If your computer has no sound on DVDs or CDs is this going to be a hardware or software issue?
Before we begin please make sure that your computer has its volume turned up, depending on your sound card and application you are using there could be 3 ways to change the volume level.
Next ensure that the speakers or headphones you are using are ok.
How to tell and pinpoint the problem
Do you get any sound on your laptop at all? This can include media files or an internet source or is it just no sound on DVD’s
If you do, this can point towards a problem with the DVD or CD drive itself
If you are using a laptop the quickest fix is to remove the drive and then replace it, this will usually correct any connection issues.
If you are using a desktop computer make sure it has the small audio cable fitted, otherwise you will not be able to hear no sound on DVDs or CDs; this seems to be the most common reason.
If you find that your computer has no sound on DVDs CDs, Media files or from the Internet, regardless of whether you are using a laptop or desktop computer this usually means a software problem.
Go to Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices, under the tabs, Volume, Sounds and Audio are the sources or properties greyed out, advising of no playback device?
If so this means the driver for the sound card is either not installed or has become corrupt.
To resolve this, Right Click on My Computer > Select Properties > Hardware Tab > Device Manager > Find Sound, video and game controllers > make sure you can see your sound card here > Double click on it > Now you should see the properties of your sound card > view the details in the Device Status box > It should say This device is working properly
But if it has a yellow exclamation mark in front of it this is a very good indication of the problem.
By right clicking on the sound card you will see an option to update the driver, then you will be able to reinstall the driver.
What you should now see is the audio hardware enabled as above
Make sure you have an active internet connection so it can try to download the driver, otherwise if this is not successful you will need to manually download the driver from the sound card or computer manufacturers website.
As you can see audio problems such as no sound on DVDs or CDs can be generated by a whole range of issues from hardware, drivers problems or simply settings, but due to the amount of variables involved here its really impossible to list every possible cause.
If your still having problems with no sound on CDs or DVDs feel free to contact us at our forum.
computer adviser xp no sound article