Vista - Audio Device - Enable Hidden Devices

**Brink**

How to Enable Hidden Audio Devices in Vista

Information

This will show you how to enable hidden disabled audio devices in the Sound Control Panel window so they will be available to use now.

NOTE

These now enabled audio devices will also now be available to all programs that allow you to select audio devices.

Tip

Enabled the Stereo Mix device, if you have this option, will allow you to record all sounds played on your computer using Sound Recorder without a microphone.

RELATED LINKS:

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View)
NOTE: Open the Start menu and click on the Control Panel menu button.

2. Click on the Sound icon.

3. Click on the Recording tab. (See screenshot below step 4)
NOTE: This will also work in the Playback tab, but there is usually not any hidden audio devices there.

4. Right click on a empty area and click on Show Disabled Devices.

5. You will now see the disabled audio devices with the arrow pointing down on them. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: These audio devices will vary depending on the installed audio card or chip you have.

6. Right click on each listed disabled audio device that you want to enable and click on Enable. (See screenshot below)

7. You will now see this when the audio devices are enabled. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can now change the properties settings on these audio devices to how you want them.

8. Click OK to close the Sound window.

That's it,
Shawn

**lqd1967** · 07-05-2008

Great!
Thanks for sharing this knowledge.

**Brink** · 07-06-2008

Your welcome lqd1967.

Shawn

johnclarkiii · 09-15-2008

thank you much!

**Brink** · 09-15-2008

Your welcome John, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

franniepan · 07-17-2009

Thanks for this advice, however I still am only seeing the microphone and speakers. The sound card is not showing at all. I have Intel(R) High Definition Audio HDMI on my HP laptop, running Vista Home Premium 32 bit. I have also revealed hidden/ghost devices in device manager, but the sound card appeared even before I did this and it still doesn't appear in the control panel despite following the above tutorial.

Any ideas why this might not be coming up and what I can do to fix it? I'm trying to record from an audio stream, and need to enable this to be able to do this.

Thanks in anticipation.

**Brink** · 07-17-2009

Hello Frannie, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Usually if the sound card is not showing in Device Manager, you will need to install or reinstall the drivers for the sound device.

What model is your HP laptop? I may be able to help find the drivers for you at HP's website.

franniepan · 07-18-2009

Hello Brink -

well, that's the problem really. The sound card is showing in device manager, but not in the sound control panel even after clicking on 'show disabled devices'. I've uninstalled and reinstalled it as you suggested, but this hasn't made a difference. I'm at a bit of a loss on this one.

FYI, the HP model is a Compaq Presario CQ60 Notebook PC.

**Brink** · 07-18-2009

The disabled audio devices in the screenshots in the tutorial are just features of my sound device. Not all sound devices will have the same features or disabled audio devices as this though. Could you post a screenshot of what you are seeing to see if it may help more?

franniepan · 07-18-2009

Yeah, I figured, but I'm surprised to have nothing but the speakers and microphone showing as per the requested screenshot(s).

07-05-2008
lqd1967 Vista Ultimate x32 13 posts	Re: Audio Device - Enable Hidden Devices Great! Thanks for sharing this knowledge.
My System Specs

07-06-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Audio Device - Enable Hidden Devices Your welcome lqd1967. Shawn
My System Specs

09-15-2008
johnclarkiii Ultimate x64 1 posts	Re: Audio Device - Enable Hidden Devices thank you much!
My System Specs

09-15-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Audio Device - Enable Hidden Devices Your welcome John, and welcome to Vista Forums. Shawn
My System Specs

07-17-2009
franniepan vista home premium 32bit 3 posts	Re: Audio Device - Enable Hidden Devices Thanks for this advice, however I still am only seeing the microphone and speakers. The sound card is not showing at all. I have Intel(R) High Definition Audio HDMI on my HP laptop, running Vista Home Premium 32 bit. I have also revealed hidden/ghost devices in device manager, but the sound card appeared even before I did this and it still doesn't appear in the control panel despite following the above tutorial. Any ideas why this might not be coming up and what I can do to fix it? I'm trying to record from an audio stream, and need to enable this to be able to do this. Thanks in anticipation. Last edited by franniepan; 07-17-2009 at 07:37 PM..
My System Specs

07-18-2009
franniepan vista home premium 32bit 3 posts	Re: Audio Device - Enable Hidden Devices Hello Brink - well, that's the problem really. The sound card is showing in device manager, but not in the sound control panel even after clicking on 'show disabled devices'. I've uninstalled and reinstalled it as you suggested, but this hasn't made a difference. I'm at a bit of a loss on this one. FYI, the HP model is a Compaq Presario CQ60 Notebook PC.
My System Specs

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