16.11.09

No Audio Device in Windows XP

Support details

This document only pertains to HP and Compaq computers with Windows XP.
The computer has no sound and when you open the Sounds and Audio Device Properties window from Control Panel the audio features are unavailable and the text "No audio Device" is shown. Use the following steps to enable sound and remove the message:
Figure 1: No Audio Device
Step 1: Enabling the Windows Audio Service
Installing sound related software or software updates can disable the audio service. In some cases, the Windows Audio Service may not re-enable itself automatically. This cause is probably the most common reason for this type of sound failure. Use the following steps to verify if this is the case and manually enable the service if needed:
  1. Click Start , Run , and enter services.msc into the Open field.
    A services window opens.
  2. Scroll down the list of services and find Windows Audio.
  3. Right-click Windows Audio and select Properties .
    Figure 2: Windows Audio Properties selection
  4. Select Automatic (if available) from the Startup type dropdown list, and click Start (if available) to start the audio service. If the Start button is grayed out, the Service is already started.
    Figure 3: Startup type and Service status
  5. Click OK and test for sound.
    If sound is now restored, a software program may have disabled Windows Audio or is preventing Windows Audio from automatically starting when Windows opens. If your computer continues to experience no sound after restarting the computer, repeat these steps to re-enable the Windows Audio Service.
If the computer does not have sound after completing these steps, go to the next step.
Step 2: Enabling the audio device
Use the following steps to see if the audio device is disabled and to enable it if needed:
  1. Click Start , right-click My Computer , and select Properties .
    Figure 4: Properties selection for My Computer
  2. Click the Hardware tab, and then click the Device Manager button.
    Figure 5: Device Manager button on the Hardware tab
  3. In Device Manager, scroll down the list and click the plus sign (+ ) next to Sound, video and game controllers .
  4. If any item listed under the Sound, video and game controllers category has a speaker icon WITH a red X, right-click that item and select Enable .
    If you do not see a red X over any speaker icon, skip to the next Step.
    Figure 6: A sound device that is disabled (the name of the sound device will vary)
  5. After all sound-related items are enabled, close Device Manager.
  6. Test for sound. If the computer does not have sound after completing these steps, go to the next step.
Step 3: Restoring the original audio driver
Your computer most likely uses Realtek Audio Codec or Creative Audigy software. If you do not know what type of sound hardware you have, open Device Manager again and look in the Sound, video and game controller section. Look for the name of your sound hardware (Creative, Realtek, or some other brand name).
Download and install audio drivers from one of the manufacturer's sites:
Test for sound. If the computer does not have sound after completing these steps, go to the next Step.
Step 4: Resetting On-board Audio to Automatic in the BIOS
The on-board audio setting in the BIOS must be set to match your particular audio hardware configuration. Use the following steps to reset the On-board Audio setting to Automatic:
  1. Turn on the computer and press the F1 key repeatedly until a BIOS Setup screen opens.

    		NOTE: On certain Compaq Presario computers (prior to 2002) press the F10 key instead of F1.
  2. In the BIOS Setup screen, press the F5 key.
  3. Select Yes or OK (press the Enter key).
    Press the F10 key. Select Yes or OK to save the default settings (press the Enter key).
  4. Start Windows and check for sound. If there is still no sound, go to the next step.
Test for sound. If the computer does not have sound after completing these steps, go to the next Step.
Step 5: Reseat the sound card
If your computer has a sound card, it may need to be reseated. For instructions on how to reseat the sound card, refer to Installing or Replacing a Sound Card .
Test for sound. If the computer does not have sound after completing these steps, go to the next Step.
Step 6: Perform a system recovery
Disconnect the computer from all networks and perform a system recovery to restore all original system files. For more help and information, please refer to Performing an HP System Recovery in Windows XP .
If the computer still does not have sound after performing a system recovery, the computer may require service.

NOTE: One or more of the links above will take you outside the Hewlett-Packard Web site. HP does not control and is not responsible for information outside the HP Web site.
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