I have an awesome Dell E6530 laptop and it’s been a dream to work on, but since I upgraded to Windows 8 / 8.1 I’ve had problems with a few driver related items. One of these things has been the audio driver. I lost sound completely about a week or two ago and couldn’t figure out what was going on. I went to Dell’s support site and looked at drivers and found to my surprise that they now had Windows 8.1 drivers for my laptop. One of them was an audio driver, so I updated my drivers across the board and audio started working again.
Here we are today and I realized after trying to play a great song at work (Peaches by Presidents of the United States) that I was getting no sound. I tried launching Skyrim on my computer and it wouldn’t even start because it didn’t detect an audio playback devices. I was thoroughly confused. I downloaded and installed the driver again and still no sound. I looked in Device Manager and everything seemed to be as it should be.
I tried playing the test tones on my audio device and got the following error message:
[callout] Failed to play test tone[/callout]
I started playing around in the playback devices settings and found the answer to be insanely simple.
Here’s the walkthrough:
- Right click on your speaker icon in the bottom right of your computer screen
- Select Playback Devices
- Select your sound card and click Properties
- Select the Advanced Tab, click Restore Defaults, and then click the Test button
That was all it took and suddenly I had audio again. No idea what caused it to flip out, but I’m glad it’s back. Did it work for you?
Thanks, that did the trick for my e6410 on win8.1
Glad to have helped!
My sound had just vanished and when i try too play any sound it gives the error “Failed to play test note” I have checked all solutions i can find. I run Windows 8.1 with
Realtek audio. Can you please assist me!
I assume you tried the steps in this article? Did you check to see if your audio driver is showing any problems in the Device Manager?
I tried everything but still no sound and “test sound failed” 🙁
Thanks Joseph!
It worked perfectly after days of playing with all kinds of wrong fixes. You are a top guy Joseph. Thanks.
mine windows 8.1 dell inspiron 5537 64 bit.. restore restore and restore still no sound help mee plzz~
are you kidding? it actually worked! windows 10
Hello, this also works for Dell E643O after upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 and installing latest drivers from Dell support site.
Dell, if you’re listening, you have a problem you need to fix! In the mean time, glad that it helped Kazzan.
This did NOT work for me on an E6430 running a very recent install of 8.1.
What did work was using ReVo to completely uninstall the IDT driver in advanced move, removing all registry traces, and then using device manager to “find hardware changes”, upon which it reinstalled the default windows drivers (High Definition Audio Device), which *do* work properly.
I am annoyed that I don’t get the popup I used to get in windows 7, but at least everything works now.
Sorry that it didn’t work for you but great job sharing with the community what you did to fix it. Hopefully it will help others. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! This fixed my problem on a Dell E6530 running Windows 8.1. You are awesome for taking the time to make this post.
Eh.. Thank you! My sister was really worried why the sound didn’t work .. I’m quite good with computers but I’ve never seen such an error before. Glad I found this site.
You have to love IT. Just when you think you have a grasp on things, something new and obscure pops up and make you feel silly.
Thanks! This fixed my E6530.
I didn’t work for me 🙁 i have a E5430
After performing these steps, did you have the exact same behavior? Have you downloaded the latest driver from Dell’s website? I’m not sure that this is a pre-requisite for these steps, but it might help.
My Lenovo running Windows 8 has the same sound problem you first described. I have “fixed” it temporarily by getting rid of Quicktime and places it was being used (Firefox), and setting Windows Media Player as the default for everything. But after awhile the problem happens again. I did your steps but it sound did not return.
The problem does seem to be recurring, and the steps only seem to solidly work on Dell machines. Sorry these instructions couldn’t be of more help.
Greatly appreciated! It works for me.
Hey, E6520 here, and your solution worked. Thanks!
Fixed my problem with my E6520, I was about to change a Motherboard.
Thank You!
I thought it was the sense port.
Works a treat, thanks for the tip!
For info, on mine I had to click OK before testing sound again (Apply may also have worked) – I couldn’t just click Restore Default then Test as this still gave the error.
Much appreciated 🙂
Thanks for adding the “apply” step. it worked for my Dell E5430 on Windows 8.1
This worked for me after months of dealing with the issue. thanx a lot!
Month of that would drive me crazy. I’m glad you can now lay this one to rest!
Worked for me. This was drivin me nuts. Thanks!
