# Computer Problem: No Sound

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-no-sound/355115>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 2, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-no-sound/355115 "2006-05-02T16:03:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-no-sound/355115/1 "2006-05-02T16:03:22Z")

</div>

STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY: I tried the availabe Windows help tutorial, I read through the SDMB GQ Computer Question Sticky, etc.

Anyway, using an E-Machines Somethingorother with Windows 2000, I have no sound at all. I checked the speakers, the cords, etc., and everything seems to be in order. However, when I play an mp3, a music file, etc. I get no sound.

Mrs. HeyHomie thinks she caused the problem. Her description of the events leading up to the problem is: “I was trying to copy my new Alison Krauss CDs into the Real Player so I could listen to them on the computer. Then I started getting all these messages about ‘Do you want to update the Real Player’ and I clicked ‘Yes’ and then I followed the instructions and got overwhelmed and gave up, and now there’s no sound at all.”

Any ideas about how to fix this?

Thanks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-no-sound/355115/2 "2006-05-02T16:28:51Z")

</div>

Just two months ago I was advised in this GQ thread My computer has turned mute to reinstall the driver. It worked.

By the way, many thanks for the responses to that thread!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-no-sound/355115/3 "2006-05-02T16:35:55Z")

</div>

Sorry the link didn’t work. Here it is:  
[thread]My computer has turned mute[/thread]

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-no-sound/355115/4 "2006-05-02T16:56:34Z")

</div>

> [@HeyHomie](#):
>
> No Sound. Any ideas about how to fix this?Thanks.

There is a volume control in the SysTray that may have the “Mute” box checked.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-no-sound/355115/5 "2006-05-02T18:07:09Z")

</div>

Check through the Sound setup in the Control Panel. Often there’s an option for “Digital output” that gets set wrong for your soundcard/speaker combo. If it’s on, turn it off; if it’s off, turn it on. (Make sure to set it back to what it was if that doesn’t help).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-no-sound/355115/6 "2006-05-02T22:08:19Z")

</div>

I re-installed the driver and the problem is solved. Thanks!