Speaker icon has a Red X on it, "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!

Hi udavis07,

Reboot to be sure it will not re-appear.

Check in Setup/Settings as you boot (BIOS/CMOS) to see if the on-board audio/sound has been disabled.

If a separate sound card then remove ALL power and reseat the card - remove it and then put it back in

the slot. If either of those work and the device is present in Device Manager again you need to update

the drivers as above. If not then you then need to disable the on-board sound and use a separate sound

card and/or replace the sound card. Sound cards are not expensive and they even make USB sound cards.

One other thing you can try is Control Panel - Device Manager - click in the blank/white area - then VIEW

• Show Hidden Devices - just in case the Sound Card is hidden (look everywhere).

Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

I have read this fix several times and it has helped alot of people but I have a problem. When i go to device manager there is nothing that says "sounds, video and game controllers". It is like it has been completely erased from my computer. Can you please tell me what I can do to fix this?

Hi RagganBoBaggan,

Use this method to load the drivers :

Control Panel - Device Manager - SOUNDS - look for HD Audio - Mine says RealTek High Definition Audio 

(that is an example and yours may have an entirely different name/maker).

Write down description make and model - double click on it - drivers tab - write down version. Now

Click UPdate Drivers which may not do anything as MS is far behind certifying drivers. Then RIGHT

CLICK on it and UNINSTALL - REBOOT - this will rebuild the driver stack.

1st go to system maker's site and look for latest driver Download - SAVE - go to right click on and RUN AS ADMIN

(This is your fallback.) REBOOT after each driver installation.

NOTE : Sound drivers often rollback so check the version after installation and the reboot tosee if the version you installed is there, if not repeat the install - reboot until it is. It can takeseveral tries depending on how many rollbacks it does.

Then do same for Device Maker's site.

Manually look at manufacturer's sites for drivers - and Device Maker's sites.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht/driverdlmfgr.htm

How to Install a Device Driver in Vista Device Manager

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/193584-device-manager-install-driver.html

Error “the Audio Service Is Not Running” When Opening the Volume Mixer in Vista

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/error-the-audio-service-is-not-running-when-opening-the-volume-mixer-in-vista/

Also Right Click Speaker near clock - Playback Devices - right click in the box area - check

Show disable and disconnected devices. Highlight speaker and on the lower Right click Properties

check settings for Device Usage enabled and so on. Also do same for Configure on Lower Left of

that box.

In Control Panel you can also look for an Audio Manager along with the Sound Settings.

Problems with sound and audio or no sound - a Mr Fixit

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/no\_sound

Tips for fixing common sound problems

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/1e87a3e8-c0e8-49af-980f-9eb6686f42d21033.mspx

Speakers and other audio output devices

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a43f3a31-6d9f-49d1-be22-e2f47b8b1f2c1033.mspx

How to Enable Hidden Audio Devices in Vista

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/143447-audio-device-enable-hidden-devices.html

How to troubleshoot sound problems that you experience after you install a Windows Vista Service Pack

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948481

Hope this helps.

Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.