I accidentally disabled my speakers, how do I re-enable them???

Question

I have a Windows Vista Laptop and I accidentally disabled my built-in speakers in the sound window.

Now I don't have any sound on my Laptop! Whenever I open the "Sound" window, it says that there is "No audio output device installed".

Can somebody please help me?

Answer 1

Right-click the speaker icon in the notification area (it should have a red X on it)
Choose "Playback devices"
The Sound control panel should appear, on the "Playback Devices" tab - there won't be any playback devices visible.
Right-click in the main area of the window where the devices would normally appear.
Check the "Show Disabled Devices" option.

At this point your speakers should re-appear, but will still be disabled.
Right-click the speakers and choose Enable.

Answer 2

Omg...   THANK YOU!!!

My sound was accidentally disabled, and I didn't know how to fix it.  I though I had to get new headphones...  I bought at least three new pairs of headphones.  I was so stupid, that was so simple!!

thank you!  :)

Answer 3

Hey dude!
Thanks so much; I havn't had sound in ages and I've been trying to find out that for the whole time!
:):):):):):)):):)):):):):):):):):):):):):)
You are a true master!

Answer 4

thanks alot dude i had same problem

Answer 5

Mate You Are A Life Saver I thought I Had Broke my Speakers, Only Got It Two Days Ago :]]

Thanks A Lot Buddy!!

Answer 6

I also accidentally disabled my speakers and have read on a thousand forums that all I have to do is right click a viola! But, it's not working. I even tried to do a system restore, but I still have no sound! I don't know what else to do!!

Answer 7

I suggest you to visit a forum that covers Windows audio, such as the music and sound forum on Microsoft Answer forums.

I don't suggest you to expect timely answers about speakers from a forum of professional music software authors. People who want to help others in Windows audio problems probably would not come here to answer these questions because people do not usually expect professional music software authors to raise such problems.

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Answer 8

AWESOME! YOU ROCK!
Boy, THAT was intuitive *rolls eyes*
People wonder why Apple is kicking a$z.

Answer 9

Thank You, you are amazing

Answer 10

Thanks loads was totally stuffed and you solved my issues.  Much thanks

Answer 11

Thankyou very much ^ was going to panic otherwise!

Answer 12

Thank you. Worked a treat.

Answer 13

!!!FIX FIX FIX FIX!!!

For Vista

I did this and was a bit lost for a while - here's the fix if you did the same as me>>>

1. Right click on the speaker icon near the clock.
2. Click PLAY BACK DEVICES.
3. The SOUND window opens.
4. In a BLANK space RIGHT click.
5. A pop up option says SHOW DISABLED DEVICES, check that.
6. The speakers you've been missing should appear.
7. RIGHT click on that device, and ENABLE it, then set as DEFAULT
8. DONE!

Good luck!

Answer 14

!!!FIX FIX FIX FIX!!!

For Vista

I did this and was a bit lost for a while - here's the fix if you did the same as me>>>

1. Right click on the speaker icon near the clock.
2. Click PLAY BACK DEVICES.
3. The SOUND window opens.
4. In a BLANK space RIGHT click.
5. A pop up option says SHOW DISABLED DEVICES, check that.
6. The speakers you've been missing should appear.
7. RIGHT click on that device, and ENABLE it, then set as DEFAULT
8. DONE!

Good luck!

Works as written for Windows 7 as well.  Note that the disabled device(s) will not show as a problem in the device manager (devices are present with no red X).  Also, knowing that you can hide unused devices by disabling them, and that you now know how to reenable them, go ahead an hide unused devices to make it easier to not accidentally choose devices that are not intended.

Answer 15

Just want to add my thanks to you!  I was sure that 'disabled devices' could be found *somewhere*, and tried control panel, device manager, restart, scan for new hardware -- came up empty with all. Was in the middle of a project that required audio when I stupidly disabled -- this was a fast save!

I second the eye-rolling as to intuitiveness, though ;)

Answer 16

Thank you so much!  You helped me too!

Answer 17

My apology. I misunderstood your instruction although it was very clear.

              I have right clicked the SPEAKER which has a green tick on it.The set Default button is greyed out so I cannot select it to turn speakers back on and set as default. I can go to Configure but that does not help me get the sound back.Hope that is clear.Any help is greatly appreciated because this one has me beat at the moment.

Answer 18

Borocavalier: if you right-click the speaker and choose Test, do you see some of the horizontal gray lines (the meter) turn green and then back to gray?  Do you hear sound?

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Matthew van Eerde

Answer 19

i did what u said but it didnt work it only show that the hdmi is disabled nothing else and my computer is vista and i know alot about computers but i cant figure out what is wrong so can u help

Answer 20

Jasper1412 can you do the following:

1. Open the Start menu
2. Type DXDiag in the search box
3. Run DXDiag.exe
4. Save All Information
5. Save the file as dxdiag.txt
6. Open the file
7. Copy all the information
8. Post it into this thread, or preferably a new thread, along with a description of what seems to be wrong

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Matthew van Eerde

Answer 21

Thank You!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 22

Thanks for the help.   I didn't ask the quesiton but needed help, did a search and fixed the problem about as quickly as I made it.

Thanks

ID

Answer 23

That was great!! Thanks a million...