Windows 7: Realtek Sound card appears to be broken

My Dell XPS laptop suddenly lost sound.
I have uninstalled and installed the driver twice and rebooted several time to no avail. Is there any solution - do I have to replace the sound card or could it be more sinister.
Does anyone have any advice on what I should do.

I do support on the Dell forum, maybe I can help.
Your system specs show an XPS12 (which specific model there are 3) and Win 10. Is this correct?

Laptops (and desktops) with Realtek have the chip on the motherboard, if it were bad (which I doubt) it would require replacing the motherboard (or daughter board in some models).

What is the status of the Realtek in the Device Manager. Does it show working OK or an error code?
If it shows working OK, is it set as the default playback device ("Speakers").

Finally, if its still in Warranty its best to contact Dell support, if there is a problem, only Dell support
can get it corrected under warranty.

By the way we have a sister forum for Windows 10, Windows 10 Help Forums

Dear Fireberd my laptop is XPS 129Q33

In the Device manager the Realtek status shhows a warning and the following error:
This device cannot start. (Code 10)
{Operation Failed}
The requested operation was unsuccessful.

When I tried to install the driver, it generated an error and was not able to complete the install.

My laptop is well past warranty - its 4 years old. I think it might have something to do with the Audio Jack port, because when I plug in audio jack there is no detection or sound. But my Jabra USB headset does work.
I bought an audio port on ebay - do you think I should change the audio port?

Reinstall the Intel motherboard chipset drivers then try the Realtek driver (both from the Dell downloads).
Support for XPS 12 9Q33 | Drivers & downloads | Dell US

If I try to re-install the motherboard chipset driver, wont it effectively mean I cant access the CPU etc ...

I looked on the Dell site and could not find the motherboard chipset driver

The "Intel Chipset Device Software" is the chipset driver. Install that first and then the Realtek sound as originally suggested.
It will not disable anything. One of the things the chipset drivers do is identify all the devices on the motherboard, thus it may fix the Realtek driver install and Code 10.

If I can't get this resolved, post on the Dell forum (laptop section) so our Laptop experts can assist.
XPS - Dell Community

First rate advice FireBerd
Your directions and advice fixed my nightmare.

Thank you very much for helping a total stranger

Good you fixed it.

Please mark this thread as Solved.