Windows Vista No sound on [Windows or] Internet Explorer

I use Windows Vista and I have had no start up sounds or program sounds or internet explorer sounds for the last two weeks. The sound is working perfectly in all other media programs that play music and movies. I have attempted every trouble shooting solution that I can find. I have unistalled updates that occured around the time of the problem. I have gone into internet explorer tools and all sound related items are enabled. I have gone to the sounds and made sure that every device driver is updated and working properly. I have checked the in and out port connection and the speakers are connected to the out port. I have attempted to test the windows sounds and I it will not play. However, I am getting sounds for HP update alerts. I am hoplessly lost in regards to what to do now. I have attempted every type of community forum that I can find online in vain. I have tried every tip from the simple to the complex... Please help me.
Rajiya

 

no sound on windows vista

I had exactly the same problem after installing some new 5.1 surround speakers - no special Vista sound card required, or so Creative Labs said. I followed the fairly simple colour-coded instructions enclosed with the speakers -dead as a Dodo!!!! and no Windows Media Player or system speaker response.
After connecting remotely with a DELL Audio Technician and carrying out various system tests on-line (including the obvious, but often overlooked, "are the speakers 'Muted' ?" - they weren't of course. The 'techie' agreed that the 5.1 speakers were faulty and advised me to return them to the place of purchase and claim a refund, which I have successfully done. I have since bought and installed - from a different supplier! - a new Altec Lansing speaker package which works superbly. However, I cannot replace the hair I tore out in sheer frustration after trying everything else I could think of.
Maybe this will help you - I hope so - and that you eventually resolve your lack of computer sound.
Kind regards, John Halldearn

 

I have spent my whole life in the advertising business and believe in personal accreditation where due. If you are offended by my posting feel free to delete any Trade names I mentioned.

 

Tough : but where would we be without it?

 

As it turns out the problem was not related to my speakers at all. I turned on my computer one morning and it had done a system recovery while I was sleeping. I can only assume that there was some sort of program error with windows vista related to a virus of some sort that my virus protection had not detected. I reinstalled windows vista and now I have all the sounds that I am supposed to have. Thankfully, I still have all of the programs that I had before and I have experienced no further problems.
-Thanks for the suggestion...