HelpDesk

Troubleshooting a computer which plays no sound at all

Problem: Your Windows XP/Vista desktop computer does not play any sound, such as a music cd or a .wav file

Note: If your sound is functioning properly you should hear the sound of "running river water" looping in the background when on this web page (may require browser plugin)

Consider the following questions when trying to resolve this issue:

• Are your speakers plugged in to a working outlet, the appropriate jack on your computer, and also turned on?
• Are your speakers connected to each other?
• Is the speaker's volume control turned up?
• Do you need to adjust your computer's Volume Control (click the speaker icon in your task bar and adjust the slider)?
• Do your speakers work when you plug them into another computer?
• Is your sound device turned on in Device Manager (right click My Computer, click Manage and in the left hand pane click Device Manager)? Once in Device Manager double-click Sound, video and game controllers, right-click your sound device, and then click Properties. In Windows XP, look under Device usage and make sure that Use this device (enable) is selected. In Windows Vista, click on the Driver tab and click on the Enable button if it is available. Click OK. Restart your computer if you are prompted to do so.
• Can you run the Windows Sound Troubleshooter?
  
  • In Windows XP: Click Start, and then click Help and Support. Under Pick a Help Topic, click Fixing a problem. In the left pane, click Games, sound, and video problems. In the right pane, click Sound Troubleshooter.
  • In Windows Vista: Click Start, and then click Help and Support. Click Troubleshooting. Scroll down and click Troubleshoot Sound Problems.