I have the surface Pro 2, this didn’t fix the Problem. Any ideas?
So after performing these steps, it still gives you the same error? Do you have any indications of problems in the device manager and is it running the latest driver for the Surface Pro 2?
I had updated drivers but there was some system updates that it hadn’t given me notification about, once it updated and restarted, there were no problems. Strange it would make the sound go out. Thanks
Great to hear! Thanks for adding to the community with the extra knowledge on the system updates.
Worked Great. Gateway something or other, Windows 8. I got a different error when I hit “Test”, but everything worked after I closed the dialogues out. The Test button even worked after I reopened it.
Thanks for taking the time, cheers.
And thanks to you and everyone else who take the time to comment! It’s also good to hear the various experiences people may have, such as getting a different error. If you know what the second error message was, feel free to post it here. I’m sure it’ll help someone.
THANK YOU! This post just rescued me from an hour-long descent into Windows update/uninstall/uninstall/reboot insanity.
Happy to help and I thank you for your taking time to express gratitude!
Thanks for the help! I just had the same issue after I unplugged my headphones and plugged them back in. After the long update/reboot/driver-reinstall, I saw your post. Thanks a million! PUSA would be proud. I will listed to Peaches and Lump in your honor.
*laugh* I’m proud to have a song played in my honor. That’s a first! Glad to have helped and made your audio listening experience much more pleasant. Thanks for making me smile!
Thx dude!!! you are a hero!!
Just paying it forward. Thanks!
My Dell E6530 was fine for over a week after going from Win8 to 8.1 but I encountered this same issue. Your steps fixed it. Thanks to you and Google for getting me here!
Yea, I’ve had a hard time pinning down the actual cause… I had the same problem. And I’ve even had it come back once more and fixed it again the same way. It may have been after a Dell system driver update. Glad you’re working again though!
Thanks, it worked. Without any worry.
That’s great. Keep this post handy because if you’re experience is anything like mine, I had to apply this same fix again this week. That’s three times in the last few months.
Thank you very much, this was great help !
no it doesnt work on my hp envy ts 15
Thanks is working for me, win 8.1
this wall also worked for me win 8.1 DEL E6430
i have noticed this occures whenever i have the headphone connected and i eject it while some audio program is working
This trick worked once for me. After that, when the problem came back, hitting the Test button just gave me the familiar “Failed…” error.
The sound problem occurs when my laptop turns off the screen according to the current power plan. Once I resume, the sound doesn’t work.
Thanks a million! After trying for an hour to fix this myself, I came to have found this precious gift posted by you!
This did not work for me and I am running Win 8.1 on a Toshiba Satellite C55 laptop. The screens are slightly different, and I do not have the same options as shown here.
Any answers?
Thank you.
Thank-you so much! It also worked on my E6420 😀
Hi! Thanks for this. I did everything, updated my drivers (were already on the latest), did a few tricks nothing worked, this was the only thing that worked and now it is working on my E6230. Thanks!
Hi Joseph,
I had this prob for days and was looking for a solution.
You are the only one who could help! 🙂
Thx
be.
Thanks everyone. Happy to have helped!
Just an alternate explanation — I updated my malwarebytes antivirus program and it suddenly decided my “audiodg.exe” in system32 was malware and deleted it! The old program didn’t; I don’t know why the new one suddenly didn’t like it. Anyway, I simply replaced it with a copy from another computer and audio was restored.
Thanks for the insight RT. Strange behavior from MalwareBytes, but it definitely happens. Thanks for sharing.
THANK YOU!!! Worked like a charm on my E6430s (just remember to click “apply” before playing the test tone).
Really useful information..!! 🙂
After much heartache and other ‘solutions’, this one fixed mine. Thanks! (also Latitude 6530 and Win 8.1)
Glad to hear it. Enjoy audio once more, and keep the solution in your head. I’ve had to do this several times in the last year, just FYI.
restore defaults doesn’t worked for me. When I try to change default format, it says “format not supported by device.” onboard conexant audio hd, system is toshiba satelite c75-a-10j
Fatih, did you try installing the latest version of the driver and then doing these steps? If not, I’d give that a shot.
Still not working for me, restore defaults button is not highlighted and can’t press down on it
What model laptop, OS, etc?
Thanks! This fixed my problem 🙂
I have tried every suggestion posted here, plus at least a dozen or more other things and I get the same results upon boot up of my Toshiba C55 Satellite. No sound.
