The speaker that has worked with 3 other computers will not operate on this new one. They want me to bring it back in and maybe add a piece of equipment that will cost more money or I have to buy another speaker. This does not make me happy. Isn't it supposed to just work?

I have to bother other people because I can't pick the thing up because of my back and I'm upset this is happening. Seems like it's always something with the computers I buy or the people I get them from. Anyone else had this problem?

Saundra, I worked with computers for years as a network administrator/hardware techie (taking them apart and putting them back together). The only reasons I can think of that a speaker wouldn't work is because the plug-in interface has changed (I've never seen that happen before) or they didn't install the correct drivers for your sound card. Most computers come with a sound card, and if yours has one, your speaker should plug right into the tiny coloured (usually green) hole in the back of your computer (usually they install it near the bottom of the tower). It's baffling to me that your new computer wouldn't have a sound card already installed.

Check the back of your computer...if there is a place for your speaker to plug in, and it plugs right in without any problem, then my guess would be that they didn't install the correct drivers (software) for the new sound card. If there is no place to plug it in, then there is no sound card installed and that's probably what they want to add.

Thank you, Eagle Heart. A friend from work came over today and put the thingy in the right plug.

Funny, the computer guy told me it had to be in the green hole, but it goes in the one next to it. Jeez, I'm a bit embarrassed.

I'm just glad it's working, and without the extra cost of an unnecessary piece of equipment!