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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

30+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

190 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2009-07-07T02:01:34+00:00

    I have the same issue with my hp pavilion dv1000. I tried updating the drivers it says they are up to date but in the system tray it says no audio ouput device is installed and in device manager under the general tab it says ----This device cannot start. (Code 10)

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Deleted

    This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

    Comments have been turned off. Learn more

  3. Anonymous
    2009-06-26T07:08:18+00:00

    hi brian,

    my issue is that i have uses all of these steps with troubleshooting, i never had a issue with my audio until i clicked on the window media center since then it removed my audio device from my system. now i can't hear a single thing come from my pc.. i tried Device Manager, went through my help desk on my pc nothing seems to reinstall since i access media play( to see what it was) Now am i at the point where i would have to pay someone to reinstall a sound card. If so i dont think that is far on windows behalf to put a icon on my system then i try to use their system, and now it completly removed my audio and now i would have to play a fee to reinstall something that was a trick in the first place. Brian, COULD YOU HELP ME I'M GOING CRAZY!!!!!! NOT BEING ABLE TO HEAR MUSIC ,!!!!!! OR WATCH MY FAMILY'S!!!!!!! VIDEO'S ON FACEBOOK. COULD YOU HELP ME PLEASE SOMEONE ANYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOOLLOLOLOLOLOL 

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!!!!!  8-)

    HOPE TO HEAR SOMETHING BACK SOON

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2009-06-16T23:27:01+00:00

    I am having the same problem i have done what you said and tried to update the device but it says that it is up to date and working, i had sound until i added the updates the other day. What do i do??

    Mandy

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments