Troubleshooting Sound Issues in Windows 7: Part Three

This is part Three of the series on the subject of troubleshooting sound issues in Windows 7. In this part we will look at the drivers and installation of the sound hardware within the computer.

1. To begin, click on the Start button in the bottom left.
   
   


2. On the right side of the new Start Menu window, right-click on Computer and choose Properties.
   
   


3. On the new window, click on Device Manager in the top left.
   • After clicking on Device Manager, you may be prompted to allow or grant permission. Choose the option in the affirmative (Yes/Allow) to continue.
     
     
   
   
4. Within this new Device Manager window, locate the section labeled Sound, video and game controllers.
   
   


5. If this section is not listed, check any resource or drivers discs included with your computer for sound/audio drivers. Otherwise, check the manufacturer’s website for a driver download.
6. IIf it is listed, double-click on Sound, video and game controllers to expand that item.
   • In most cases the sound card will be listed as High Definition Audio Device. If that is not listed it may be under another name.
     
     
   


7. Right-click on the sound card and choose Uninstall.
   
   


8. When prompted, click OK to uninstall. If prompted to delete the drivers, do not delete the drivers.
   
   


9. Once uninstalled, close any open windows and save all open work, then restart the computer.
10. After the reboot, ensure that the volume is turned up and then test the sound on the computer. If it still does not function there is typically some form of hardware malfunction, and the computer will need to be serviced.

You can also contact Technical Support here.

Troubleshooting Sound Issues in Windows 7: Part Two

This is part Two of the series on the subject of troubleshooting sound issues in Windows 7. In part two we will look at the configuration of the speakers in Windows.

1. Right-click on the audio icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
   
   


2. On the menu that opens, choose "Playback Devices".
   
   


3. On the new window, look for which item has the green check mark next to it, meaning it has been set to default. If using standard speakers through the green port on the back, it should be set to Speakers.
   
   


4. If Speakers is not set as the default device, right-click on Speakers and choose Set as Default Device.
   
   


5. Once Speakers has been set as default, go ahead and right-click on Speakers and then choose Test.
   
   


6. If a sound is heard through the speakers, then the speakers are set up and configured properly. If not, try raising the volume again using the volume icon in the bottom right, this time left-clicking on it.
7. Once the volume slider is opened, drag it to the top to ensure that the volume is at the maximum.
   
   


8. Once this is done, test the speakers again. If it still does not work, proceed to Troubleshooting Sound Issues in Windows 7: Part Three.

You can also contact Technical Support here.

Troubleshooting Sound Issues in Windows 7: Part One

This is a technical troubleshooting article for troubleshooting issues with sound on a Windows 7 computer. In this article we will go over the hardware aspect, ensuring that the speakers in use are compatible and connected properly. If you have a laptop and are using built-in speakers, you can skip this document and proceed to Part Two.

1. Ensure that the speakers are powered speakers. To say that you have Powered Speakers effectively means that the speakers have a separate power source, such as a USB port on the computer or a wall outlet.
   • In previous times, powered speakers were unnecessary due to the high-powered sound cards included in computer. More recently the speakers require their own power, thus speakers that are not powered will typically have very little, if any, volume.
2. Plug the speakers in to their power source, turn them on and up. On the front of one of the speakers, or their remote if applicable, there is a power button or switch and a volume knob. Make sure they are turned on and turned up to about half way.
3. Take the audio cable coming from the speakers:
   
   
   (Source: Own Photo)
4. Plug the audio cable in to the green port on the back of the computer:
   
   
   (Source: Own Photo)
   
   
5. Test the audio using Windows Media Player or your favorite method. If the sound still does not work, move on to Troubleshooting Sound Issues in Windows 7: Part Two.