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Why is there no sound in Windows 7?

Anonymous
2011-03-30T19:04:19+00:00

Hello,

Recently (i.e. about an hour ago), my Windows 7 computer stopped transmitting sound.  I was playing music, for example, but no music was coming through my headphones.  I tried unplugging the headphones and plugging in my speakers, with no success.  I then tried running the sound troubleshooting programs.

At first, the programs indicated that I had no audio devices plugged in.  My speakers were plugged into the front audio-output port on my case at this time.  I unplugged them and plugged the cable into the rear audio output port.  At this point, the troubleshooting detected my speakers, and indicated that they were not the default device.  I made the speakers the default playback device.

Now, the troubleshooting program indicates that there is no problem.  However, I am still not hearing any sound from my media player.  The volume output of the media player is not muted, and neither is the OS's audio output.  I restarted the computer to try and fix the issue - no luck.  I checked for any updates to the onboard audio sound card - there were no updates.

I then rebooted the computer into my Ubuntu 10.04 partition.  Now audio works - I am currently listening to music with no issues.  I am fairly certain, therefore, that the problem is specific to Windows 7.  The only changes I have made to the machine recently were some automatic updates that installed last night at 3:55 AM.  This morning, I was playing games and listening to music on the Windows partition with no problem (sometime around 12:00 PM).  Now (3:00 PM) the audio still will not work on Windows 7, but does work on Ubuntu 10.04.

Relevant specs:

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P55-USB3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Speakers: Logitech Speaker System Z623

Headphones: Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones MDR-NC7

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

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Anonymous
2011-03-31T14:12:03+00:00

Hi,

· Are you able to hear system sound?

  1. Check the device status in device manager. Follow the steps for the same:

a. Click on start

b. Click on run, in run box type in devmgmt.msc

c. In device manager window, search for the audio drive and expand the drive, double click on the sub item to check if any error message or error code is listed.

2.     If you are able hear system sound then you will need codec’s to hear sound from media player. You may refer to the below link for further guidance on the issue:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Codecs-frequently-asked-questions

3.     If the above steps do not help, then uninstall and reinstall the driver and check:

You may uninstall and reinstall the sound driver from device manger. Steps to uninstall the device:

a.     Click Start, type devmgmt.msc and press enter.

b.     Locate sound device

c.     Right click on the device and select uninstall

d.     Also place a check mark beside the option “delete driver files for the device”

e.     Install the latest drivers for the device from the manufacturer’s website

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-11-19T18:27:23+00:00

    There is no sound.  Why?  I've checked whatever I could find to check.  I am not PC savy, please help me get sound using simple language.  I do not understand relevant specs or what these are.  HELP !!!

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-03-31T15:14:32+00:00

    Samhurtha,

    Steps 1 and 2 did not help, as I could not hear system sound.  However, after following Step 3, my audio seems to have been restored (I am now listening to music).

    Thank you very much!

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