How to Restore Audio Devices

Reinstall Drivers
1. Click on 'Start,' then 'Control Panel.' Click on 'Classic View' in the left column if applicable.
2. Select 'System.' Click on 'Device Manager' in Windows Vista or Windows 7. Click on the 'Hardware' tab, then 'Device Manager' in Windows XP.
3. Double-click 'Sound, video and game controllers' to expand it. Double-click your audio device.
4. Make a note of any error messages present in the 'Device Status' section. Write down any error message codes, and look up the error message code at the Microsoft Knowledge Base site (See Resources). Continue to the next step if you do not see an error message.
5. Click on the 'Driver' tab. Click on 'Uninstall.' Confirm that you wish to uninstall the driver, then restart the computer when prompted to do so.
6. Allow Windows to reboot and to re-detect the audio device. Wait while Windows installs the drivers.
Re-enable Device
7. Select 'System.' Click on 'Device Manager' in Windows Vista or Windows 7. Click on the 'Hardware' tab, then 'Device Manager' in Windows XP.
8. Double-click 'Sound, video and game controllers' to expand it.
9. Right-click your audio device, and left-click on 'Enable.' Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the restoration of your audio device, and restart the computer.