I have no sound at all....please tell me what to do...?

Question

I am very computer illiterate, so if you dont tell me exactly the steps to take, it wont help me at all.
I have windows XP. I have a desktop computer--no laptop. My computer is from Dell.
One previous question was asked about this same kind of problem and it turned out her real player was muted---how do I check to see if that is also why I dont have sound?

Answer 1

A couple of things.....
1) Go to Start/Programs/Accessories/Entertainment - and you'll see your speaker icon there. Double click it and make sure that mute is not checked.

2) Go to Your Control Panel: Start/Settings/Control Panel and click on sound and see if you can get sound from ANTHING.... that will tell you something.

3) Put headphones in and see if you can hear sound through them (which means your card is find)

4) (should be 1) - Make sure your speakers are on - also if you have a subwoofer - make sure the button is pushed down

5) Right mouse button click on My Computer and go to Properties and find the tab that says Hardware, then Device Manager and see if you have a (!) or (?) next to where it says SOUND (you have to click on the + next to sound).

These things should give you a lot of information about what's going on. Could be really simple.... (probably is)

Answer 2

To check if your computer's sound is muted, click the icon in the system tray (bottom right-hand corner of your screen) that looks like a little speaker. If your sound is muted, there will be a check mark in the little square. Click the check mark to make it disappear and your sound won't be muted any more.

I don't use Real Player but if the above instructions don't help and you think Real Player is the culprit, open Real Player, and somewhere on it or in the menus you should find if the sound is muted and how to unmute it.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

If this just started recently, and you didn't turn off your speakers, or mute the sound using the icon next to the clock, then it might be a problem with the sound driver. You might have to re-install the driver, or look for an updated driver. If your Dell is still under a service contract, call them and they'll be glad to step you through it over the phone.

Answer 4

go to the bar on the bottom of the screen- where the start button is- and see if there is a little icon tht shows a little speaker like thing click on it
if u cant see it click on the little arrow thts faceing away from the other icons- there may be more icons

is ur computer new? u might not have a sound card

hopes this helps

Answer 5

Try the simple steps first:
1. Make sure your speakers are plugged in properly
2. Make sure they're plugged into the correct socket(s)
If this doesn't work, get a friend to try your speakers on his/her computer. If they don't work, get some new speakers!