How to troubleshoot sound problems that you experience after you install a Windows Vista Service Pack

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After you install a Windows Vista service pack, you may experience one or more of the following problems with sound:

• No sound is produced when you play audio files or run programs that have an audio component.
• The speaker symbol next to the clock in the notification area may display the following message:
  No Audio Output Device is installed
• The Sound Controller in Device Manager displays a yellow exclamation point.
• The sound quality changes. For example, if you previously had surround sound, you may now have stereo sound.

To have us fix these problems for you, go to the "Fix it for me" section. To fix these problems yourself, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section.

To fix these problems automatically, click the Fix this problem button or link. Then click Run now in the Automated Troubleshooting Services page and follow the steps in this wizard.




Next, go to the "Did this fix the problem?" section.

To resolve this problem, use the following methods in the order in which they are presented. After you try each method, determine whether you can hear sound. To do this, play an audio file by using a program such as Windows Media Player.

You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.

Note Make sure that the speakers are plugged in and turned on. Also, make sure that the speakers are not on mute and that the volume on the computer speakers and on the program volume control is set high enough so that you can hear sound.

Method 1: Restart the computer

Restart the computer at least one time after you install a Windows Vista service pack to verify that all processes related to the installation are complete.

After you restart the computer, determine whether you can hear sound. If you can hear sound, the issue is resolved. If you cannot hear sound, try Method 2.

Method 2: Try another sound device

If it is possible, try plugging a different sound device into the computer. For example, if you were using speakers, try a different pair of speakers or a set of headphones to make sure that the problem is not related to the sound device.

Determine whether you can hear sound. If you can hear sound, there is a problem with the original sound device and the issue is resolved. If you cannot hear sound, plug the original sound device back into the computer, and then go to Method 3.

Method 3: Unplug the computer speakers

Unplug the computer speakers or other sound devices that you may be using, such as headphones, from the computer and then plug them back in to the same port. Most sound cards that are compatible with Windows Vista include a feature that detects sound devices plugged into the audio jack. This procedure may prompt the audio detection feature to detect and configure the sound device to make sound.

Determine whether you can now hear sound. If you can hear sound, the issue is resolved. If you cannot hear sound, try Method 4.

Method 4: Verify that the default sound device is set correctly

After you install a Windows Vista service pack, you may find that the default sound device, also known as the playback device, was changed. You may also find that the sound quality has changed. Make sure that the default sound device is set correctly for the sound device that you are using. To set the default device, follow these steps:

1. Click Start
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   , type Sound in the Start Search box.
2. Click Sound in the search results at the top of the Start menu.
3. Click the Playback tab. Notice the check mark next to the default device. For most users, the default device is Speakers. Make sure that your audio settings are configured as expected. Follow these steps:
   1. On the Playback tab, select the playback device, click Properties, click the Advanced tab, and make sure that the Default Format is set to the value that you expect. When you finish, close this window to return to the previous window.
   2. On the Playback tab, select the playback device, click Configure, and then make sure the configurations are set correctly.
   If the sound settings are set correctly, you are using speakers as the sound device, and your speakers are already set as the default device, go to method 5 now.
4. Select the sound device that you want as the default sound device, and then click Set Default.
5. Click OK to save your settings and to close the Sound dialog box.

Determine whether you can now hear sound. If you can hear sound, the issue is resolved. If you cannot hear sound, try method 5.

Method 5: Verify that a sound driver is installed

Without a sound driver, you will not hear sound. Make sure that a sound driver is installed. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start
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   , type Device Manager in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. In the Device Manager dialog box, expand Sound, video, and game controllers.
   
   If there is a speaker icon next to the sound driver, the driver is installed. If there is a yellow question mark next to the sound driver, the driver is not present or will not load.

Go to method 6 to reload the current sound driver and test for sound.

Method 6: Reload the current sound driver

If you discovered in method 5 that the sound driver was not installed, or if you discovered that the sound driver was installed but is not working, try to reload the sound driver. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start
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   , type Device Manager in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. In the Device Manager dialog box, expand Sound, video, and game controllers.
3. Locate the audio device that was included with the computer.
4. Right-click the device, and then click Properties.
5. Click the Driver tab, and then click Uninstall.
6. Make sure that the Delete the Driver Software for this device check box is cleared, and then click OK.
7. In the Device Manager dialog box, click the Action menu, and then click Scan for hardware changes.
   
   You receive a message that states that a hardware device is being installed, and then the uninstalled audio device appears in Device Manager.
8. Close the Device Manager dialog box.

Determine whether you can now hear sound. If you can hear sound, the issue is resolved. If the current sound driver did not reload or if it did reload, but you cannot hear sound, try method 7.

Method 7: Update the current sound driver

If the current sound driver does not seem to be working, see whether there is an updated sound driver that you can install. To request an updated sound driver, contact the manufacturer of the sound driver.

For information about how to contact hardware and software vendors, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note In some cases, the manufacturer may instruct you to uninstall the current sound driver and to delete the driver files. To do this, follow the steps in method 5, but at step 6, click to select the Delete the Driver Software for this device check box.

Check whether the problem is fixed. If the problem is fixed, you are finished with this article. If the problem is not fixed, you can contact support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus) .

For more information about how to resolve common sound problems in Windows Vista, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For more information about audio device drivers that are known to cause problems when you install Windows Vista service packs, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Related Information:

Troubleshooter: No audio in Windows (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/no-sound-in-Windows)

Music and sound help with Windows 7 (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/music-sound)