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
    2009-09-30T01:05:18+00:00

    I, too, have the same problem.  I have a Toshiba Satellite A215-S7414

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-09-22T04:19:25+00:00

    Hi,

    Description of Code 10-related errors that Device Manager generates in Windows-based computers

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943104/

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

    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 driver often rollback so check the version after installation and the reboot to see if the version you

    installed is there, if not repeat - reboot until it is. It can take several 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

    Hope this helps.

    Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-09-22T03:54:56+00:00

    Device Status: This device cannot start. (Code 10)

    I installed Windows 7 today and have no audio. What should I do?

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-09-02T03:19:30+00:00

    Hi,

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

    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 driver often rollback so check the version after installation and the reboot to see if the version you

    installed is there, if not repeat - reboot until it is. It can take several 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 the on 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.

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