Speaker icon has a Red X on it, "no audio output device is installed".

Anonymous

original title: No audio output device is installed.

I have done nothing different to my computer but noticed yesterday that the speaker icon in the system tray has a red and white "X" over it and says that "no audio output device is installed." I have Windows Vista. When I go to my control panel and click on "Sounds and Hardwar," and again click on "Sound," it tells me that "No audio devices are installed." Yesterday I went to --> All programs --> Accesories --> System Tools --> System Restore and I did a system restore that way. After my computer re-started, the audio problem was solved but somehow my anti-virus protection was no longer installed. I fixed this with the McAfee support online chat and the audio was also working all day yesterday. However, today, it again says that "no audio output device is installed," and I do not want to restore my system again and have to deal with the anti-virus software going haywire again. Is there another way to fix this? Please help me. I have looked this up on other support sites and have found the answers too technical for me to understand. I have a one-year-old Toshiba Satellite M205 with an Intel Centrino processer and Vista with Service Pack 1 installed although I don't know if that is important information or not. My computer has a sticker on it that says "Dolby Sound Room," whatever that means. Thanks in advance!

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Anonymous

Hi m_kelsey,

It sounds like you might have an audio driver that isn’t working properly, please do the following:

1. Click Start

2. In ‘Start Search’ type Device Manager, press Enter (provide administrative credentials if prompted)

3. Click the “+” next to Sound, video and game controllers to drop down the menu

4. Check the status of any device listed in that category by right-clicking that device, clicking Properties, and then under the General tab check what it says under “Device status”. Let us know what the status was.

5. Then check all the devices (especially any that had a problem under “Device status”) listed in this category for updated drivers by right-clicking that device and then clicking Update Driver Software… (this step may take a moment so be patient).

Get back to us with your results so that we can further assist you if need be. We look forward to hearing back from you.

Brian

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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190 additional answers

Anonymous

2009-04-12T22:01:25+00:00

I am having the exact same problem. I uninstalled Norton so I could change my anti virus software and also because it was interfering with itunes and as soon as I restarted I received this message. As with the previous posters I have done everything the other sites have said to do and my devices are working properly. Any other ideas???
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Anonymous

2009-04-12T02:47:27+00:00

Hi Brian,

Similar issue here. When I have the High Definition Audio Codec installed it give the volume bar, but no sount is coming out and no update is available. This only happened after my SP1 update and I cannot figure out what to do. I attempted to install a SigmaTel Codec, and that put the red X that others have mentioned. I have attempted all of the "fixes" that the support page has mentioned, but to no avail. I need this computers sound to work asap for school/work...please help.

Thanks,

Brian
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Anonymous

2009-07-07T18:21:05+00:00

Brian, First let me say thank you for being here for me and others. I have done what you advised and I still have the x on the speaker. What should I do now? Hope to hear from you soon.
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Anonymous

2009-04-11T21:01:27+00:00

Hi, Brian--I am having exactly the same issue as this user, but when I followed your advice and updated driver software, the result was "Windows has determined that your driver software for your device is up to date". Under properties, it says "This device is working properly". But there is a red X over my speaker function, too, and it says "no audio devices installed".
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