New
#1
Audio stops working, "No Audio Output Device Installed"
I'm running a Dell XPS 420, which came with Windows Vista. I decided this morning that I was going to give Windows 7 a try, backed up some media on another PC, and did a completely fresh install.
Everything worked perfectly, I didn't even have to install any drivers. My native resolution was automatically correct, the sound worked, the internet worked, everything was dandy. It worked perfectly, and for the record, I really enjoyed it. I used it for several hours, getting used to the new features and whatnot.
I went to sleep for a few hours, and then went out for a while. When I came back, the sound had stopped working. It gave me no error at the time, it just didn't work. WinAmp wouldn't play my MP3s, Youtube videos were without audio, system sounds weren't playing, and yet, the volume was enabled and at an audible level of 67. My speakers were still connected properly, too.
I figured maybe a reboot was in order, and when I restarted, there was no sound still. Now, however, the speaker taskbar icon had a red x next to it, with the words "No Audio Output Device is installed." on the tooltip. I rebooted again and there was no change.
Using the Windows 7 trouble shooter, it says that "Hardware changes might not have been detected."
The odd thing is, this has happened to me before with Windows Vista. I wanted to perform a clean re-install of Vista, and when I did so, the sound worked perfectly for a few hours, before going out again. I would re-install Vista and the sound would come back, and then go away again after several hours with no logical rhyme or reason. About five Vista reformats in, the problem ceased and it worked for upwards of a year, and was still working when I decided to try 7.
When it started happening on 7, I figured, alright, I've got nothing to lose, and re-installed again. Didn't work. Now it installed without sound at all, and three additional re-install attempts have gotten the same results.
I'd really appreciate it if maybe somebody had some ideas. I really want to give this a go for a while.