Solved Headphones suddenly stop working

K

Kinabalu

Member
Hi,

Something very strange happened to me today. I turned on my computer, and everything was working as normal. Then I played Amnesi (no idea if this has anything to do with it, but Im mentioning everything I can think of), and later I wanted to listen to some music. At that point, I was receiving no sound on my headphones. I didn't have time to solve the problem there and then, so I turned of my computer, and a few hours later I turned it back on again, only to discover that the problem was still there. I tested my headphones on another computer, and they are fine. I check all my audio settings, and nothing is muted. I also checked someone else's headphone on my computer, and got no sound.

What is going on?? Is my sound card not working? Any help would be appreciated.

EDIT: I just discovered that my taskbar is displaying the message: No audio output devices installed. Does this have anything to do with it? I think it does.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

LOL yes that message gives a clue to the problem
Go to search, by start button, type device manager
Look for any very small yellow markers, especially by Audio.
If you find any, update the driver
If none update the audio driver.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Thank you ever so much for the quick reply! Sadly, what you suggested did not fix the problem :/. I found no yellow markers anywhere, but I updated my audio drivers anyways (by the way, you said I should update the audio driver, but all could find that was audio related was a section called "Sounds, Video, Game controllers". Is that what you meant?). After the update my taskbar was still reporting "No audio output device installed". :( Any idea what to do now?
 

My Computer

System One

Yes, click on the little arrow on the left of the sound stuff and update what you find.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Alright, fixed the problem of "no audio device installed", but I am still getting no sound. I'll try the troubleshoot.

I tried the tutorial, but I don't think my problem has anything to do with the drivers. Its very strange, because they were working fine earlier today, and just stopped working suddenly.
 

My Computer

System One

Dont forget to try a reboot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I have, multiple times. One thing I did notice is that earlier I had 2 mic symbols in the taskbar, one white and one golden. After installing the new audio driver, the golden one dissapeared.
 

My Computer

System One

Try the trobuleshooting?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
OK the clue about the missing icon may be of help. Go to the webiste of the problem headphone. Download the driver from there.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Actually, the 2 mics were there before I even had the headset. I think it had something to do with the Realtek driver, which I am now apparently lacking, although all drivers are shown to be working. Weird..

I'll have to look for the Realtek driver and re-install it.
 

My Computer

System One

That would be the very best first step, at this point.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
My best guess is that it is a driver problem. If you download the drivers, it should work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
ALRIGHT, ITS FIXXED :D!
You have no idea how thankful I am for all the help, thanks a million! Is there anything I can do in return, except give you rep :)?
 

My Computer

System One

Well in appreciation, the rep, which you already gave, a smile and a thank you would start my New Year off right. Happy New Year to you may friend, glad that I could help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Happy New Year to you too :D! Thanks again

EDIT: Ok something weird happened...
Whilst I was trying to fix the sound problem, I plugged a pair of external speakers into my PC. They did not work. Now, after installing all the drivers, my headphones started working again. So I though it was all done with, and wanted to plug out the speakers, but as I did so, my headphones went silent again. Basically I figured out that for my headphones to work, I have to leave the speakers plugged in aswell, even though they are not turned on!

It might be importan to note that I plugged in my headset to the front side of the PC, whilst the speakers are plugged in at the back. I have 6 different "holes (or whatever you wanna call em) into which I can plug speakers, but my headset will only work if I leave the speakers plugged into a particular one.

Why do my speakers need to be plugged in for my headset to work, even though my speakers have no power connection?
 

My Computer

System One

You may want to go back to device manager and make sure all usb drivers are up to date.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
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