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

Anonymous
2009-03-15T21:20:24+00:00

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!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

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Anonymous
2009-03-16T13:45:31+00:00

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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  1. Anonymous
    2009-06-12T02:32:58+00:00

    I am having the same problem except that I accidentally caused it myself and now can't undo it. I was trying to get a set of USB headphones to work and although the test sounded fine the audio was being forced to the speakers even after I made the headphones the default. So I disabled the speakers thinking it would gray them out and I could re-enable them later. This was not to be though. As soon as I disabled them they went away completely and now I am unable to figure out how to re-enable them. The sound device is built-in and it says the drivers are installed and working correctly but there is no Audio Output device installed. Please tell me where my speakers went and how to get them back. (Running Vista 64-bit)

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-06-11T14:33:11+00:00

    I'm having the exact same problem as the others.  It all started after I installed the critical updates that came out on 6/10/09.  I cant play sound but when I I go to device manager and right click on the driver it says its working properly.  When I prompt it to update the driver it says it's up to date.  Should I do a system restore (at which time I lose all the new updates)?

    I'm running Vista Business

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-05-20T21:20:24+00:00

    I was working on my computer and I came to the conclusion that the hardware just failed.  The sound is built into the mother board, so I am replacing my motherboard.  It is under warranty so it is worth it.  If it wasn't under warranty I suggest just buying a new sound card because that would be a much cheaper fix.

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-05-18T19:00:21+00:00

    I have the same thing as every one above me.  I have recently switched from McAfee to AVG and the sound randomly went out a couple days later.  It tells me when I hover my mouse over the sound icon "No Audio Output Device is installed.  I know that I have an audio driver and I went in and deleted it and re-installed it.  When I tell it to update the driver it says that is already up to date.  I would appreciate it if this was answered soon because I have some people that really want sound from this computer.

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