About two weeks ago I stopped getting any sound from my computer. Computer is 3-year old Dell running Windows 10. Speaker power is on. There is a red X on the speaker icon on the bottom bar. I run the troubleshooter and it doesn't identify the problem. Suggestions where to start?
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Solved Sound not working
- Thread starter Art Layton
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Any sound through headphones?
What does Device Manager show, under Sound Video and Game controllers?
Is Windows Audio Service started and running?
I never go by the red x. After a Windows update and reboot (Windows 7), I get a red X over the speaker icon yet the Windows startup sound plays, sound on YouTube videos can be hard and sounds in games on my computer play with no problem. And this isn't just one computer; we have four Windows 7 computers in the house and I've noted this behavior at various times on all four.
What does Device Manager show, under Sound Video and Game controllers?
Is Windows Audio Service started and running?
I never go by the red x. After a Windows update and reboot (Windows 7), I get a red X over the speaker icon yet the Windows startup sound plays, sound on YouTube videos can be hard and sounds in games on my computer play with no problem. And this isn't just one computer; we have four Windows 7 computers in the house and I've noted this behavior at various times on all four.
I should mention. When I move the mouse over the red x on the sound icon, it reads "no speakers or headphones are plugged in". But the speakers are plugged in.
I just moved the speaker plug from the back panel connector marked "front L/R line-out connector" to "rear L/R surround connector". Red x is gone but still no sound.
Hi there Art and welcome to PCHF 
What is your audio setup like? 5.1? Also, what is the brand name and model of your audio setup?
What is your audio setup like? 5.1? Also, what is the brand name and model of your audio setup?
NVIDIA card; just the regular speakers that came with the computer. Not sure about 5.1; I don't think so.
Hi Art What model is the Dell PC? So we can see what driver you need to reinstall for audio...
or you could see if system restore is on, and if it is restore PC to a time before the audio issue
What model is the Dell PC? So we can see what driver you need to reinstall for audio...or you could see if system restore is on, and if it is restore PC to a time before the audio issue
Studio XPS 9000. I can only restore up to ten days ago because windows was updated. And the sound problem started more than ten days ago. Just noticed on the invoice that I purchased it six years ago.
You failed answer the three things I asked about.
1. Any sound through headphones?
2. What does Device Manager show, under Sound Video and Game controllers?
3. Is Windows Audio Service started and running?
An easy step but it will cost, is to buy an audio card and use that in place of the 6 year old inbuilt chip.
https://www.cnet.com/products/dell-studio-xps-9000-formerly-xps-435/specs/
Integrated 7.1 channel
1. Any sound through headphones?
2. What does Device Manager show, under Sound Video and Game controllers?
3. Is Windows Audio Service started and running?
An easy step but it will cost, is to buy an audio card and use that in place of the 6 year old inbuilt chip.
https://www.cnet.com/products/dell-studio-xps-9000-formerly-xps-435/specs/
Integrated 7.1 channel
Windows audio service is running and starts automatically. It shows speakers not plugged in - but when I plug in the speakers in the correct outlet I get the red x on the sound icon. I don't have any headphones to test. I have rconnected the speakers to the appropriate outlet on the back of the computer. Red x on sound icon appears. Run troubleshooter and get no diagnosis. I GUESS THE NEXT THING I WILL DO IS TRY ANOTHER SET OF SPEAKERS OR HEAD PHONES.
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From what I can work out your sound card is a Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio SB0790
try download the driver from here http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=126331&h=13a
and install
try download the driver from here http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=126331&h=13a
and install
Okay, connected headphones to computer. Ran diagnostics, loaded updated driver and now I have sound thru headphones - but not speaker. This is good enough. Thanks everyone for their advice.
Thanks for the update..if you are sure about those external speakers not working i will mark this thread..
Borrow a set of speakers from a friend to see if they work. If they do, something is wrong with your speakers.
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