My primary PC, an older Intel box running Windows 7, had good sound for many, many years and then one day the sound stopped working completely across all applications . IIRC I had attempted to update a sound card driver on my primary PC that day. Thinking that this may be key.
Then it gets really weird.
Next, I powered up my backup PC (earlier version of the same Intel box) running Windows 7 and it had no sound completely there across all applications, either.
Then I bought a used Dell Optiplex 900 which started off in a very promising direction sound-wise. When I connected a new pair of PC speakers to the Optiplex 900, the sound was working properly across all applications . I subsequently also connected another new pair of PC speakers to the Optiplex 900 (different brand) and they too worked, each pair for at least a half an hour until a reboot of the Optiplex 900
Then, after a shut down and reboot of the Dell Optiplex 900, the sound stopped working completely across all applications for both sets of speakers.
The only commonality which I notice across all three PC’s:
under Device Manager, Sound, Video and Game Controllers,
Realtek High Definition Audio.
I have seen this Realtek window pop up on my primary PC whenever a sound device was connected to the PC.
No idea how the Realtek HD Audio got installed on the Dell PC.
Please assist with any questions you may have.
The very first step I’d recommend is to remove the sound device using Device Manager and then re-boot. Allow the computer to find, download, and install a driver. If the computer does not find one automatically, download the appropriate driver from Dell based on your service tag.
I’d also suggest concentrating one ONE computer and ONE set of speakers at a time until you get them working. Double-check the speakers are working by using a separate player or cell phone and do not relocate them, use a different cable, or plug them into a different power source when you switch them to your computer.
And…I completely forgot to remind you that there are at least four different places that your speaker volume could be controlled and/or turned off. Make sure you check all of them.
Okay, great troubleshooting advice and I really appreciate that.
So, I decided to focus on the only PC that had made any sound today, the Dell.
Then I removed the sound device using Device Manger and rebooted.
Win 7 found all of the drivers but alas, no change.
Then I decided to go for broke; go to the control panel, sound, and then checked every single combination and permutation of the control panel sound options, stepwise.
By brute force, eventually arrived at a combination / permutation of options that provided sound on this PC across all applications.
ZonexandScout, I thank you for presenting a logical approach to solving this problem… I just used your method and applied it from another angle and it worked…
This vexing problem has troubled me for many weeks. The nightmare has ended.
Thank you so much.
My pleasure. Glad it worked out. You need to give yourself a pat on the back for sticking to it.
In my field of work, it’s often hard to troubleshoot what seem like simple problems. I’m constantly reminding people to reduce the number of variables and concentrate on one thing at a time. I have absolutely seen people move a set of working computer speakers to another location and plug the power transformer into an outlet strip that wasn’t working.
And always start with the cheapest, simplest variable first.
And keep hard copy notes of what was tried when, where and how.
This is such a ridiculous palaver. I have a PC volume, each device has a volume, my browser has a mute for each tab, my speakers have their own volume, each of my media players have a volume, and RealTek has a volume. There’s probably another I’m forgetting.
I have set all of them at a standard level I don’t touch, and try to only use one as my main volume level, but occasionally I have to do it individually. I just have to remember to reset it back again afterward.
As I said, a ridiculous palaver.
To help deal with these kinds of issues in the future get a disk imaging program. I use Macrium Reflect (free version)
So that after you installed the updated sound card driver and it wouldn’t work and you couldn’t fix it you just go back to your previous installation.