I do get an error message of an external error regarding wave in and wave out in Start(). No one knows what this error message means, including Toshiba and Microsoft.
Let me mention that the Toshiba is running Windows 8.1 with 4 GB of RAM and a 500 GB HDD.
I am fast running out of faith in computers and associated devices. This includes the ‘geniuses’ that tell me they know everything and in the end, know nothing.
But, if there is anyone who knows what I need to do short of reinstalling Windows 8.1, please feel free to let me know.
steve
Steve,
Unfortunately, I don’t know that specific model of laptop, but one thing I’d suggest would be driver related. Download the latest version of the driver and see if that changes it. If it doesn’t, figure out what audio controller you have and go to the audio controller manufacturer’s website to see if they have a newer driver or software package for your sound card. If that doesn’t work, try rolling back a version or two on the sound card. I’ve occasionally installed the latest driver only to find that the driver a few versions back is the one that was certified for my laptop and was the one that worked properly. I hope that helps.
You win the internet!
Thank you! Worked for me
My pleasure.
I’ve done that several times and my sound still wont work, neither will my microphone.
I have a Dell E6430 with W8 and this happens everytime I switch from my Lync headset to the built-in speakers. Thanks for sharing the solution. Works great!
Thank you! Solved the issue on my E6430 after no apparent cause.
Thanks a mill, your a lifesaver 😉
I am also using E6430 and samething happened to my pc.. oh man, you just saved me a great deal of concern.. I tried also everything except for that trick.. thanks a lot
Wow, it actually worked. Still amazed, but a big thanks. Silly stuff sometimes, Windows.
It’s the little things. I wonder if they even know the problem exists..!
It does not work for me, I am using a Lenovo S440. However I find the problem later: my sound card lost sound only after sleep, if I restart the machine the sound come back again. So now I need to know how to adjust the S440 maybe in the Power management settings. Any idea how should I do?
Cheers mate,
Fixed the problem
You are the man! You just saved me from a nightmare I couldn’t figure out.
It’s amazing how positively frustrating this issue can be, especially if you don’t know how to fix it. Glad your day is better.
Thanks for this solution. It worked for me.
Thanks, worked for me on E5530
Thank you so much! I’ve got a Sony vaio fit 15 running 8.1, this fixed the problem.
Another thanks – also have an E6530 running Win8.1, had this same problem, ran your fix and solved the problem.
Much appreciated!
For me, this is triggered often by plugging in or removing my headphones from the laptop. I have to go and hit the restore defaults button more than once a week. Has anyone found a permanent fix for this? Last time I checked Dell’s website there were still not any updates to the IDT driver.
Have you tried flashing the latest BIOS for your laptop?
I had a similar issue that was fixed with the A16 BIOS update from Dell’s website.
I believe I have the latest bios, but still had the problem last week actually, but I’ll have to check. Thanks for pointing that out.
Great! I lost a day for it 🙁
I was absolutely lost for hours trying to figure this out. I called windows customer support and everything! (which i do not recommend, as it is a complete scam) But thank you so much for this super simple fix!
Great! It worked for me as well Dell E5530
OMG it’s worked perfectly. Thank you very much. You saved my time.
It worked perfectly on my 6430u. Thank you!
Just wanted to thank you for posting this! Fixed my audio problem with my DELL LATITUDE E6230. You’re helping a lot of people! 🙂
Thanks for the post. I love helping people solve problems!
Worked for Dell Latitude 6430
Worked for me! I’m on a Win10 Preview build.
Quite bizarre.
Thank you, and a note: this also is the fix for the same error if you happen to be running the Windows 10 tech/insider preview.
Great to know. I was wondering that the other day when I was following this article for the 10th time and wondering if Windows 10 would help fix it in some way. Nope! Definitely a Dell driver problem.
thx – that did the trick!!!!
Worked for me on Dell E6530 for the error “failed to play test tone” on windows 8.1. I use a USB headset for Skype and GoToMeeting, and my system is regularly switching back and forth between the speakers and the USB headset, so I was thinking something with that got messed up. Also my Skype keeps crashing and that started about the same time the speakers stopped working, so I’m hoping this fixes Skype also.
Also this was the cause of my Skype for Windows Desktop repeatedly crashing every few hours with error as noted in the event log. Once the speaker problem was fixed, Skype stopped crashing.
