Windows 7 - Sound at very low level or no sound

[pat0000]

Hello, I'm having some problems with my audio. My computer is a Windows 7 Home Edition, soundcard is a Realtek High Definition Audio. The volume level is at about 5% or less, it was working fine and all of a sudden I can't hear anything or I can barely hear. I can see the levels at max when I play something but I can't hear a thing.
Here is what I have tried:

1. I have tried raising all the levels from every device all the way to the top
2. I have changed the settings under Communications to > Do Nothing
3. I have uninstalled the drivers and re-installed. Downloaded the driver from Realtek and re-installed and also uninstalled the driver and re-installed automatically using windows 7 wizard.
4. I have checked for any errors in my sound card using Sound troubleshooter and everything seems to be OK with the sound card.
5. I also updated my drivers
6. I used different set of speakers and headphones but still no luck
7. I changed the plug from headphones to the hole in the back

If anyone knows what the problem may be I would really appreciate it. As I said it was working fine and suddenly the levels dropped to 5% or less. It went up to like 50% one time for about 2 seconds last night but now I can't hear anything. When I restart windows I can hear my speakers activate or something like that, but no other sound, not even the starting windows sound.

Thanks in advance

 

[Jacee]

See chev65's advice here and see if this might be your problem too http://www.sevenforums.com/sound-audio/21089-low-sound-volume.html#post234986

 

[pat0000]

Thanks for your response. I tried what you posted and changed it to DVD quality and I also tried all the others under that menu but still not working.. this is really weird

 

[Lemur]

Chev65 has excellent advice. One more thing I'd like to add is, if you have a notebook, check to see if there is an external control for volume on the notebook itself.

 

[pat0000]

This is a desktop HP P6000 Series- Windows 7 Home Premium Edition. It has 2 audio plug-ins, one in front and one in the back. When I open the sound properties I have 3 playback devices:

Speakers
Headphones
Realtek Digital Output

I have tried plugging my speakers to the front and back but none of them work. The levels on my volume seem to go all the way to the top though. I have no idea what the problem could be!

THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME FIGURE THIS OUT, I really appreciate it

 

[elikham]

Was this ever resolved

I have the same problem, and have tried all of the above. Could this be a registry error, if so how can I fix it. Or is my hardware hosed? (built in soundcard in a vaio laptop)

Please help,
eLiKHaM

 

[gargamit12]

i have vaio VGN-CR363, earlier it had windows vista but after installing windows 7, my sound output through speakers became very low almost negligible. i have tried re-installing drivers and also checked sound card setting, still no improvement. Also driver settings show "device working properly". please somebody help me out....