No sound. What? I said...my sound is gone.

tia travels's Avatar
Just last week I noticed my SOUND isn't working. The noise that plays when the computer loads up and shuts down doesn't play. Videos, CDs, etc. don't play volume.

My volume is turned up on my computer. I also check the volume on the YouTubes and other videos or apps I might be using. They are all showing "on".

Haven't downloaded anything recently. All I can think of is an update on Adobe Acrobat and maybe...not sure but maybe... a recent update on Java too. Could either of those have affected my sound? I can't do anything fun without sound.

Any ideas?
Mokoa's Avatar
  • Mokoa
  • 08-26-2010, 05:32 PM
Are the speakers on?
Are the speakers muted?
Are the speakers connected firmly to the computer?
Is the sound muted in Windows?

I cannot see how updates to Adobe Acrobat or Java would affect the sound.
tia travels's Avatar
It's a notebook. I don't have speakers attached. Just the ones inside the computer. No they are not muted. I mentioned the volume is maximized. All sounds are muted in windows. This means error sounds too.
Smerc's Avatar
  • Smerc
  • 08-26-2010, 07:28 PM
Those wont affect your audio, unless their some sort of startup app that disables your audio drivers. Or the install rendered something useless on your PC. In your task bar on the bottom right, is there a driver icon of any sort?

Go to "My computer" on your desktop (right click that) ,
click properties, this will bring up your system manager.
On the left, click "Device Manager", on the left you have certain devices,
go to "Sound, video, game controllers" and click that so it gives you some options that appear under it.
Once you see those new options, it should show something along the lines of "VIA" or "Realtek". If you see either of those double click the one(s) that show up and go to the driver tab near the top.
Click on "update driver", if it states it's already updated, then proceed to click "roll back driver".

If the above doesn't work then it could be a speaker issue to an actual windows issue if you did install something just recently. If it doesn't work, try using a headphone/earphone 3.5mm connection and see if that works.





By the way I'm on windows 7, but it should transcend to earlier models.
tia travels's Avatar
My problem is solved. I'm embarrassed to say, it was rather simple. Even though I had the volume turned up on my machine...and even though as smerc suggested...the Audio Controller was displaying that it was working, I guess my speakers somehow got muted.

When I clicked on the icon in the taskbar and the master colume control box came up, the box for MUTE ALL was checked off even though the volume button was up. I never muted it. Never pressed any buttons to mute it nor do I recall any programs I may have used or downloaded recently that may have done it on their own. Interesting.....but glad its working again.

Thanks Mokoa and Smerc. <------love the current cat eye avatar.
Smerc's Avatar
  • Smerc
  • 08-28-2010, 08:46 PM
Least it was nothing bad, like your onboard sound card going out on the motherboard, usually in that situation you just,

Mokoa's Avatar
  • Mokoa
  • 08-28-2010, 11:06 PM
There are some programs that use the master sound controls to control the volume or muting of the sound instead of doing it by controlling their own output to the sound system of the computer. I have a cable TV tuner in my computer that does that.

Do not sweat it Tia. Be thankful that it turned out to be that easy.

Glad you got it resolved!