I can't install an audio device on my computer.

[Thodar]

I am speechless... Third day of struggle. New laptop. No sound. All instructions from the forum, from the internet, restoring factory settings. Nothing helps. I have never had so many problems with any computer...

[Nal_NR]

Hi @Thodar,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be glad to help you! 

I understand that you are having issues with the sound. 

It sounds incredibly frustrating to have no sound on your new OMEN by HP 16.1-inch Gaming Laptop PC (16-wd000) despite all your efforts. Since you've already tried a wide range of troubleshooting steps, let's go through a comprehensive approach to ensure we've covered everything that might resolve the sound issue.

Steps for No Sound Issue:

Check Hardware Connections:

• Make sure there are no external devices (like headphones or external speakers) connected that could be redirecting sound.
• Inspect the audio jack and ports for any debris or damage that might cause issues.

Check Sound Settings in Windows:

• Right-click the Sound icon in the taskbar and select Open Sound settings.
• Under Output, ensure the correct audio device is selected (usually Speakers (Realtek(R) Audio) or a similar device).
• Click on Device properties and ensure that the volume is not muted and is turned up.
• Under Advanced sound options, make sure the app volumes are set correctly.

Run Windows Audio Troubleshooter:

• Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
• Find and run the Playing Audio troubleshooter. Follow the on-screen instructions to detect and fix any issues.

Update Audio Drivers:

• Go to Device Manager (right-click on Start and select Device Manager).
• Expand the Sound, video and game controllers section.
• Right-click on your audio device (e.g., Realtek(R) Audio) and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
• If that doesn’t work, try uninstalling the driver:
  • Right-click the audio device and select Uninstall device. Restart your laptop, and Windows should reinstall the correct driver automatically.

Install the Latest Audio Driver from HP’s Website:

• Visit the HP Support page for your specific model and download the latest audio drivers:
  • Enter your model number and navigate to the drivers section.
  • Download and install the latest Realtek High Definition Audio driver or the appropriate driver for your system.
  • Restart your laptop after installation.

Check Sound Settings in BIOS:

• Restart your laptop and press Esc repeatedly to enter the Startup Menu.
• Press F10 to enter the BIOS setup.
• Look for any audio-related settings and ensure that the audio is enabled. Save any changes and exit.

Please find the remaining steps in the next post.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

[Nal_NR]

Hi @Thodar,

Please find the remaining steps below.

Reset BIOS to Default Settings:

• If there is no sound, reset the BIOS to default settings:
  • Enter the BIOS setup (as above), find the option to reset BIOS settings, usually under Exit or Advanced sections, and select Load Setup Defaults. Save changes and exit.

Test with Different Applications:

• Test sound output using different applications (YouTube, media players, games, etc.) to see if the issue is isolated to specific software.

Check Windows Audio Services:

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
• Scroll down and find Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
• Ensure both services are running. If they’re not, right-click and select Start. If they are running, try restarting them.

Check for Windows Updates:

• Go to Settings > Windows Update and check for any available updates. Install all pending updates as they may include important fixes for sound-related issues.

Check for Conflicting Software:

• Disable or uninstall any third-party audio management software or drivers that may conflict with your system’s built-in audio, such as Dolby or Nahimic.

Perform a Clean Boot:

• A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts:
  • Press Win + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
  • Under the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services and click Disable all.
  • Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager. Disable all startup items.
  • Restart your laptop and check if the sound works.

Reinstall Windows:

• If all else fails and since you've already restored factory settings without success, consider a complete reinstallation of Windows 11 from scratch:
  • Back up your data.
  • Use the Windows Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB and perform a fresh installation of Windows.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it's possible that there is a hardware defect with the laptop, especially since it's a new device. In that case, contacting HP Phone Support/ Store for further assistance, or considering a warranty repair or replacement, would be the best course of action.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.