'No Audio Output Device is Installed'

Discussion in 'Software' started by uralowl, Mar 16, 2011.

  1. uralowl

    uralowl Private E-2

    Wasn't really sure where esle to post this since there doesn't seem to be a forum for sound, anyway...

    A little over a week ago, I changed my system locale from English (UK) to English (US) and ever since then, I have been having problems with my sound not working and it saying 'No Audio Output Device is Installed' where the speaker icon is, there is also a red x over the speaker.

    Another problem is that the 'Sound, Video and Game Controllers' tab doesn't exist under Device Manager when the problem happens. I have tried installing a new sound driver and tried the solutions on google, nothing works.

    What is also strange is that the sound does actually work sometimes. Sometimes when you switch the computer on, the sound is there, but sometimes it isn't. The 'Sound, Video and Game Controllers' tab is there when the sound is working and everything seems perfectly fine.
    What's annoying is that I sometimes have to restart my PC about 2-4 times before the sound works.

    I was just wondering if there is any fix to this? I have a windows Vista and it is about 2-3 years old, never had problems with the sound before.
    Also, not sure if it means anything, but it used to say that SoundMAX had to be reinstalled when the problem first happened, so I uninstalled it and tried downloading a new one from the internet, but none of them have worked.
     
    uralowl, Mar 16, 2011
    #1
  2. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    What we will need is the make and model of your PC if its one from the likes of DELL, HP, ACER etc and if its a home or custom build the make and model of the motherboard so that we can get the correct drivers as just downloading one off the internet is a random thing and many do not work with certain motherboards even if the audio hardware has the same name.

    So to add you or us in getting the info we need run the below as written.

    DO you also have any yellow ! marks in device manager and if so by what devices?

    Check in Services (found in Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services, or just type Services into the Start Search box) that the Windows Audio service is started and startup type is automatic.
     
    DavidGP, Mar 17, 2011
    #2
  3. uralowl

    uralowl Private E-2

    I will have to give you the specs to my computer tomorrow since I can't remember them and I am using a different computer to write on this forum at the moment. However, I know that my computer is an Intel, that's about it.

    I already have speccy so I won't need to download that.

    No, I don't have any yellow ! marks showing.
    I did that earlier and it said the startup was automatic.
     
    uralowl, Mar 17, 2011
    #3
  4. uralowl

    uralowl Private E-2

    Sorry about the delay, here are the results from Speccy:

    Operating system:
    MS Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit

    CPU:
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.40GHz 36oc
    Kentsfield 65nm Technology

    RAM:
    4.0GB Dual-channel DDR2 @ 400MHz (5-5-5-18)

    Motherboard:
    ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5N32-E SLI (Socket 775) 40oc

    Graphics:
    SyncMaster (1680x1050@60Hz)
    512MB GeForce 9800 GT (Point of view) 50oc

    Hard Drives:
    488GB SAMSUNG SAMSUNG HD502IJ SCSI Disk Drive (RAID)

    Optical Drives:
    HL-DL-ST DVD-RAM GH22LS30 SCSI CdRom Device

    Audio:
    High Definition Audio Device
     
    uralowl, Mar 18, 2011
    #4
  5. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    When I have mentioned as written you really do need to follow as written as that eeks to me of not being able to follow instruction and attached means attached! normally turns me off and I give up assiatance due to if not being able to follow one instruction may not be able to follow others, this makes life not hard for me but you also as info maybe missing or not actioned.


    But that beside cheers for the info as it helps a little to maybe fix your issue.

    You seem to be missing SP2 for Vista any reason?

    But again that said, try this and install the Chipset from HERE and reboot (do reboot as its the only way the driver fully installs) then instgall thre Audio driver from HERE and reboot and test audio.
     
    DavidGP, Mar 18, 2011
    #5
  6. uralowl

    uralowl Private E-2

    I'm sorry about not doing exactly what you had instructed me to do, but please remember I do have a life away from my computer and a lot of the time I only get about 20 minutes on the computer each day (besides the weekend) and a lot of that 20 minutes is used to check emails, ebay, youtube, etc.

    I can't think of any reason as to why I may be missing SP2 (I don't even know what that is to be honest, lol).

    I'll do that tomorrow, probably, since I don't really have enough time to do any downloads right now. Sorry about the delays and by the way, my sound has been working perfectly fine all day at least, lol. =) Of course that doesn't mean it will stay that way, as I've already found out.
     
    uralowl, Mar 18, 2011
    #6
  7. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    Yes I do too away from the PC and forums, hence why its easier to quickly look at info asked for, but besides that if your sound is working ok now, then that more leads to a weird intermittant issue, I would hold off on the downloads until your sound disapears again.


    But when it does, boot into Safe Mode (reboot and tap F8 as your PC is starting then pick Safe Mode with Networking) and see if sound works, if it does then your have a errant application blocking audio or malware.

    If sound is not working in Safe Mode as well, then install those drivers in the order mentioned.

    To double check on SP2 and SP2 = Service Pack 2 and what it is, is an update to Windows that adds update fixes to the operating system, to check what one you have type this into the start search box, click the orb in the bottom left corner and type winver and hit enter and the box that opens should somewhere on it, generally the 2nd line from top will say version XXXXXX Build XXXXx Service pack XX.
     
    DavidGP, Mar 19, 2011
    #7
  8. uralowl

    uralowl Private E-2

    I apologise again for not doing what you told me to do, but I have to admit that I just rushed through your message and didn't really read it properly because I was in the rush to get the kitchen mopped up after it half-flooded out (long story). Don't mean to make an excuse, but that is what happened.

    Alright, will do. My sound was working perfectly fine again today as well so it looks like the problem has gone for now.

    Okay, thanks for all the advice, I'll bookmark this page and try out everything you mentioned if the sound stops working again.
     
    uralowl, Mar 19, 2011
    #8
  9. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi No problems, flooded floor takes presidence over lack of audio.

    But yes do let us know if your audio stops working again and do the steps in the quote of my post in your above post and we can go from there to find a fix, I'm hoping it was just a random issue and will not affect you much now.
     
    DavidGP, Mar 21, 2011
    #9
  10. uralowl

    uralowl Private E-2

    Indeed, lol.

    Will do. I thought it was just a random issue when it first happened because it wasn't working for a few hours and then it was totally fine for a week, but then it stopped working again. It is all fine now, but I am not getting my hopes up too high yet that it has been totally sorted out. But I'll bookmark this page and try out the steps you posted if the sound does decide to die again.

    Thanks for all the help and advice.
     
    uralowl, Mar 21, 2011
    #10

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