A side question. When I get an email of your responses, the top of the message is a Big bell shape image which takes up much of my screen real estate. Is that the case with you folks? Or is it just me?

TIA

@fmb1 said in No sound on my PC:

Audio drivers on manufacturer’s page are normally more up to date than in the wild.
Download Realtek HD Audio Drivers 2.82 - Realtek AC97 Driver
https://realtek-download.com/download-hd/
https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/pc-audio-codecs-high-definition-audio-codecs-software

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=How+To+Fix+Sound+Issues+in+Windows+7+|+HP+Computers+|+HP

It would be extremely helpful if you would tell what HP computer you have.
I can’t picture “plugging into the motherboard”. Possibly a misunderstanding of terms?

I downloaded the 2.82. Still no sound.

I watch the first 2 youtube videos on HP audio fix. No new findings.

Thank you to everyone for your help.

@zerenia said in No sound on my PC:

@phat200 said in No sound on my PC:

I have clicked on update driver in the Device Manager’s Properties for the Sound device. I stated that I have the latest. [It is Realtek High Definition Audio (generic?). I have disable/enable, uninstall/reinstall the driver.

I also have other problems with this PC:

1. The email client [The Bat!] stopped downloading images in the emails all of a sudden. The software developer’s tech support can’t explain it. I uninstall/reinstall the email client to no avail. I install it on a backup PC and copied over all settings and message database. It works fine on the backup PC. So that would indicate the problem is not in the email program but something in the OS. This happened before the Windows update on 5/7/2020.

2. Every once in a while I get a pop-up stating that something about the USB is not working properly. Even when I disable the USB ports, it will pop-up for days; then go away for a long while; then it will come back again. That started over 1 yr ago.

I guess it is time for me to “clean” this PC and see if it helps. After I set up a new PC, I will start a new thread for Recovery; and hope your folks will give me some guidance. One thing I want to do is change the OS from Win7 Pro 64 bit (current) w/ Virtual WinXP to 32 bit w/ no Virtual Machine. Can I simply use the SAME license/serial# from the PC manufacturer (HP) when I do that?

Thanks for all your help.

One last thing before you completely reinstall, if you haven’t tried already. Visit the HP website and do an Audio Check. You may also be able to find Windows 7 updated audio drivers at the HP website. Here’s a link for you to try:

[link text]https://www.support.hp.com/us-en/topic/diagnostics?category=computing&issue=sound-issues(link url)

It’s worth trying before reinstalling.

– Z –

I tried the Audio check. The check passed. Nonetheless, no sound. It couldn’t solve the problem.

I have clicked on update driver in the Device Manager’s Properties for the Sound device. I stated that I have the latest. [It is Realtek High Definition Audio (generic?). I have disable/enable, uninstall/reinstall the driver.

I also have other problems with this PC:

1. The email client [The Bat!] stopped downloading images in the emails all of a sudden. The software developer’s tech support can’t explain it. I uninstall/reinstall the email client to no avail. I install it on a backup PC and copied over all settings and message database. It works fine on the backup PC. So that would indicate the problem is not in the email program but something in the OS. This happened before the Windows update on 5/7/2020.

2. Every once in a while I get a pop-up stating that something about the USB is not working properly. Even when I disable the USB ports, it will pop-up for days; then go away for a long while; then it will come back again. That started over 1 yr ago.

I guess it is time for me to “clean” this PC and see if it helps. After I set up a new PC, I will start a new thread for Recovery; and hope your folks will give me some guidance. One thing I want to do is change the OS from Win7 Pro 64 bit (current) w/ Virtual WinXP to 32 bit w/ no Virtual Machine. Can I simply use the SAME license/serial# from the PC manufacturer (HP) when I do that?

Thanks for all your help.

@fmb1 said in No sound on my PC:

@phat200 said in No sound on my PC:

@zerenia said in No sound on my PC:

@phat200 You could try booting in Safe Mode and checking the Sound Settings again, that is, run the tests in the Sound Settings. If you get sound, then a program running when you start up is grabbing your sound settings.

Do you remember the last time you had sound? If so, you could try to restore a Restore Point just prior to the time when you lost sound, if your restore points go back that far.

I boot into Safe Mode w/ networking; but I didn’t find the Sound Test in Control Panel. The Sound device in Device Manager stated that it is unavailable. I don’t know whether Sound is not available in Safe mode or because there is a problem.

Now that I think of it, I think it happened right around the time when Window did a massive updates to my PC. I turned off Windows updates. (The last Win. updates was in 2017.) But last week, I reinstalled MS Office 2013 and I updated MS Office. I may have clicked on the wrong button, it causes Windows to download all Windows updates at the same time. It also see updates to Office 2007 (on 5/7/2020); and I no longer have Office 2007 on my PC.

Anyway, I look under the Syster Restore points, there is no longer Restore Points pre 5/7/2020.

