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Basic Troubleshooting of Sound Problems.

When a sound problem occurs, quite often it is an issue with the speaker connections or the sound being muted in Windows.
Sometimes you may come across a driver issue, corrupt Windows or (uncommon) faulty hardware.
The following are a few things that we would like you to check before posting in the Sound Card Forum.

1.
Check the speaker connections - take the plugs out and put them back.
Make sure the speakers get power.
Test the sound with headphones.
If it is a Laptop be sure the speakers are turned on (Usually an Fn function key).

2.
Load a system restore point from a date before the sound problem started.

3.
Has the audio service been started by Windows?
Click Start > Run > type services.msc - then click OK.
In the new window - Scroll down to "Windows Audio", right-click on it and select Properties.
Another new window - set the startup type to Automatic, click Apply and then click Start.

Have a look in "Play control" and any other sound mixer you may have installed to check if the sound is muted.
Go to Control Panel >> Sounds and Audio Devices.
Check to see if your sound card is listed.
If no audio device is detected proceed to step 5.

Be sure the Volume is turned up (at least half way).
The MUTE box should not be checked (go to the advanced window and make sure that nothing is muted).
Select the proper speaker settings under speaker settings advanced tab.
Set the speaker setup settings accordingly.

Is your sound card the default playback device?
Right click the speaker icon next to the clock >> Choose "Adjust Audio Properties".
Click on the Audio tab and select the correct device.
If you make any changes - click Apply, then OK before you close the window.

If you use another type of audio program, please refer to that programs trouble shooter for diagnostics.

Creative Sound Card owners can try this:
Click Start >> Programs >> Creative >> "Sound Card", for example Audigy >> Creative Restore Defaults.


4.
Check to see if the sound card is properly installed in the Device Manager.

Right click My Computer >> Properties >> Hardware Tab >> Device Manager >> in the "View" menu - click "Show hidden devices".

If there are yellow or red "marks" next to the audio, "Microsoft Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) Bus" or an unknown device - install drivers (see step 6).

If Windows does not detect an ONBOARD (Integrated) sound card >> Check to see if it is ENABLED in the BIOS (Setup).
If Windows does not detect a PCI sound card (an Added sound card) >> Shut the computer down, disconnect power. Take the sound card out and put it back again - if possible, use another PCI slot.

5.
Install available Windows updates, including DirectX.
Go to Start >> All Programs >> Windows Update.

6.
Installing drivers:

6a. Install the chipset driver first >> Reboot.

6b. If a "Microsoft Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) Bus" is present in Device manager >> install the driver >> Reboot.

6c. Uninstall old sound drivers:
Check in Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel for an Audio device driver (i.e. AC97).
Go to the Device Manager and uninstall the driver (Right click on the device >> uninstall).

Install the sound driver >> Reboot.

The drivers to install can be found on a CD that came with the computer/motherboard/sound card.

Or - look below for download links.


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Some download links:

Acer

Compaq

Creative AutoUpdate

Dell .......................... How to install Dell drivers/software

Emachines

Gateway

Hewlett-Packard .. .. .. An HP/Compac troubleshooting guide

Packard Bell

Sony

Toshiba


Motherboard manufacturers' download pages

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The "Microsoft Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) Bus Driver for High Definition Audio" should be provided on the CD
you got with your computer, motherboard or sound card and/or available for download at the manufacturer's website.

If not, the UAA driver can be downloaded here.
(Make sure your audio device is supported)

For information about the "Microsoft Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) Bus Driver for High Definition Audio":
Microsoft knowledge base: KB835221 and KB888111.

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If your sound still isn't working - please include brand/model of the computer, motherboard or sound card in your post.

If you don't know what the brand/model is:

Download and run Everest.
That program will produce a list of what's inside your computer.
In Everest press the "Computer" icon - then "Summary".
Look under motherboard and audio.

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Thanks to Dai, BCCOMP and the rest of the Hardware team for their help and feedback.

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