Windows 10: No audio output device is installed - trouble shooting not fixing the issue

Hello,


I purchased this PC a few months ago, and suddenly at one point the audio is completely absent. Instead of a volume control icon, it reads "no audio output device is installed" with a red x. This has been rather sporadic over time: whenever my PC is rebooted, it seems to randomly choose whether the audio works or not. However, at this point I don't think it is random. It seems to be related to Windows updates somehow, such that whenever Dell sends an update the PC's sound gets fixed, but whenever Windows sends an update it immediately becomes unfixed. Currently, my PC's software is up to date (and the audio doesn't work), and in fact the issue temporarily went away when I completed the 1803 October update, but it just came back again when the PC was next rebooted.


Using Windows 10 on a Dell Inspiron 15 5567. I also have Ubuntu 16.04 installed on a different partition, but it seems audio is not available on either operating system (this was also sporadic in the past as well, sometimes it would be on one OS, sometimes both).


I meticulously went through the automated help desk and crossed off every single possible solution:

-Run the audio troubleshooter: It detects the issue, and recommends restarting the PC. Upon restart, the issue is unresolved, and the troubleshooter reports it cannot find any other solution.


-Check cable, speaker, volume and headphones: This is just the PC internal speakers. I am not using any USB or external headphones or speakers. I cannot adjust the volume as the start menu icon merely says "no audio output device is installed". If I try to click on the audio in the start menu, it runs the audio troubleshooter.


-Check device manager: The only audio-related driver on Device manager is "High definition audio controller", which is not working. If I update the driver I get the message "driver failed to start (code 10)". Whenever I uninstall the driver and check hardware changes, it comes right back in its same inoperable state.


-Reinstall driver: I downloaded the driver directly from Dell's support website. Ran the executable. It said the installer finished correctly, then restarted my PC. The issue was not resolved and device manager still listed no audio drivers.


-Set default device: The playback tab under Sound settings says "no audio devices are installed". All other options on this tab are greyed out.

In addition, I went through the Windows Services application and ensured that the audio services are all running automatically on startup.


So what do I do now? I would really really really like audio back on my PC. I'd give my left kidney at this point.


Nathan

:)

 

No audio output device is installed - trouble shooting not fixing the issue

Hello,

I purchased this PC a few months ago, and suddenly at one point the audio is completely absent. It reads "no audio output device is installed". At first, this would happen sporadically: sometimes the PC would boot up with audio, sometimes not. But recently,
its consistently been without audio for a while and I cannot seem to find any way of fixing the issue.

Using Windows 10 on a Dell Inspiron 15 5567. I also have Ubuntu 16.04 installed on a different partition, but it seems audio is not available on either operating system (this was also sporadic in the past as well, sometimes it would be on one OS, sometimes
both).

I meticulously went through the automated help desk and crossed off every single possible solution:

-Run the audio troubleshooter: It detects the issue, and recommends restarting the PC. Upon restart, the issue is unresolved, and the troubleshooter reports it cannot find any other solution.

-Check cable, speaker, volume and headphones: This is just the PC internal speakers. I am not using any USB or external headphones or speakers. I cannot adjust the volume as the start menu icon merely says "no audio output device is installed". If I try
to click on the audio in the start menu, it runs the audio troubleshooter.

-Check device manager: Device manager does not list any audio drivers at all. If I try to install drivers automatically, it says there aren't any to install. If I install the audio driver manually, it succeeds but says "driver cannot run (code 10)". If I
then try to update this driver, my PC crashes (giving a blue screen with a QR code). After the PC rebooted, there was no longer any audio driver.

-Reinstall driver: I downloaded the driver directly from Dell's support website. Ran the executable. It said the installer finished correctly, then restarted my PC. The issue was not resolved and device manager still listed no audio drivers.

-Set default device: The playback tab under Sound settings says "no audio devices are installed". All other options on this tab are greyed out.

So what do I do now? I would really really really like audio back on my PC.

If you need any screenshots or bug reports I can provide.

Nathan

 

No audio output device is installed - trouble shooting not fixing the issue

Well as I mentioned before, the troubleshooter for the audio says checking for hardware changes is an "issue not present". The device manager doesn't list any audio driver at all, and checking hardware changes automatically doesn't indicate any updates.
All of these remain the same after I installed the OS. Is there anything else I can check?

 

No Audio Output Device is installed

You can also try this possible solution to your Issue

Fix "No Audio Output Device Is Installed" Error with Device Mannager

Device Manager is another troubleshooter which could help to fix many common computer issues, including "no audio output device is installed" error on Windows 10.

Step 1. Open the search box, type devmgmt.mcs in the Run dialog to open Device Manager.

Step 2. Scroll down to find the catagory "Sound, video and game controllers", expand it to locate your audio device and select it.

Note: If you can not see the "Sound, video and game controllers" catagory, follow the steps below to find it.

• Select "Action" on the top of the panel. (If there is no "Action" tab, click on the blank place and then click on "Action")

• Select "Add Legacy hardware".

Click Next on the popping up Add Hardware Wizard window.

• Choose "Search for and install hardware automatically" and then hit "Next". (If the Wizard message reads "the wizard did not find any new hardware on your computer", click Next)

Scroll down to locate the "Sound, video and game controllers" option.

• Select it and then click Next.

• Choose your exact sound card and then click Next.

Click Next to install the audio driver and then click Finish.

Step 3. Right-click on the audio device. Select Enable.

Step 4. Now check whether the audio issue is solved. If persists, choose Uninstall to remove the audio driver.

Step 5. Reboot your computer to save the changes and Windows will load you the audio driver automatically.

Source:

https://www.drivethelife.com/windows-10/fix-no-...