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#3 Check on your Systray for an icon related to any 3rd-party sound modules. If you have been using the wrong socket (easily done) when you plug them into the correct socket, self-powered speakers turned up full, can be destroyed in microseconds. #2 Check with the speakers again, plugging them into another socket PREFERABLY with the speakers volume turned down.
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The speaker and microphone sockets DO tend to be sited right next to each other! If the sound is low on the headphones a] something else is causing the reduced volume or b] you've been plugging your speakers into the microphone socket. If the sound is loud on the headphones - the speakers are naff. #1 Try using a pair of headphones, plugged in where the speaker feed would be.
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