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How To Fix A Sound Card Problem On Your Computer
How To Fix A Sound Card Problem On Your Computer
Introduction
This tutorial will help you to identify and fix common sound problems in Windows, including when no sound is coming from your speakers or headphones. The tutorial does not cover sound problems related to specific programs. Sound problems can be caused by cables that aren't connected properly, corrupt drivers, incompatible drivers, sound settings, missing updates, and problems with your sound card.
How to Use This Tutorial
For the best result, complete each step before moving on to the next one: also check for sound after each step before going on to the next.
Check Hardware
Many sound problems are caused by hardware that is set up improperly. This section covers checking your sound card, plugging cables into the right locations, making sure the computer has power, and checking the volume.
Check Your Sound Card
1. Check to Make Sure Your Computer Has a Sound Card, or Sound Processor, and That it is Working Properly.
1. Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Security, and then, under System, clicking Device Manager. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2. Double-click Sound, video and game controllers to expand that category. If a sound card is listed, you have one installed. If no sound card is listed, check the information that came with your computer to see if there's supposed to be a sound card installed. If there should be a sound card installed, you'll need to install one. See Install or remove a sound card.
P. S.
If you think you have a sound card installed but you don't see it under the Sound, video and game controllers category, expand the Other devices category and check any devices listed there.
Laptops don't usually have sound cards. Instead, they have integrated sound processors, which appear in the same category in Device Manager.
If there's a yellow question mark next to the name of the sound card in Device Manager, there might be a problem.
1. Right-click the name of the sound card and then click Properties.
2. Click the General tab, and then look in the Device status box to identify problems with the sound card.
If there's a problem, you might need a new driver for your sound card. For more information, see Step 3.
2. Check if the cables are connected properly
If you’re using a USB audio device, for example, you have an internal audio device installed and you’re currently using a USB audio device <example>, try these basic troubleshooting steps:
Unplug the USB audio device and restart your audio program. Test for sound using the internal audio device <how>. If you hear sound, there might be issues with the USB audio driver or withWindows not using the USB audio device as the default audio device.
Close all audio programs, unplug the USB audio device, wait for the USB driver to be uninstalled (this should happen fairly quickly), plug the USB audio device back in to the USB port, wait for the driver to load, and then start the audio program and check for sound.
Check that you have the correct audio device set as the default in Windows and in the program <how>.
Check the audio device manufacturer’s website for updated drivers.
3. Check Power and Volume
If you have speakers, make sure they're plugged into a working power source and turned on.
Make sure that your speaker volume or headphone volume isn't muted or turned down too low. This is particularly important for laptops, which often have small speakers that can be hard to hear.
1. Open Volume Mixer by clicking the Start button, then clicking Control Panel, click Hardware and Sound, and then, under Sound, click Adjust system volume.
2. Move the slider up to increase the volume.
Make sure the Mute button is not turned on.
Note
Some laptops have an external volume control on the outside of the case. If you're using a laptop, check the external volume control to make sure it's not turned all the way down.
In some cases you might have several volume controls to check. For example, if you're using Windows Media Player it has its own volume control, Windows has a volume control, and your external speakers have their own volume control. If any of these volume controls are set to their lowest setting, you will not hear any sound.
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