Faulting application name: Skype.exe, version: 7.5.0.102, time stamp: 0x556dd64c
Faulting module name: mshtml.dll, version: 11.0.9600.17690, time stamp: 0x54e7d023
Exception code: 0x4000001f
Fault offset: 0x00dba318
Faulting process id: 0x177c
Faulting application start time: 0x01d0a2d9b8e44e85
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\mshtml.dll
http://community.skype.com/t5/Windows-desktop-client/Skype-is-not-responding/m-p/4006155#M349765
Sweet! That’s a great find on the Skype issue. That will help some people for sure.
wooww……. playing around the playback device worked……!!!!!
u r truly the man joseph. 😀
Once i checked the article i just scoffed at the solution knowing it won’t make any difference, but i thought no harm could come from trying, but lo and behold the audio has risen from the dead.
You sir should be crowned King of the Internetz
thanx it worked for me
I tried to reinstall the sound driver earlier but nope..it is not working..Thanks a lot for your solution!!!
Well Joseph, you have helped another happy internaut.
My E6530 headphone jack (using “IDT High Definition Audio Codec”) was also not working, although interestingly sound via the HDMI port was fine.
For the sake of future Googlers, I was also seeing the message “Format not supported by the device” when I tried the test button in the “Advanced” tab.
What’s interesting is that my corporate Lync (IM) has recently been completely non-functional as well. Every time I received a message, all Lync windows would totally freeze (and also freeze my Outlook – very unhelpful). I had not connected the issues, but thinking back they did start happening at similar times. Or apparently at the exact same time. I have decades of Windows experience (for my sins) but tbh it would probably have taken me a long time to stumble on this solution.
Anyway, the Skype issue above tipped me off that they might be connected, and sure enough now my Lync works again as well.
Many thanks to you for documenting this simple solution!
I restarted Firefox (I was listening to music on YouTube) and then it worked.
Initially didn’t work for me – I had to disable it, enable it, and then follow the steps. Otherwise I received the error that the device wasn’t configured to use the setting.
So I am definitely experiencing all of this – the “test tone” and the Skype For Business/Lync issues – which are really making it hard for me to work at all – on a recently wiped / beefed up E5530. AFAI can tell I’ve got the latest drivers. I noticed the audio issue a couple of weeks ago, but the Skype / Lync issue is much more recent.
My problem is that a reboot completely re-introduces the problem. The defaults on the speaker device need to be reset after any time I reboot.
Any suggestions?
That’s a dang good question and to be honest, I don’t really know. You could try installing a few older driver versions and see if any of them gives you stability?
Hi,
this fixed the problem on my dell latitude E5530 upgrade from win 7 to 10!
Thanks
Thanks, this helped me.
FYI: Dell Inspiron N5010 upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10
IDT
I tried that but it wouldn’t work. So I right clicked the speaker icon to open the volume mixer in the bottom right corner & then clicked “troubleshoot sound problems.” Then I followed the on screen directions & it fixed the sound problem! Thanks for the help.
(The problem started after a Windows 10 Update yesterday)
Thanks so much for the instructions! Saved me a lot of time! I was literally listening and it must have just automatically changed!
Yes, this also solved the same problem on two Dell’s E5530 with Windows 10
Thanks for sharing!
Unfortunately it’s a recurring problem. The solution isn’t persistent. Dell support doesn’t recognize it as a issue…..that’s very disappointing.
Anyone has a supplementary advice to solve it definite?
Joseph, you are a genius…Worked for me!
Thanks. This fixed my problem as well. I tried some other sites, with more complex solutions, that didn’t work and forgot that a lot of the time, simpler is better.
Thankyou so much mate!
After the bloody update icon showing up everyday i gave in and updated.
Lost sound completely, tried everything.
And this finally worked, THANKYOU!
This helped me today ….. Thank you
thanks, my brother plugged in headphones the other night and from that second on no sound played on my pc. this fixed it, thank you i think i may have changed the setting in there once but i did not do anything until now.
Nice. Glad to have been of service!
thankyou kindly!
my audio on my latitude simply stopped working on win8.1
i tried windows upgrade
chipset drivers
audio drivers
nothing worked!
only this – thankyou again!!!
Glad it was helpful. 🙂
it didn’t work on my laptop ACER ASPIRE V
I try it in random ways and in several times but error still exists
hope you give me idea to fix the problem
thank you