I'm having sound problems. Heeelp please! o_o

[Radical Dreamer]

Ok. So for some reason, I can't get the sound on my computer to work constantly. Let me explain.

Up until about a week or two ago, my sound worked just fine. Then one day, out of the blue, I get this message that says the sound device is unable to work or something. In iTunes, if I click the play button (or double-click the song), it won't play; the play-cursor won't even move. In Windows Media, I'll get a message saying that there is no sound device, so the file cannot play. My speakers are both plugged in to the computer and to the wall. Whenever I restart my computer, the speakers and sound will work for a day or two, and then it'll start acting up again. In Control Panels, it says there are no sound devices (when there are, of course, since they were just working yesterday, and have been working properly for some time). Will someone please tell me why this is happening, or at least give me a few tips as to exactly what's wrong with my speakers? The OS I use is Microsoft Windows XP. Thanks in advance for all your help!

[ShiroiHikari]

...I think someone else around here had the exact same problem. O_o

http://www.christiananime.net/showthread.php?t=36777

Maybe there's some kinda virus or something going around?

[Radical Dreamer]

Yeah, I saw that thread before I made this one...The only reason I thought it might be different is because he said he re-installed Windows, while I haven't touched it as far as that kind of thing goes. O_o? So yeah. XD

EDIT: Something I should probably mention/clarify. Sounds from AIM and from the computer generally work, however, sounds from Youtube, any media player, and any sort of MIDI or MP3 will not work.

[Locke]

This is going to sound totally dumb but have you rebooted?

[Zilch]

If that doesn't work, you can try right-clicking the sound icon in the lower left hand corner of your taskbar, then seeing if all of the sliders are up. It's the only thing I can really think of off the top of my head. 'course, there's probably something deeper than that, but I'll come back to it later, mmkay?

[Valkaiser]

When you get the "no sound device" message it usually means that your sound driver is corrupted (or gone).

In Control Panels, it says there are no sound devices

This also makes it sound like a driver issue. Try right clicking on my computer, select properties, and choose the Device Manager on the Hardware tab. If (in the Sound controllers section) you don't see anything other than Codecs, MIDI devices, Media Control devices, or Legacy devices then I would be almost positive that you need to reinstall your sound driver.

[Mithrandir]

That sounds like either a driver issue or a hardware failure. (Windows can unload drivers that it does not detect hardware for).

[Radical Dreamer]

Try right clicking on my computer, select properties, and choose the Device Manager on the Hardware tab. If (in the Sound controllers section) you don't see anything other than Codecs, MIDI devices, Media Control devices, or Legacy devices then I would be almost positive that you need to reinstall your sound driver.

I think this is the problem. I looked through the Sound Controllers section, and I saw most of the things you mentioned. I did see a Legacy Audio Driver, clicked on it, and it said that it was working, but something tells me I should just try re-installing the driver anyways. XD Thanks very much for all of your help, everyone!