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
    2012-03-11T17:12:38+00:00

    Hello,

    My name is Jennifer and I am having the same problem.  I followed the steps (1-4) and the status reads "This device cannot start. (Code 10)".  Could you assist/guide me in the right direction to get this problem fixed please?

    Thanks in advance for your assistance.

    jnesian74

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-02-21T10:55:40+00:00

    it telling me no drivers are installed for this device

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-02-12T05:58:26+00:00

    I had the a similar issue with a brand new install. My circumstance was a bit different though.

    I was setting up a Win7 64 sp1 with a Motu 828 II Firewire on a dell dimetion e521. I decided to turn off the built in sound at the bios level before installing. This decision was made due to some issues I had with conflicts with the Motu and the built in sound. So i figured I would install windows with out ever installing the onboard sound to avoid any conflicts at all. No problems. Ran all the required security updates and then downloaded the latest driver from MOTU for the 64 bit setup. Installed it as instructed. Motu was in the device manager but a red x appeared in the task bar over the little speaker icon and when I pointed to it, I got a warning that no output device was installed. Hmmmm. The motu software was able to work the MOTU volume as it should but no windows sounds. Ok so I turned on the Onboard sound and windows found and added the driver, how ever only thing that happaned  was that a new device appeared in the device manager which also said was working fine, still no output device installed. After googling away and trying everything found with no joy, I decided to run restore to an earlier point. First I turned off the MOTU. All Worked well, got back all the way to the very first point and when it rebooted it found the on-board sound and installed it. woalla!!! red x gone!!! Installed MOTU driver. WOalla!!! Motu devices appeared on the list and windows sound was heard on my monitors. Reboot, disable on-board sound from bios and still had Motu sound after.

    Only thing I can think of is that win7 does not install some component/service if there is no sound card of any sort found (makes no sence because what if an unrecognised one happens to be on your mobo??? )  Just installed all the updates that went away when I restored to an earlier point and I still have sound. I would say this was an install bug on win7's part. Will see how it works once Cubase 6 is installed. Hope this helps someone.

    I don't have the time do diagnose what the actual problem was but I'm sure some engineer knows the fix right off the top of their head.

    Cheers.

    Steve from Studio19.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/sbodai/videos?view=pl

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-01-27T06:46:06+00:00

    Hi,

    Check the BIOS to be sure the on-board sound is enabled (if it has on-board and

    does not use a separate sound card).

    Then use the troubleshooter you quoted including the part in BOLD. That troubleshooter

    does help solve these issues in all except a very small percentage of cases.

    Error “the Audio Service Is Not Running” When Opening the Volume Mixer in Vistahttp://www.winhelponline.com/blog/error-the-audio-service-is-not-running-when-opening-the-volume-mixer-in-vista/

    If needed :

    Try setting all the Windows Services back to their defaults.

    BlackViper - for Vista SP1 - Services - set all back to their defaults.

    http://www.blackviper.com/2008/01/28/black-vipers-windows-vista-service-pack-1-service-configurations/#more-3020

    BlackViper - for Vista SP2 - Services - set all back to their defaults.

    http://www.blackviper.com/2009/05/31/black-vipers-windows-vista-service-pack-2-service-configurations/#more-2991

    Start - type in Search box -> Services   find at top of list  - Right Click on - RUN AS ADMIN

    =======================

    Like most here I am a volunteer.

    Hope this helps.

    Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle <- Mark Twain said it right.

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