Windows Audio service not running ! But it is ?

Like everyone else this just surfaced for me as well. However, while the proposed fix may fix the system tray icon it is not fixing the real problem. I'm using a USB Titanium Sound Card, and the system sound works fine, but the icon isn't just a random glitch. Upon going into the actual setting for the sound card I find the "What You Hear" icon is no longer working, unless headphones are plugged in. It stopped working all of a sudden, and rebooting caused the red icon to show up. Any permanent fix welcome...

Its is a bug, i have three computers running Windows 7 Home, Professional, and Ultimate, all have updated sound drivers, microsoft needs to fix this problem. operating system bug, probably in the registry.

Apparently I found what is causing this problem with the sound icon showing up with a red X, when your system boots the audio service is hanging, while other system processes start. Don't know if this can fix the problem but, try this.
Go to the registry editor and look for this key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]

find HungAppTimeout, string and delete it.

or you can add it or change the value, default value is 5000 for this device, you can change it to 9000.

if it is not present and you want to add it, right click, add new string value : HungAppTimeout, set value to 9000,
hope this helps

Same problem here very randomly. Recommended fix - adjust volume - worked for me too. Still happening in Autumn 2013. Doesn't look as if anyone is attempting to fix it.

Thanks cyberman...it worked..go figure!

Although the solution to this issue is as simple as pie, it of course will not resolve the cause which as far as I'm aware is a corrupted icon cache. Rebuilding the icon cache corrects the problem permanently.

I was surprised to note that activating Windows 7's "God Mode" did not offer an option to rebuild the icon cache however, there are independent Windows tweaking tools that do. TweakNow Power Pack is one of them. It has some genuinely useful tools although the program is only available as shareware now. Previously, they also offered a free version which, at the time of writing, is still available on softonic.com's site. Personally, I found the $15 fee for the Pro version quite reasonable and I use the program often but do take the time to look at what else is available as there may be something even better out there.

Hi there
My names is janet and im going to pull my hair out
I have a dell xps 410 desktop, yes i know its a dinasour ,and just put windows 7 on it and for 2 days have been trying to download all sorts of audio drivers from the dell sight and other sight too and i get no sound, i see in the audio devices , i play movie and the bar goes up and down on the playback but dont hear anything, in device manager everythings working ,no yellows ??,please help me thank you