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

2012-04-22T01:34:33+00:00

I found a solution. At least it works for me. I had no sound , "No audio device..." and "code10"...

It looked suspicious that sound is gone suddenly with no reason. It must be some recent automatic update causing the problem.

So, I start thinking ... what device uses sound... Of course my NVIDIA video card.

Then, I replaced Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 video card with old one Nvidia GeForce 7600. I removed all Nvidia programs and directories.

After restarting, I HAVE MY SOUND BACK!!! I didn't install full Nvidia software - just allow Win7 to automatically install a driver.

Conclusion is that there is a problem with Nvidia latest software update.
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Anonymous

2012-04-22T01:37:14+00:00

I found a solution. At least it works for me. I had no sound , "No audio device..." and "code10"...

It looked suspicious that sound is gone suddenly with no reason. It must be some recent automatic update causing the problem.

So, I start thinking ... what device uses sound... Of course my NVIDIA video card.

Then, I replaced Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 with old one Nvidia GeForce 7600. I removed all Nvidia programs and directories.

After restarting, I HAVE MY SOUND BACK!!! I didn't install full Nvidia software - just allow Win7 to automatically install a driver.

Conclusion is that there is a problem with Nvidia latest software update.
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Anonymous

2012-05-12T01:22:31+00:00

Hi,

When I open device manager there is no "Sound, video and game controllers" in the menue.

What do I do now?

Stan
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Anonymous

2012-05-12T05:37:42+00:00

System auto update from Microsoft and no speakers. I have been dealing with this for MONTHS Microsoft caused this and they are not fixing. Well at least not for free!
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