Computer Science 101

I could use some help.
I have speakers hooked up to my desktop (HP) and they are switched on and plugged in but I get no sound out of them. Any suggestions?
Can I increase the sound out of the speakers on the monitor?
Today is the first day of using Google Chrome so I'm feeling my way and trying to see the benefits over Firefox. Anyone have any experience with Chrome?

Back to computers. Do you all leave your computers on all of the time? Do they use very much electricity?

Okay, a few quick questions to try to solve the problem:

1) Are the speakers plugged into the correct outlet on your processor? All of my processors have had three different possible outlets for the speakers to be plugged into and if you get the wrong one, you won't get any sound out (see the blue (sound out), green (sound in) and red (microphone) diagram on this photo: http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/connect.jpg).

2) Do the speakers have a volume dial on them? It could be that the volume is either turned right down or is switched off.

3) Do you have the PC sound turned on? If you have Windows, there will be a sound icon in the bottom right corner of the screen next to the time - if you click on this icon you can adjust the sound and mute/un-mute it. 

Hi Jim,

For a basic idea of how much electricity a computer uses, take a look at this link:

http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-vista/how-much-electricity-does-my-computer-use/

Carl

I turn mine off overnight. The monitor uses more power than base unit so at leats turn the monitor off.

As to sound - have you recently installed any new software? I used to get this issue alot when installing games and find that it corrupted the soundcard software....the number of times I reinstalled windows (which resoved the issue)

Okay, a few quick questions to try to solve the problem:

1) Are the speakers plugged into the correct outlet on your processor? All of my processors have had three different possible outlets for the speakers to be plugged into and if you get the wrong one, you won't get any sound out (see the blue (sound out), green (sound in) and red (microphone) diagram on this photo: http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/connect.jpg).

Well I followed the colour code. Should that be right?

2) Do the speakers have a volume dial on them? It could be that the volume is either turned right down or is switched off.

I have it turned all the way up.

3) Do you have the PC sound turned on? If you have Windows, there will be a sound icon in the bottom right corner of the screen next to the time - if you click on this icon you can adjust the sound and mute/un-mute it. 

Yep, it is at 100

Keep the suggestions coming and thank you in advance

Hi Jim,

For a basic idea of how much electricity a computer uses, take a look at this link:

http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-vista/how-much-electricity-does-my-computer-use/

Carl

I use to put it on standby but now I have my phone running off it and they said to leave the computer on. Having said that, the monitor does go into hibernation after about 5 minutes of not being used.

I turn mine off overnight. The monitor uses more power than base unit so at leats turn the monitor off.

As to sound - have you recently installed any new software? I used to get this issue alot when installing games and find that it corrupted the soundcard software....the number of times I reinstalled windows (which resoved the issue)

I haven't installed any new software so I use only what the computer came with.

Okay, a few quick questions to try to solve the problem:

1) Are the speakers plugged into the correct outlet on your processor? All of my processors have had three different possible outlets for the speakers to be plugged into and if you get the wrong one, you won't get any sound out (see the blue (sound out), green (sound in) and red (microphone) diagram on this photo: http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/connect.jpg).

Ksand,
I have all three plugs plugged in and this includes the plug for the microphone.
Does this sound right?
I've also gone on the Control Panel, Sound, ect.
I don't think there is anything wrong with the computer but something simple I'm not doing right.
Do you think if I unplug the microphone and the other plug and leave the plug to the speakers on only will work? I'm too lazy to take the unit out and play with the plugs right now.

Ksand,
I have all three plugs plugged in and this includes the plug for the microphone.
Does this sound right?
I've also gone on the Control Panel, Sound, ect.
I don't think there is anything wrong with the computer but something simple I'm not doing right.
Do you think if I unplug the microphone and the other plug and leave the plug to the speakers on only will work? I'm too lazy to take the unit out and play with the plugs right now.

What do you have plugged into the the other two plugs? All the speakers I've ever owned have only had one lead, so I've never had more than one of the outlets plugged in (I don't have a microphone, so have never had to use the microphone socket)... I just tend to put the lead into the wrong socket so no sound comes out  .

What do you have plugged into the the other two plugs? All the speakers I've ever owned have only had one lead, so I've never had more than one of the outlets plugged in (I don't have a microphone, so have never had to use the microphone socket)... I just tend to put the lead into the wrong socket so no sound comes out  .

I attach or plug in the lead for the microphone.

I attach or plug in the lead for the microphone.

Oh, okay (duh  ). Maybe it's to do with the sound in/sound out outlets - I'm not too sure though... those were my only ideas, so I don't really know what else you could do to solve it .

I use to put it on standby but now I have my phone running off it and they said to leave the computer on. Having said that, the monitor does go into hibernation after about 5 minutes of not being used.

I'm sure that's fine.  Like TykeMan says, the monitor uses the most power.

It is too difficult to chat with HP and Windows is difficult so I think I will hop down to Best Buy and have a chat with them.

Narrow down whether the problem lies in the computer or the amplifier/speaker system first.  Unplug the speakers from the computer, turn the volume up, then dab your finger on the tip of the plug.  If you can't hear at least some sort of hum or background noise, you're looking at a problem with the amplifier/speakers.

So I went and talked to them at the shop (Best Buy)and they said to bring my computer in and they would check it for me. That didn't thrill me when I thought of unplugging everything and lugging it down there so I kept thinking about it and decided to try and switch the colored cables and sure enough it worked. "presto"!
I was then able spent several hours listening to music from BBC and "oldies"
Thanks everyone.