Realtek Audio HD Driver is not working

[AntonioC]

Hi, I am new to these forums and I've tried every possible way to fixing this problem, but I still cant fix it. My problem is that my sound icon says "No audio output device is installed". Ive tried installing Realtek through Device Manager and legacy installs. Even through Windows Troubleshooter and it still doesnt work. This has been going on for 2 days and it wasnt like this before. My model is CQ5621F from HP and I hope someone is able to help me.

 

[fireberd]

If it worked OK previously, use the System Restore function and restore the PC to an available restore date this BEFORE you had the problem. System Restore will fix many problems (and does not delete any user data). System Restore can be accessed from Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools.

A comment on your 64bit OS installation. 3GB of RAM is woefully inadequate and you are not getting any benefits from the 64 bit OS as the main reason to have 64 bit OS is having more than 4GB of RAM. In fact you have less useable RAM as a 64 bit OS requires more memory than a 32 bit.

 

[AntonioC]

I did do a system restore to the date before it happened. It did not fix it and yes, I do realize the 64 bit OS issue on systems less than 4 gbs of ram.

 

[fireberd]

Please post a screenshot of the Device Manager, Sound section.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

In ref to the 64 bit OS. It uses more basic memory than a 32 bit, thus there is less available for program use.

 

[AntonioC]

 

[fireberd]

Disable the Microsoft Life Cam and then see if that makes any difference. Some Cams have been known to interfere with PC sound.

You may have to force a reinstall of the RealTek after disabling the cam. In the Device Manager, RIGHT click on the RealTek entry to highlight it and then LEFT click "Uninstall". DO NOT uninstall the drivers. Restart the PC and see if Windows detects the sound and reinstalls it.

 

[AntonioC]

Did that and Windows did not detect the sound, so it did not reinstall it after unistalling and restarting.

 

[fireberd]

If it was not detected, the sound could have been somehow disabled in the BIOS. I don't know what F key you press to enter the BIOS at boot up, but that is the next step - make sure its enabled in the BIOS.

 

[AntonioC]

I went to the BiOS before and checked that it was enabled. It is enabled

 

[fireberd]

If the device is present (the sound chip) Windows would at least install the generic basic function "High Definition Audio Device (Codec). As this is not happening, either a BIOS glitch or something has happened to the hardware.

Did you have some type of hardware error, power failure, etc? and it didn't work after that?

 

[AntonioC]

That I am not sure. I simply went off the computer (shutdown) and went back on 3 hours later and my audio started to not work.

 

[fireberd]

You've done everything to get it back, except a complete reinstall and that is not something I like to suggest.

Try resetting the BIOS and see if helps. Since you have a desktop, with the PC powered off, open the case, remove the CR2032 CMOS (BIOS) backup battery for at least 10 minutes. Replace the battery, observing polarity and then power on and see what happens. If there were any customization in the BIOS you will have to reset that.

 

[AntonioC]

Is complete reinstall reformatting? If so, I have also done that,

 

[Slartybart]

Jack (fireberd) is tops with audio, I'm just jumping in to suggest HP centric trouble shooting pages.

No Sound from the Speakers or Headphones (Windows 7) Compaq Presario CQ5621F Desktop PC | HP® Support

Error in Windows 7: No Audio Output Device is installed Compaq Presario CQ5621F Desktop PC | HP® Support

You've already done some of the steps in the troubleshooting pages above. There might be a nugget of information that might help.

You should also check that Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint builder services are started. I think the mixer dialog will prompt you to restart them if they are not started.

The Event log summary might also clue you in to service issues (error or warning)

Back to fireberd ... good luck

 

[AntonioC]

I have done most of the steps outlined in the HP page and none of them seemed to work for me. Also, when I try to troubleshoot the problem, it says there is a problem with audio driver and when I apply the reinstall fix, it gives me the error that it failed.

 

[fireberd]

There is either a hardware problem or a Windows problem. If the RealTek drivers are not working, in almost all cases Windows would install the generic "High Definition Audio Controller (Codec) and that would give you basic sound. That apparently not happening.

Did you reset the BIOS - removing the CMOS back up battery as suggested? If the BIOS is not recognizing or not properly recognizing the Sound Chip, Windows will not see it.

If its not the BIOS (or actual hardware) then a Windows corruption is the next thing - and on a "clean" install (reformat the hard drive), and before RealTek is installed, Windows will install the HD Audio Controller, during install, providing its not hardware.

From what I see on the HP site, this Compaq originally had Vista, but Vista/Win 7 are basically the same. Windows 7 is basically "Vista Improved".

 

[Slartybart]

Disable the Microsoft Life Cam and then see if that makes any difference. Some Cams have been known to interfere with PC sound.

You may have to force a reinstall of the RealTek after disabling the cam. In the Device Manager, RIGHT click on the RealTek entry to highlight it and then LEFT click "Uninstall". DO NOT uninstall the drivers. Restart the PC and see if Windows detects the sound and reinstalls it.

@fireberd: I think it might be time to roll the audio all the way back to the base audio. In this post you said DO NOT uninstall the drivers - it might be time to remove the software when uninstalling so that Windows finds the device and installs the base driver.

@Antonio: Have you tried headphones - that would eliminate speakers being bad, off or low volume.

I had an HP that developed a few device problems (no audio and no DVD) - a reinstall solved the issues for a while, but they came back. I was able to solve the audio issue, but I can't recall the resolution. Too many attempts with drivers and configurations and it was a long time ago.

Fix: "This device cannot start" Code 10 error in Device Manager in Windows
I don't know your comfort level with the registry Antonio, but the KB article above reminded me of other things I attempted way back when.

I would hold off on any manual registry changes until you've eliminated all other solutions.
The uninstall - roll back to base driver might do the trick.

 

[Slartybart]

I have done most of the steps outlined in the HP page and none of them seemed to work for me. Also, when I try to troubleshoot the problem, it says there is a problem with audio driver and when I apply the reinstall fix, it gives me the error that it failed.

Most of the steps?
--> Try all of the steps.

Troubleshooting - what was the exact information ... was it simply there is a problem with audio driver or was there more information?

Reinstall the fix?
Error that it failed?

You'll need to be more specific - members can't see what you see.

What was the fix you tried? Reinstalling the driver?
What was the error code and exact message.

You can post screen shots of any error dialog boxes.
See: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Thanks

 

[fireberd]

My take, from what the user has posted. Windows is not seeing the sound hardware. Three things can cause this (1) the BIOS is not detecting it (and if the BIOS is not detecting it then Windows will not detect it). (2) There is a hardware problem with the Device (3) A Windows Corruption (or not installed properly).

Jack

 

[AntonioC]

Sorry for late reply,

@Slatty, I have always used speakers and just not long ago, I switched to headphones. The issue here is that the Driver has a problem. The troubleshooter simply said there's a problem with the driver, nothing else and the fix did not work. Also, I literally have no experience with the registry.

@Fire, I have tried resetting the BiOS and removed the battery and what you have suggested.