No sound after laptop reformat (Windows 7 64-bit)

[Cocytius]

Hello!

I recently reformatted my laptop (Lenovo y560p) and I've been having trouble getting the sound to work. Every indication shows that the drivers are installed correctly and the system is processing sound tests, but there is no output through the speakers, headphone jack, or HDMI. I have tried:

- Completely uninstalling and removing all audio driver files and reinstalling (Realtek)
- Checked the bios to see if audio is disabled (it was enabled)

Does anyone have any insight on another course of action I should take? It could be a hardware issue, but the fact that it was working fine up until the reformat is telling me otherwise.

Thank you!

 

[Chicano]

You may have to Select and Set the default Sound Device in the Control Panel...

If several sound devices appear in the Control Panel / Hardware and Sound / Sound / Playback tab, right click inside the devices box and uncheck "Show Disabled Devices" and "Show Disconnected Devices"... the only remaining will be Active sound devices, from which to choose the default device.

If you need further help, check the instructions for a similar case here: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2185225/realtek-audio-driver.html

 

[Cocytius]

I have the Realtek HD audio device set as the default sound device and have tested the ATI HDMI audio device as well to no avail. With the Playback Devices tab open, I'm able to see the sound level bars move next to the icon when sound should be playing however there is no sound.

 

[Chicano]

Select "Speakers" instead... and if still nothing, test the sound output in: Select the device, next click Configure, click Test... If you hear the test sound, the issue is wrong settings, if you don't hear the test sound, you have a bad/wrong speaker connection.

 

[Cocytius]

The Realtek HD audio are the speakers, so they are already selected. When I test the device the level bars move but no sound comes out of the speakers, headphone jack, or HDMI. I've tested all three separately. I find it hard to believe that it's a hardware issue, especially since this issue happened as soon as I reformatted.

 

[Chicano]

That can happen because you probably don't have the exact same audio drivers installed... If you have reinstalled the Realtek drivers included in the Windows Disk, that may be the cause... you have to install the drivers downloaded from the laptop manufacturer or from the Realtek Website.

A similar problem to the one you're having can occurr on new Windows 7 installations... I experienced it with the Windows Audio... the difference was it did not have audio and when reinstalling the drivers, it said the driver installation was not allowed because a compatible driver was already installed and in working order... but it was not. It was solved after installing the first few Windows Automatic Updates among which audio drivers were not included. That did not make sense but I guess it's a Microsoft trick to make users start Automatic Updates as soon as possible.

 

[rohan109]

The Realtek HD audio are the speakers, so they are already selected. When I test the device the level bars move but no sound comes out of the speakers, headphone jack, or HDMI. I've tested all three separately. I find it hard to believe that it's a hardware issue, especially since this issue happened as soon as I reformatted.

Hi Cocytius

I am having the exact same issue with my Y560P lenovo and I have taken many steps to solve the problem but have not had any luck at all. Both the speakers and Head phone input stopped working when I updated the laptop to Win7 so highly unlikely the hardware is become faulty while updating the OS. Would you mind sharing the steps solved the issue ! I would really appreciate it.

thanks in advance

 

[Chicano]

Hi Cocytius

I am having the exact same issue with my Y560P lenovo and I have taken many steps to solve the problem but have not had any luck at all. Both the speakers and Head phone input stopped working when I updated the laptop to Win7 so highly unlikely the hardware is become faulty while updating the OS. Would you mind sharing the steps solved the issue ! I would really appreciate it.

thanks in advance

Well, Cocytius gave up and hasn't been back since so I doubt you'll get an answer from that person.
The known cause for this issue as far as I know, is drivers that don't install propperly... I've had it repeated times from Windows Vista to 10.. a couple maybe on Vista, the same on Windows 10, on Win 8, never had it but I only installed it once, and it has been mostly on Windows 7. I read the solution was solved after starting receiving Windows Updates and found that was the solution once, other times I reinstalled the driver in question repeated times and the issue persisted, and after letting it be for a while it would get fixed on it's own... I suspect Windows Update had installed an unspecified bug fix because as you already know it's not a hardware issue so it had to be a Windows bug that may affect drivers, and the solution I had several times was installing an extension card to temporarily replace the onboard audio or network card which were the most commonly affected.

So, there's not much that you can do except for fully updating Windows 7 as well as Net Framework, Universal C Runtime (CRT), Windows Installer, and a PCI/PCIe sound card for a quick solution. Sorry I can't offer a definite fix but I doubt anyone can.

