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

2009-11-15T21:35:14+00:00

i have the same problem with my hd audio controller it will not install and ive tried all of the solutions on the forums and even formated time and time again there is a red spot with a white x by the speaker icon in the task bar and when i go into device manager it says that the device cannot start. (code 10) im running windows vista home basic 32bit and i have a dell inspiron 6400 laptop. can anyone please help me resolve this problem as i am going out of my mind trying to fix it and having no luck what so ever. thanks i look forward to your reply. djphilip.
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Anonymous

2009-11-11T22:33:27+00:00

I THANKYOU VERY MUCH I HAVE SOUND NOW.THANKS AGAIN.

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

Thank who?

Which fix worked for you?

John Inzer - MS-MVP - Digital Media Experience - Notice_This is not tech support_I am a volunteer - Solutions that work for me may not work for you - Proceed at your own risk
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Anonymous

2009-11-11T14:31:48+00:00

I THANKYOU VERY MUCH I HAVE SOUND NOW.THANKS AGAIN.
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Anonymous

2009-11-10T07:28:39+00:00

Hmmmm, I've had 3 brand spanking new machines go down on audio. I accidentally did it tonight myself after installing aftermarket PCI sound cards on every one of them. M'F'ing IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So the speakers start blasting in the middle of the night. (Just installed windows 7). I've got the headset on and am SHOCKED. Right-click disable device by reflex. Audio device onboard, instantly undetectable by the system ANYF***WHERE, except for a right click in the audio playback devices. "Show disabled devices". It wasn't until I did this myself that I knew how it was happening and figured out the fix.

I just knew when I found it, it would be stupidly simple. 2 audio cards later. How about just graying out the device with a check-box, hmmm? Instead of having the audio device disappear off the planet windows? Just RClick. Makes me sick.

Hope that's your problem cause it's the easiest fix in the world and I'll be checking it out on the other machines tomorrow. Sorry for the harsh words, been working on that one for too long. Took me doing it to myself to spot it.
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