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
    2009-12-09T19:16:30+00:00

    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.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-07-17T08:03:46+00:00

    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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  3. Anonymous
    2010-07-17T08:14:57+00:00

    Try removing you speaker plug and replugging it in.

    --

    ..

    --

    "kamal roy" wrote in message news:5e479173-7321-4125-ac5f-5cd2eab5fc8e...

    > 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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  4. Anonymous
    2010-11-15T15:48:32+00:00

    Hi Brian,

    I have the same problem as everyone here seems to have...'no audio output device is installed' I've read and tried the solution you sent m_kelsey, however after getting to the device manager there was no 'sound, video and game controller' to click on.

    I have a hp dv6500 and would be grateful for any advice you could give me?

    Thanks,

    Rob.

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