Audio Input from the Microphone is Too Low, or No Audio At All
Check that the microphone specifications meet the requirements of the 16-bit sound
components. The microphone should be a 600-ohm dynamic type.
Humming Noise
If the power grounding of your audio components is inadequate, a humming noise may be
generated. This may happen if your PC is connected to a hi-fi system. Plug all devices into
adjacent power outlets (outlets within 5 cm / 2 inches of each other), or use line filters.
Occasional Crackles When Playing Back Sounds
These crackles are usually the result of your PC being unable to transfer audio samples within
the required time. A solution is to use a lower sampling rate. Recording and playing back at 22
kHz is less demanding upon system resources than recording audio at 44 kHz.
The PC Hangs While Recording
Uncompressed digital audio can eventually fill your hard disk. For example, one minute of
stereo sound recorded at a resolution of 44 kHz will occupy about 10.5 MB. Before recording,
check that there is enough free space on your hard disk.
Data compression can reduce the space required. The A-law and m-law hardware compression
used by the audio interface enables the sampling of sound at a resolution of 16-bits, but it
generates the same quantity of data as an 8-bit sample.
MS-DOS Games Give “Not enough memory” Errors
Many games require a large amount of base memory and may not execute if many drivers or
TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) programs are installed. You may solve this problem by
loading device drivers and TSRs into high memory. Refer to your MS-DOS manual for details
of how to do this.
IF THE CD-ROM DRIVE HAS A PROBLEM
Check that the software is correctly installed and the system correctly configured before
removing your computer’s cover to check the CD-ROM cable connections and jumper settings.
No Sound from the CD-ROM Drive
If you are having problems with sound when playing a CD:
• Check that the volume control (if present) on the CD-ROM drive front panel is not set to
the minimum.