Can someone help me out here. The problem has only just happened, l switched my computer on and where my volume icon is there is a red circled cross and it says No Audio output installed so l have no volume. l have not deleted or removed anything so where would my volume control be. Would be grateful for any help on this.

A few basics would be good because "computer" is an all-encompassing word. Would you like advice for a Mac or a PC? What operating system are you using? Do you have a soundcard or is the audio onboard?

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Phil
Advise rhymes with rise. Advice rhymes with rice.

if you have a PC you could try check if the sound card is reconised. START -> CONTROL PANEL -> HARDWARE tab, DEVICE MANAGER button and look for anything with a yellow question mark (especially in Sound, Video and Game Controllers)

sounds like either

1) fudged driver update

2) sound card pushed out of socket over time due to heat

3) dead soundcard

The easy thing to do would be to uninstall the sound card then restart your pc. If the card is still working then it will detect itself and bobs your uncle. I'v never heard of a sound card working loose from heat

If you are running windows then right click my computer from desktop/properties/hardware/device manager. scroll down to sound, video and games controllers then uninstall all your sound devices. Restart PC and the OS will detect the card if it's still in good working order.

If you are not using windows then more info is needed.

not worked with computers much then Vespa if you havent seen that,
If the card isn't firmly screwed into place then when the computer heats up as its used then the metals expand slightly, this expansion can gradually force cards out of place

Also computer components degrade over time due to exposure to heat etc

Assuming windows - Most likely though it sounds like either a corrupted driver or a windows glitch, though card failure cant be ruled out

Linux / BSD etc could be a patched driver which has went wrong.

used to think that hardware working loose was a bit of a myth, but I had a hard drive that did that, was surprised

Highly probably on a laptop I would think.

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Well since you mention it I used to work for a bloke called Magid from M&A computer services. I was his technician and went on to opening my own shop for 3 and a half years. I'm well know in the Yorkshire area for my skill with PCs I'm also a licenced amateur radio licence holder for many years having a station that looks more like NASAs control room... PCs are second nature and have been since the ZXspectrum days.

Never come across a sound card working loose from heat.

lucky you then.
Seen it a good few times as well as other stuff working loose.
Also seen computers do odd stuff like this just before the component fails.
The other stuff ive seen is newly delivered machine with components knocked loose in transit or just not properly secured in the first place.

when I bought my PC the graphics card was the best on the market but kept over heating every time I played a game. Turns out that the on-board fan was not connected fully. Was a right pain cos I naturally assume that it was a more serious issue ands tried down loading drivers etc

Looks like you have your answer...?

thankfully things are *mostly* getting easier, worst one I've had was a soundcard with an intermittent glitch, bad enough it was crashing the computer, problem was it was tricky to track down to its intermittent nature.

and i think what john was saying was a statement rather than a question vespa

And it seems like posts are selectively edited after I post...

You need to swat up on your comprehension skills Scot.

I will reply once again in full. Sound cards don't move from slots due to heat. PCB boards don't expand or contract to any degree that it would dislodge a sound card, nor will hard plastic that these slots are constructed from. I will also point out that slots are "spring loaded" to ensure any discrepancies in manufacture of products don't affect the seating of a card. Movement could move a card.

If it is the policy of moderators to delete post then please let say so.

Admin locked the last thread because it was off topic and provocative to other members.

I'm certain he will have no problem doing the same with this thread if necessary.

If you have have an opinion fine, learn to respect others may not agree.

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