No audio output device is installed

KayHai

Honorable
Aug 10, 2012
25
0
10,530
So my audio recently stopped working because I tried to fix my fallout 3 game by uninstalling my realtek hd audio drivers and reinstalling them (sounds stupid I know but apparently this is the best fix) so now I have a red cross on my speaker icon telling me that "No audio output device is installed"

I tried reinstalling the drivers again and again but it never worked. And I also tried disabling my nvidia sound drivers, which I didnt know I had until I looked in my device manager.

EDIT* disabling and re enabling the realtek drivers dont seem to work either
I even went to my motherboards manufacturers website (gigabyte ga-a75-ud4h) to get the audio drivers from there (which are just regular realtek drivers)

Realtek HD audio manager seems to recognize my speakers when I plug them in, but nothing from windows

 
Solution
Okay. Well, give this a try.

First, turn down the volume on the computer to about fifty percent. We don't need ear-drums problems that could render this entire exercise irrelevant.

Right click on the volume icon.

Select 'Recording devices'.

Click on the top one and click on Properties.

Select the Listen tab and check the Listen to this device' box.

Select the Levels tab and boost the volume a little.

Do the same for all the 'Recording devices'.

If you find one that works, set it as default and stop the other devices from being listened to, if you want.

Any improvement?

himnextdoor

Honorable
Oct 26, 2013
704
0
11,160
Did you run your driver installer as administrator?

Something you could try is -

Go to device manager and select your audio device from the list and open it.

Click on the 'Driver' tab and select 'Update driver'.

Let the computer try to do it automatically first and if that doesn't work, choose to find the driver yourself by browsing to it.

Now, there should be a folder, probably on the C: drive where your drivers are extracted to when the driver package runs. Try to locate the Realtech folder and see if there is a sub-folder that contains 64-bit and 32-bit files.

This is where the relevant .inf files should be.

Browse to this folder, depending on whether your system is 32- or 64-bit, in the 'Update driver' screen and locate the .inf file.

Open it.

Does the driver install?
 

himnextdoor

Honorable
Oct 26, 2013
704
0
11,160
In the picture you provided, the 'Main Volume' seems to be minimal. Is the audio muted here?

Also, do you have your 'Speakers' set as default output or is S/PDIF digital output selected as default?

Maybe if you uninstall the Gigabyte application, Windows will be able to 'choose' the correct default device via Control Panel > Sounds?
 

KayHai

Honorable
Aug 10, 2012
25
0
10,530
turning up the speaker volume doesnt help, and speakers are set to default.

Uninstalling realtek drivers give me this:



and this:



[strike]now the speaker icon seems to be missing[/strike]

Icon is back with the same red cross, but now when I put my mouse over it, instead of reading "No audio output device is installed" I get "No speakers or headphones are plugged in (they are)
 

himnextdoor

Honorable
Oct 26, 2013
704
0
11,160
Okay. Well, give this a try.

First, turn down the volume on the computer to about fifty percent. We don't need ear-drums problems that could render this entire exercise irrelevant.

Right click on the volume icon.

Select 'Recording devices'.

Click on the top one and click on Properties.

Select the Listen tab and check the Listen to this device' box.

Select the Levels tab and boost the volume a little.

Do the same for all the 'Recording devices'.

If you find one that works, set it as default and stop the other devices from being listened to, if you want.

Any improvement?
 
Solution

Shinigami andi

Reputable
Sep 19, 2014
2
0
4,510



Hi himnextdoor.
Thank you loads for the help! It Worked! Managed to successfully install and fix the driver issue. Quite easy actually. Thanks again much appreciate. : )