Computer sound problem: please help

[krunchyfrogg]

I get sound just fine most of the time on my computer: If I pop in a CD, when the computer boots up or is shutting down, I even popped in an old video game to check it out. My problem is that I can't hear anything when on sites like YouTube. I get an error message saying that there aren't any sound devices installed if I click on that little speaker icon.

Can any techies lend me some advice?

TIA

 

[XCorvis]

Weird. What web browser are you using? Try a different one and see if it works there. IE, Firefox and Opera are all fine and should work with YouTube.

 

[Redrobes]

Only thing I can think of is that the browser is running a media player and that media players volume is off or muted even though the system volume and mute is ok. You could try running up windows media player and seeing if its volume slider is off... There might be an obvious reason but I cant think of it.

Is the windows boot sound coming from the same speakers or the internal one ? If a music CD plays sound that might be different as the CD drive usually has a direct wire connection for CD audio. The game sound is odd tho.

 

[Mycanid]

Did this happen after an install or an upgrade or a download or something "out of the normal" everyday use?

Strange.

 

[babomb]

1.) Check your volume controls, and not just the master volume: double click the speaker icon in the system tray and make sure none of the volumes are muted or turned down very low.
2.) Try in a different browser.
3.) Update your Flash player here.
4.) Try a different website that uses flash, such as http://www.mlcsmith.com/strange/hatten/assets/hatten.swf.
5.) Try downloading a flash file and playing it outside of your browser.
6.) Try reinstalling your sound drivers.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Weird. What web browser are you using? Try a different one and see if it works there. IE, Firefox and Opera are all fine and should work with YouTube.

I've only tried with Firefox.

Only thing I can think of is that the browser is running a media player and that media players volume is off or muted even though the system volume and mute is ok. You could try running up windows media player and seeing if its volume slider is off... There might be an obvious reason but I cant think of it.

The volume is on in the player. I tried muting it and turning it back on also.

Is the windows boot sound coming from the same speakers or the internal one ? If a music CD plays sound that might be different as the CD drive usually has a direct wire connection for CD audio. The game sound is odd tho.

I'm not sure where the boot sound is coming from.

Did this happen after an install or an upgrade or a download or something "out of the normal" everyday use?

Strange.

I updated my avast antivirus. And ended a free trial of zone alarm plus (and immediately went back to normal zone alarm firewall).

1.) Check your volume controls, and not just the master volume: double click the speaker icon in the system tray and make sure none of the volumes are muted or turned down very low.
2.) Try in a different browser.
3.) Update your Flash player here.
4.) Try a different website that uses flash, such as http://www.mlcsmith.com/strange/hatten/assets/hatten.swf.
5.) Try downloading a flash file and playing it outside of your browser.
6.) Try reinstalling your sound drivers.

I'll try later when I get home tonight.

Thanks everybody.

What really concerns me is that I get the error that there are no sound devices installed, when there must be if I'm getting stuff to make sound outside of the internet.

 

[XCorvis]

...
What really concerns me is that I get the error that there are no sound devices installed, when there must be if I'm getting stuff to make sound outside of the internet.

Right, so probably there's a problem with one of the programs that is trying to access the sound devices unsuccessfully, which is either Firefox or Flash.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

I have scripts disabled on firefox, but that's not the problem because I can temporarily disable them and the problem is still there.

EDIT: BTW, since I'm posting from home here, I can type the exact error message (it might help):

----------
There are no active mixer devices available. To install mixer devices, go to Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Add Hardware.

This program will now close.
----------

This doesn't work for me.

EDIT2: updating Flash Player didn't do anything, Hatt Baby doesn't work, and the sound (and lack of) is coming from the speakers. I tried booting the computer up[ without speakers and didn't hear anything.

 

[babomb]

Weird. Try this. Do Start->Run and type "services.msc". Find "Windows Audio". Start (or restart) it and make sure the startup type is set to "automatic".

 

[XCorvis]

I have scripts disabled on firefox, but that's not the problem because I can temporarily disable them and the problem is still there.

Does it work in Internet Explorer?