With reports that Windows 10 failed to play test sound when trying to configure audio, computer users are quite common. And not only the tenth modification can issue such notifications. Similar situations can be observed in the seventh version of the system. Why this happens, how to fix the problem, and at the same time fix some errors of the media player built into the system, we will try to figure it out further. But first, briefly dwell on what exactly can provoke a failure of the computer sound system.
Why can't I play sound in Windows 7 and above?
So, what could happen in the operating system that the sound disappeared at one “fine” moment or it cannot be reproduced even during initial setup immediately after installing the OS on a computer or laptop? As a rule, the majority of experts call the following the main reasons why the test sound could not be played in Windows 8, 7, or 10:
- The main playback device is damaged or disconnected.
- For the equipment currently in use, drivers are not installed, installed incorrectly, or drivers are not updated.
- There are conflicts at the sound and graphics driver level.
- The sound disappears due to the installation of unfinished updates.
- There are no necessary codecs and decoders.
- The audio system is blocked by a virus.
It’s worth mentioning right away that purely technical problems associated with a breakdown of the equipment installed on the computer or exposure to certain types of viruses will not be considered. We focus more exclusively on the problems of the operating systems themselves and decide on the most suitable method for fixing problems using the Windows tools.
Turning on your computer's audio system: standard method
So, why did Windows 10 fail to play a test sound when the user tried to install the most suitable options, focusing on their own preferences? One of the main reasons can be called the just turned off state of the device itself, which provides sound output to the speakers - sound cards. In some cases, this may also apply to headphones connected to a computer or laptop, which is especially common when using all kinds of wireless headsets, for which the use of wireless modules is mandatory. But suppose that only speakers are connected to the computer.
To begin with, the main device for processing and outputting sound must be checked for inclusion, since there can be several such devices in the system (for example, additional equipment using HDMI outputs, sound systems of graphic adapters or television panels, etc.). Go to the "Control Panel", go to the sound settings section and see which device is used by default. If necessary, change it to a sound card or speakers (most often such equipment will be marked as a device with High Definition Audio support).
If the installed device is not in the list of available devices, through RMB turn on the display of hidden and disabled devices, and then change the settings accordingly (the audio device, by default, is always marked with a green flag).
If, after that, you get a message that Windows 10 could not play the test sound, call the standard “Device Manager”, expand the list by activating the hidden or disabled equipment in the view menu and check its status through RMB. If the device is turned off, just turn it on.
Sound system activation in BIOS / UEFI
But the above proposed method of activating the audio system does not always work, which may indicate the occurrence of an error directly in the “Device Manager”, for which the description indicates that the device is still in the off state. Apparently, this is due only to the fact that its deactivation was accidentally or intentionally performed in the primary input / output system (BIOS or UEFI). Indeed, some types of integrated soundcards sometimes have to be included in the parameters of the primary systems.
Reboot the computer or laptop, go into the BIOS settings, find your audio device in the Onboard Devices or Onboard Configuration section and turn it on by setting it to the value of the Enabled parameter, then save the installed options with the system exiting (F10 + Y). After that, an automatic restart will follow, and in the system it will be possible to check whether the activated device is working.
Troubleshooting basic drivers
Despite the fact that the playback device itself can be turned on, the user can still again receive a message stating that Windows 10 could not play the test sound. Why it happens? Most likely, something is wrong with the sound card drivers.
In the same “Device Manager”, see if the used audio device is marked with a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark. As already mentioned, there may be several such devices, and if at least one of them has such a marker, first start by updating the drivers using Windows, specifying a search for control software on the local computer or using the search for updated drivers in the Update Center ".
You also can’t really count on this, since Windows can easily report that the most suitable driver has already been installed.
In this situation, there are only two options: either visit the site of the equipment developer on the Internet and download the drivers from there, or on the details tab, determine the identifiers of the sound device DEV and VEN, and then use the longest information line to search the Internet for a search that exactly matches the driver hardware. Install it, as in the case of downloading from the manufacturer’s official resource, will have to be manually.
Resolving Driver Conflict
Driver conflicts with the system may not be advertised, but there may also be no sound. In the “Device Manager”, if there are other components related to video cards (for example, NVIDIA audio drivers) in addition to High Definition Audio drivers, try either updating them to the current state or removing them from the system altogether, and then check if there is sound. In order not to remove drivers, you can also temporarily turn off this device.
Failed to play sound in Windows 10: how do updates affect the audio system?
In the tenth and seventh modifications of the system, problems can sometimes arise due to the installation of “unfinished” updates, which has been repeatedly blamed on Microsoft.
Here the solution is the simplest: go to the programs and components section, go to the list of installed updates and remove all the latest packages.
Note: for the most complete removal, it is better to use special uninstall programs.
Playback problems in the native player
Finally, if the sound cannot be played in Windows Media Player, it may very well be that the player itself needs to be updated. At least in Windows 10 you can check playback through the Groove Music program.
If the player gives an error that Windows Media Player cannot play a certain type of file , the best solution would be to install an additional set of codecs and decoders (for example, one of the modifications of K-Lite sets). You can not use the built-in player, but instead install, say, a VLC player, in which all the necessary codecs are available in a predefined form.
Additional remedy
If none of the proposed solutions gives the desired result, in the “Control Panel” call the troubleshooter, follow some simple steps, following the instructions of the “Wizard”, after which, possibly, the problems and malfunctions found will be fixed automatically.