If the background service handling sound is turned off, Windows XP will report that no audio device exists. [Start Menu] ➔ [Run] ➔ Type: "services.msc" ➔ [OK] Click , select Run , type services.msc , and hit Enter.
Unplug any headphones from the front panel. Faulty front-panel jacks can permanently mute the main rear audio output. 2. Check and Enable the Windows Audio Service windows xp no audio device
Panic sets in. You hover over the system tray in the bottom right corner. The speaker icon is there, but it’s ghostly pale, often accompanied by a tooltip that reads simply: If the background service handling sound is turned