All OK on Desktop, but no playback sound on Laptop[SOLVED]

Audacity Help Forum Windows
1

Hi, I have Audacity 2.0.5 on both a Desktop PC and on a Laptop PC, both downloaded via .exe installer from official website, and both PCs running Windows 7.

Functionality works perfectly on the Desktop. Everything looks OK on the Laptop, except I get no sound via speakers or headphones when I play imported music files. Laptop sound for several other applications I use works perfectly, with output levels controlled by all available keys/sliders working just as they should.

I have Audacity settings Audio Host = MME, Output Device = Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio), and have similar settings on my Desktop. Realtek settings within Windows Control Panel all look OK, and test music sample within that works fine. When I open Audacity and start Playing imported MP3s using Start Button or Space Bar, the music file is obviously playing through the blue waveform from my cursor start point, and the green output levels are showing appropriate levels, I just cannot hear anything even at 100% speaker level. I’ve tried several different MP3 imports just in case of MP3 file problems, I’ve deinstalled & reinstalled Audacity, searched FAQs & Forum posts, but have yet to find a solution and would appreciate help.

Mike

2

Try rebooting the computer (complete shut down, wait, then power up).

Note that reinstalling Audacity would not change any of its settings, unless you enabled “Reset Preferences” half way through the installer.


Gale

3

Hi Gale,
Thanks, but I have struggled with this through several days of trial & error attempts, including reboots every time.
Mike

4

Gale
…followed by an apology, for being too quick and not reading the second line of your response.
Mike

5

Have you checked the Audacity application slider in the Windows Volume Mixer? Left-click the speaker icon by the system clock, then click “Mixer”.


Gale

6

Gale,
Thank you so much for resolving my problem.

Without first deinstalling Audacity, I downloaded & reinstalled again, reset preferences mid-way, shut down the laptop, waited, rebooted, started Audacity, imported a couple of files, still no volume. I then deinstalled Audacity and repeated all the other steps, and still no volume.

Then I saw your most recent post and - Voila - two of the three displayed sliders increase/decrease as I change volume, but the Audacity slider remained stationary on 0%. As soon as I manually moved it I had music!

Thanks once again, I’m highly impressed by your quick responses, and am now de-stressed and a happy boy!
Mike