No-Sound

Sound from your computer is sometimes tricky to get! These tips and procedures should help computer novices to get their sound back, if they were working once. They will also help if they were never working, but that's another story!

If No-Sound is coming from the computer, do the following:

Check Power

Check Sound Cable Connection

Layout of an inexpensive sound card	Back of a Desktop Computer

If you are using self-powered USB speakers, remove the USB cable and plug it into a different USB port. If you are using outlet powered speakers and have a working set handy, replace the non-working speakers with the working pair to test. If you still have nothing..... let's move on to software. But one tip first: (for geeks and beginners). You may need to go to a store and "buy" a set of speakers. Most stores will accept returns!

Still No-Sound?

Check Volume Settings

Before we get into more complex problem solving, Is your volume turned up?

First check the speakers themselves, as many have a volume control on the speakers.

Next:

Check Software Volume Control

Click on Start - All Programs - Accesories - Entertainment - Volume Control

You should get the following:

Make sure that the software volume controls are not muted, and that the volumr levers are high enough to hear.

Still No-Sound ?

Hardware Failure

As it is with any troubleshooting process, the issue can sometimes come down to the hardware failure.

If you have an add-on sound card and none of the hardware or software fixes helps, you may have to replace the sound card. If you use on-board sound, it will probably pay to purchase an inexpensive sound card rather than a new motherboard.

BIOS

If you've been messing around in the BIOS, you may have disabled your on-board sound if that's what you're using. If you don't know what BIOS means, you probably haven't been there and can move on.

Check Control Panel - Sound and Audio Devices

Go to your desktop.

Click Start > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices > Volume tab.

If everything is grayed out, go to step 8. If the "Mute" box is checked, un-check it. In "Device Volume" make sure that your volume level is set to a comfortable volume level for your speakers.

Click the "Sounds" tab. Under "Sound Scheme" check to see if "No Sounds" is selected. If it is, click "Sound Schemes" and a drop down list will appear. Select "Windows Default" as the scheme. To test your sound now, click on a sound listed below the "Program Events" window. These will be indicated by a small speaker icon located next to them. Simply left click the sound once, then click the play button. If you hear sound, congratulations. If not, move on.

Click the "Audio" tab. Under the "Sound Playback" option, make sure your sound card is selected as the default playback device. Usually, only one device appears here, unless you have multiple playback devices installed.

If everything is grayed out, you either do not have a playback device installed or your drivers are corrupted and need to be replaced. Drivers help hardware and software function together. Try this

Fix for Reinstalling Drivers.

Note: You will see ads frequently for "Instant fixes" for sound problems, which are frequently just trying to sell you something! Be very cautious! They may even show up on this page!!

Click Start >

Right-click "My Computer" >

select "Properties" from the drop-down menu >

Click the "Hardware" tab and then click the "Device Manager" button. Device Manager will open.

Caution: For Computer Novices, this may be going too far!

Look for either a red X or a yellow question mark listed under "Sound, Video, and Game Controllers"

If you have a red X, right click the device with the x and select "Enable" from the pop-up menu. Test your sound at this point. If you have a yellow question mark, right click the device, click "Properties" from the pop-up menu, and then click the "Driver" tab on the window that appears.

Now, click the button "Roll Back Driver" to go back to the previous drivers that were functioning correctly. Restart your computer at the prompt.

As a last resort, you can uninstall and reinstall the device. Right click the device and select "Uninstall" from the pop-up menu. Restart your computer. Windows will usually automatically detect and install your audio device upon boot-up. If the drivers do not re-install as expected, then you will have to find the right drivers. Your manufacturers web set usually have them! Go to Windows-Drivers, for how to find drivers!

If after doing all of the steps, listed here and you still cannot hear any sound from your computer speakers, contact a qualified computer technician..... Computer Support