No audio device and no software

That "no audio devices are installed" message does not refer to the headphones, but to the sound chip in the laptop. Your operating system is not seeing the laptop's audio chip, which is built into the laptop's motherboard. This could be due to a hardware failure, or a software problem (corruption of the audio chip's driver). To tell which of these is the problem, open "Device Manager" and look for any device that may be highlighted with an exclamation mark. If anything that resembles an audio device is so marked, it means the operating system is able to see the audio chip. and you problably don't have (total) audio hardware failure. You have to search, download and install the driver for this "problem" device. If no audio device is seen at all, then there is probably a hardware fault with the motherboard/audio chip. All is not lost. You can buy an inexpensive USB audio dongle that will allow you to route sound out from the laptop into external speakers or headphones. However, you'll lose the use of the internal laptop speakers that were dependent on the internal audio device (chip).

You need to install the audio driver.
You can download the audio and device drivers from the Compaq/HP WEBsupport/download page. Make sure you select your model laptop and the Windowsdrivers you require and install them. Click on this link to download thedrivers: -
http://welcome.hp.com/country/au/en/cs/support.html

Hi,
First you have to go to Device Manager and check if the audio device is properly installed there.
Click Start then Run, Type devmgmt.msc and click on Ok. This should pull up Device Manager and in it is a list of devices detected and installed. Check if the audio device is installed properly. If not, if you are using Vista or Windows 7, you can right click on the audio device entry and click on update driver software. Choose update driver software automatically. You should be connected to the internet when doing this as your Operating System will look for a compatible software driver online.
If you are using Windows XP, you might need to visit your pc manufacturer's website and download the drivers there or if you have the driver cd that came with your computer, you can also use that to install the drivers needed.
Hope this helps.

You need to install the correct drivers for your audio device.
This should be available on the HP support/download website by entering in your compaq make and model.

1) Go to: Start > Settings > Control Panel > Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices > Audio tab 2) Check what's under "Sound playback: Default device" and "Sound recording: Default device". It these fields are grey and non-clickable, then most probably the audio card driver is missing or less probably the audio card itself is broken. 3A) If you have an original CD of your computer, motherboard, or audio card, insert the CD and install the driver from it. 3B) Or alternatively insert the CD and go to: Start > Settings > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > System > Hardware > Device Manager, find any unidentified device in the list, or expand the "Sound, video and game controllers" branch, identify the Audio card > Right click > Update driver... > Install the software automatically > Next 3C) Or alternatively download and install a free driver updater software, e.g. http://www.innovative-sol.com/drivermax/index.htm - let it scan and update all your missing drivers. P.S. These steps mentioned above are for Windows XP, but will be quite similar on other Windows versions, too.
If you tell me your laptop's model name, I could find its website where you can download audio drivers. For example if you have HP laptop, go to www.hp.com and enter your laptop's model number and look for driver downloads offered.

Hi,
get the driver here : www.topshareware.com/compaq-sound-driver...sound/.../1.htm
www.nodevice.com/driver/company/Compaq/SOUND.html
www.topshareware.com/compaq-sound-driver...sound/.../1.htm
www.compaq.com
REgards, Jay__hsnghw1

Get the TAG number of your laptop, it should be on the bottom of the case.
Delete the device that says other.
Go to the dell website download the driver software, and re-install it. Make sure the MUTE is turned off.

Best of luck
Sabre

Download the proper chipset driverto that laptop before installing sound drivers.

http://www.new-drivers.com/files/sound/Realtek?gs.realtekgeneral&gclid=CN37x6mp1ZoCFRUhnAod3Fz22g

need to download your audio card driver

Reinstall the audio device from *********** board install disk of if you have not one,Go to the manufactuer of your laptop and obtain the device software and reinstall it.