Solved: no audio output device installed

Hello,
I hope you guys can help. I spent a while looking in the prior posts relating to this issue, and just can't seem to find one pertaining to my system. So, what's going on is there is the "x" on the speaker volume control in the toolbar, and highlighting it, it says "no audio output device installed". I took some steps offered by other websites before I found you, including trying to uninstall realtek sound device in device manager, and reinstall, but once I uninstalled it, there is no option of sound, game controllers, etc. in device manager. I tried downloading realtek updated sound driver from what I believe to be the authentic website, and it wouldn't do it, error for some reason. I've been dealing with this for some time, at one point I think I was opking around and it said that my sound driver (if I remember correctly) was in use somewhere else, and the only thing that I could think was that it had been hijacked (maybe the sound card, I don't know) Anyway, It's a Dell Inspiron 580 with windows vista... What can I do?

 

Vista?? Aarrrrrrghhhhh!

Hi there. I will try and help whilst I'm here looking for help. Has the sound been working before, whilst the pc has been yours?

Is your output on the motherboard, ie next to the usbs and other connections, or on a card, in a standalone area near the base at the rear of the pc, or in the front of the pc?

 

Can you post the Service Tag number?

 

It is always best to get the Drivers from Dell for your system. You can go to the Dell support page. Enter the Service Tag Number or the Express Service Tag number to get a list of the exact drivers you need for your computer.

 

The usb that my speakers are connected to are in the back of the comp... if that helps.
how do i find the service tag?

 

okay, i located the tag number, went to dell online support, and couldn't download the system detect.

 

okay, i am dumb. i didnt reboot after i tried installing, even though i thought the installation didnt go through. so, i uninstalled realtek, went to the site, installed, rebooted, now i have sound, YES!
sorry about waisting anyone's time. thanks alot, tho,

 

If you have sound when you did not before then it wasn't a waste of time. Glad to hear it is working for you.