subject: Troubleshooting the Most Common Reasons for No Sound [print this page] Troubleshooting the Most Common Reasons for No Sound
When you have no sound or you get the "No Audio Device" error, the chances are you have not installed the sound card correctly. While others things could cause this, the chances are great that the problem lies somewhere within the sound card.
Troubleshooting No Sound
Before you get started in all the technical stuff, start off with your basics.
Are the speakers on?
Is the volume muted?
Is the power plugged in?
Once you have eliminated the simple, you can start in on the technical stuff. First, we need to find your audio card.
Start -> Control Panel -> Add Hardware
Search manually for the sound card
Scroll down to the Audio Devices - if it is not properly installed, you will see a yellow question mark beside the name
Installing the Sound Card Driver
If there was a question mark, then you will need to reinstall the driver.
If you have the CD:
Insert the driver or installation CD
From the Device Manager -> Right click the Audio Driver -> Select Update Driver -> Search for driver automatically
If you do not have a CD:
Navigate to the sound card website
Search for the appropriate sound card driver
Download the latest drivers for your sound card
From the Device Manager -> Right click the Audio Driver -> Select Update Driver -> Install from a list or specific location -> Navigate to where you saved the driver and install
If you have driver update software:
Run the program so it can automatically detect any driver that needs to be updated
Download the drivers the software recommends by clicking download
Install the new drivers by clicking install
Updated Drivers and Still No Sound
If you have checked to make sure everything is plugged in, connected, receiving power, not muted and updated the drivers but you still do not have sound, then your sound card may be dead. However, you still want to check two more things before you go off and buy a new sound card.
Hopefully, you know someone with an external sound card (a card you can easily remove) and external speakers. You will need to borrow these to make sure it is indeed your sound card and not something you did wrong.
First, plug in the borrowed speakers. If you hear sound, then you just need to buy new speakers. If not, continue to step two.
Next, plug in and install the borrowed sound card only. If you hear sound, then you need a new sound card. If you do not hear sound, go to step three.
Now, plug in the borrowed speakers and borrowed sound card. If you hear sound, then you need both new speakers and a new sound card. If you still do not hear sound, then recheck everything because something was not installed right.
Unfortunately, sound cards and speakers do go out. However, either no power (not plugged in) or an outdated driver causes no sound.
