Without details of your system, it is hard to say exactly, but I'll give it a shot. First, I'm guessing your using integrated audio, ie the sound card is built in to your motherboard, and not a separate card. (this is the case with most people's computers) Second, I'm assuming your running windows XP. Most of this will apply to other operating systems, but the layout and names of some of the items discussed may differ slightly.
I also assume you have speakers plugged into the green port on the sound card, and the speakers are turned on, ie have power.
I also assume you haven't turned down or muted the windows volume control. click start then controlpanel then "sounds and audio devices", check the mute box is NOT ticked, and the volume is turned up.(you may need to click "use classic interface", top left, if you cannot see sound and audio devices).
go to start, then control panel, then system. When the system properties panel opens, click hardware. then device manager click the plus next to sound, video and game controllers. Can you see anything with a yellow icon? Your sound card will probably be an ac97 or soundmax integrated audio, or something like that.
If you can see something with a yellow icon, that means that the driver is not correctly installed, is corrupted, or the device is just not working. If so, you could try right clicking on the device in question, and select uninstall. then reboot your computer, wait for it to completely load, then test your sound. If that didnt work, go back into device manager again. I would again right click on the yellow iconed device, select uninstall, and then go to windows update, (assuming you have a working internet connection). (start AllPrograms-windows update) You may need to agree to installing an activeX control, and a few licence agreements, eventually you should get two buttons - express or custom, select custom, a few minutes later you should get a list of available updates on the left hand side. Click on hardware, again on the left, and look for anything that relates to audio, make sure that is selected(ticked) (I advise NOT selecting any other hardware updates however). then click on install updates top left, then click install in the main window. once it has downloaded the driver update, and all has completed, reboot your computer, hopefully that will fix it. If not, you may need to go to your motherboard manufacturer's website and download the driver from there. If you still have the driver cd that came with your pc, you may be able to locate the correct driver on that. JUST DONT RUN ANY RECOVERY CD/DVDs, as you may overwrite all your files
If this doesnt help, then pls provide the following in your reply. 1.The brand and model of your computer, eg dell dimension 1100, compaq presario v2304, etc. If its a laptop the full model should be somewhere on the base of the unit on a sticker. If its a clone, ie unbranded computer, I will need the brand and model of your motherboard, ...for which you will need to remove the side cover and make a note of off the mainboard itself, usually located between the cpu (big thing in the middle with a fan on it), and the memory slots (2 to 4 narrow slots for sticking memory modules in). Eg Gigabyte EP36KG-abc. You may find this info in any paperwork/manuals you were given when you purchased the pc.
2. What operating system you are using. ex windows 98, windows XP, Vista, windows 7, etc
And info - has the sound ever worked?, can you test the speakers on another system? ...
Answers & Comments
Without details of your system, it is hard to say exactly, but I'll give it a shot.
First, I'm guessing your using integrated audio, ie the sound card is built in to your motherboard, and not a separate card. (this is the case with most people's computers)
Second, I'm assuming your running windows XP.
Most of this will apply to other operating systems, but the layout and names of some of the items discussed may differ slightly.
I also assume you have speakers plugged into the green port on the sound card, and the speakers are turned on, ie have power.
I also assume you haven't turned down or muted the windows volume control.
click start then controlpanel then "sounds and audio devices", check the mute box is NOT ticked, and the volume is turned up.(you may need to click "use classic interface", top left, if you cannot see sound and audio devices).
go to start, then control panel, then system.
When the system properties panel opens, click hardware.
then device manager
click the plus next to sound, video and game controllers.
Can you see anything with a yellow icon? Your sound card will probably be an ac97 or soundmax integrated audio, or something like that.
If you can see something with a yellow icon, that means that the driver is not correctly installed, is corrupted, or the device is just not working.
If so, you could try right clicking on the device in question, and select uninstall. then reboot your computer, wait for it to completely load, then test your sound.
If that didnt work, go back into device manager again.
I would again right click on the yellow iconed device, select uninstall, and then go to windows update, (assuming you have a working internet connection).
(start AllPrograms-windows update)
You may need to agree to installing an activeX control, and a few licence agreements, eventually you should get two buttons - express or custom, select custom, a few minutes later you should get a list of available updates on the left hand side.
Click on hardware, again on the left, and look for anything that relates to audio, make sure that is selected(ticked) (I advise NOT selecting any other hardware updates however). then click on install updates top left, then click install in the main window. once it has downloaded the driver update, and all has completed, reboot your computer, hopefully that will fix it.
If not, you may need to go to your motherboard manufacturer's website and download the driver from there.
If you still have the driver cd that came with your pc, you may be able to locate the correct driver on that.
JUST DONT RUN ANY RECOVERY CD/DVDs, as you may overwrite all your files
If this doesnt help, then pls provide the following in your reply.
1.The brand and model of your computer, eg dell dimension 1100, compaq presario v2304, etc.
If its a laptop the full model should be somewhere on the base of the unit on a sticker.
If its a clone, ie unbranded computer, I will need the brand and model of your motherboard, ...for which you will need to remove the side cover and make a note of off the mainboard itself, usually located between the cpu (big thing in the middle with a fan on it), and the memory slots (2 to 4 narrow slots for sticking memory modules in). Eg Gigabyte EP36KG-abc. You may find this info in any paperwork/manuals you were given when you purchased the pc.
2. What operating system you are using.
ex windows 98, windows XP, Vista, windows 7, etc
And info - has the sound ever worked?, can you test the speakers on another system? ...
Good luck
joshAU
You can always check the sounds setting,make sure that the volume is properly configured,it is located at bottom right corner of the screen