Did you try this:

“I found the solution! I went into BIOS and switched the sound output to AC97 and everything worked perfectly again. Thanks for all the replies!”

I saw the same post; but couldn’t find any configuration settings related to sound in my BIOS.

Just in case it makes a difference – I don’t have a sound card, just the sound port(?) on the motherboard that I plug my speaker into.

@fmb1 said in No sound on my PC:

@phat200 said in No sound on my PC:

Today, all of a sudden, I found I have no sounds on my PC – system sounds; Hulu, etc.

The lights on the speakers are on; and I didn’t touch the plug into my audio port on my PC.

Would could be the problem?

Thanks.

I don’t have a clue, but a google search found
someone with what appears to be same
problem and a working solution.
search criteria:
"Can only hear system sounds Windows 7"
Result:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/can-only-hear-system-sounds/9252c8d6-56d6-499d-9d5a-53fc2149c913
Good Luck
Sorry, here’s my initial search with multiple returns:
https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&client=firefox-b&biw=1173&bih=440&sxsrf=ALeKk00kxqf9bnyemek9SeoArKnYdAHhNQ%3A1589212344647&ei=uHS5XvT3JsPysQXDpZ6wDA&q=Can+only+hear+system+sounds+Windows+7&oq=Can+only+hear+system+sounds+Windows+7&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQR1AAWABg3tc7aABwAngAgAEAiAEAkgEAmAEAqgEHZ3dzLXdpeg&sclient=psy-ab&https://phatwalletforums.com/compose?p=/topic/23601/no-sound-on-my-pc/16#ved=0ahUKEwj0s5mqlazpAhVDeawKHcOSB8YQ4dUDCAs&uact=5

The only system sound I hear is when the PC is powered on and the Windows is launched. AFTER That, I don’t get any sounds, system or others – not even if I Restart Windows.

I one of the results from your link there is a comment from one of the readers: “… I went in to BIOS and switched the sound output to AC97 and everything worked perfectly again…” I got into BIOS but couldn’t find any settings related to Sounds. Does all PC’s BIOS has settings on Sounds?

@zapjb said in No sound on my PC:

I have a really good guess if this was 15 yrs ago.
It’s not 15 yrs ago though.
Anyways if it was 15 yrs ago I’d guess it was iTunes or an improper uninstall of iTunes.

I uninstall iTune. No luck.

@zerenia said in No sound on my PC:

@phat200 You could try booting in Safe Mode and checking the Sound Settings again, that is, run the tests in the Sound Settings. If you get sound, then a program running when you start up is grabbing your sound settings.

Do you remember the last time you had sound? If so, you could try to restore a Restore Point just prior to the time when you lost sound, if your restore points go back that far.

I boot into Safe Mode w/ networking; but I didn’t find the Sound Test in Control Panel. The Sound device in Device Manager stated that it is unavailable. I don’t know whether Sound is not available in Safe mode or because there is a problem.

Now that I think of it, I think it happened right around the time when Window did a massive updates to my PC. I turned off Windows updates. (The last Win. updates was in 2017.) But last week, I reinstalled MS Office 2013 and I updated MS Office. I may have clicked on the wrong button, it causes Windows to download all Windows updates at the same time. It also see updates to Office 2007 (on 5/7/2020); and I no longer have Office 2007 on my PC.

Anyway, I look under the Syster Restore points, there is no longer Restore Points pre 5/7/2020.

@rick505 said in No sound on my PC:

I’d say if sound plays during initial boot then you have no real hardware issues. That is, cords plugged in and speakers actually work. I’d right-click on the start button and look at Device Manager to see if Windows has an issue with any drivers, etc. shown generally with an exclamation point. You could also expand the Sound device(s) and see what Windows thinks is correct just in case.

There is no problem under Device Manager. What do you mean by “expand the Sound device(s) and see what Windows think is correct”?

@zerenia said in No sound on my PC:

@phat200 Maybe the system sounds are set to “No Sounds” in your Windows Sound Scheme? Here’s how to see what’s currently set and how to change the sound scheme:

[link text]https://winsounds.com/how-to-change-windows-sounds/(link url)

– Z –

There is no sound when I tested it. As I mentioned, the PC produce a sound when it was powered on and the Windows is launched. AFTER that, the sound is totally gone – e.g. no video sound, no program error sounds, etc.

The fact that the PC made a sound initially would indicate the relevant hardware/wires/etc are all good. It seems that something happens during the Startup to turn off ALL the sounds WITHOUT changing the system settings. e.g. I have set the OS to beep when I toggle on/off the CapsLock. It stopped making sound; and I thought somehow I turn it off. So I check that setting and that checkbox is still checked. The same thing with the Windows Sound. They are still associated with sounds; but no sound when I click the Test button.

What could turn off the sound on a global basis irregardless of the system settings???

TIA.