NET Framework
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework_version_history#.NET_Framework_4.7

C Runtime
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2999226/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows

Windows Installer
https://goo.gl/9Pm4rs

Windows Installer specific search for Windows 7 64bit..
https://goo.gl/Zn6BzJ

 

[rohan109]

Hi Cocytius

I am having the exact same issue with my Y560P lenovo and I have taken many steps to solve the problem but have not had any luck at all. Both the speakers and Head phone input stopped working when I updated the laptop to Win7 so highly unlikely the hardware is become faulty while updating the OS. Would you mind sharing the steps solved the issue ! I would really appreciate it.

thanks in advance

Well, Cocytius gave up and hasn't been back since so I doubt you'll get an answer from that person.
The known cause for this issue as far as I know, is drivers that don't install propperly... I've had it repeated times from Windows Vista to 10.. a couple maybe on Vista, the same on Windows 10, on Win 8, never had it but I only installed it once, and it has been mostly on Windows 7. I read the solution was solved after starting receiving Windows Updates and found that was the solution once, other times I reinstalled the driver in question repeated times and the issue persisted, and after letting it be for a while it would get fixed on it's own... I suspect Windows Update had installed an unspecified bug fix because as you already know it's not a hardware issue so it had to be a Windows bug that may affect drivers, and the solution I had several times was installing an extension card to temporarily replace the onboard audio or network card which were the most commonly affected.

So, there's not much that you can do except for fully updating Windows 7 as well as Net Framework, Universal C Runtime (CRT), Windows Installer, and a PCI/PCIe sound card for a quick solution. Sorry I can't offer a definite fix but I doubt anyone can.

NET Framework
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework_version_history#.NET_Framework_4.7

C Runtime
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2999226/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows

Windows Installer
https://goo.gl/9Pm4rs

Windows Installer specific search for Windows 7 64bit..
https://goo.gl/Zn6BzJ

 

[rohan109]

Many thanks for jumping in to inform me

I am kind of giving up as well as I am unable to come up with any new ideas at this point. I have updated the win7 with many updates for weeks but nothing changed for this audio issue.

 

[Chicano]

Many thanks for jumping in to inform me

I am kind of giving up as well as I am unable to come up with any new ideas at this point. I have updated the win7 with many updates for weeks but nothing changed for this audio issue.

1) Well, there are a few more attempts to try and make the sound card work... You can check the Windows registry for invalid Sound card driver values that you can delete... see the full instructions in the linked page... the page contains other advice on uninstalling the sound card from the device Manager... It's the same advice I had already typed (read below.) before searching for information on a registry fix to resolve the sound-card registry keys and values to see what registry keys I could check for possible corruption. There are a couple registry values that can cause this type of issue their names are "UpperFilters" and "Lower Filters" that you can delete if they are present in the Windows registry, sound card keys.

How to fix “Cannot load Sound Card device driver
https://www.wintips.org/how-to-fix-cannot-load-sound-card-device-driver-code-39-or-code-10-error-solved/

1) Same advice as the linked article... (I had typed this earlier and though the article is clearer, this is more detailed so I'll leave it in so you can check it for more detailed and complete advice on what to do.

The usual way to get the sound card reinstalled automatically to try to get it working:
First there is the usual way that most time works... and it's about uninstalling the sound-card driver and restarting the computer to make the Plug and Play service auto install the driver. When I had this problem, I once got a system message saying the driver had been installed but it had an issue so the problem was that it didn't work... if you're getting the same system message what you need to do next is try forcing the driver to run by uninstalling it from the Device Manager, next restart the computer previously making sure the Plug and Play service is running and set to run automatically, and restart the computer hoping the P&P service automatically installs the sound driver, and hope that makes a difference. If you're not familiar with the Device Manager > Start button > right click This PC > Manage > Device Manager > Right click Sound, video and Game controllers > select Uninstall. BTW; see if the sound driver has a yellow exclamation sign meaning it's not correctly installed or not installed at all. Right clicking it > Properties > General tab > What does it say in Device Status (should say "The Device is working properly"). Here you can click Uninstall Device, next set the P&P service to Automatic startup, and restart the computer.

If you're not familiar with Windows Services, click the start button > Run > type; Services.msc > scroll down to Plug and Play > right click it > Properties > General tab > Startup type > Automatic > Apply and OK.. and restart the computer on the restart, as the BIOS is posting, make it pause pressing the Pause Break key or Entering the BIOS > wait for around 30 seconds and if you paused it on the BIOS post, press Enter and if in the BIOS, exit saving changes eve if you made no changes > boot Windows and give it a few (five) minutes before checking if the Sound driver installed and is working. It's possible you may see a message box saying New Hardware Found and is installing.

2) If that isn't working, see if resetting the BIOS does anything (read instructions below). The idea here is; The BIOS loads device drivers and it occurs to me it may be having trouble loading the sound driver... that's because if the driver is right for the sound card Either Windows or the BIOS may not be recognizing the device or the driver.

Also check the Windows Audio service state... complete information here.
https://www.wintips.org/how-to-fix-cannot-load-sound-card-device-driver-code-39-or-code-10-error-solved/


Reset the BIOS as follows: Again when starting the computer enter the BIOS to give it time to load all device drivers... wait at least 30 seconds before booting Windows.

Option A) Bios reset:
1. Remove AC power or turn off the PSU
2. Remove the battery.
3. Move the BIOS jumper to pins 2 & 3
4. Press and hold the power button for 60 seconds.
5. Wait 10 minutes.
6. Revert 1 through 3 and try the computer.