Why Was Sound Not Working?

[inHYPHENcorrect]

There was a problem with Windows 8 HP Laptop. VLC had no sound. YouTube had no playback. No sound at all. Proably not video either. Device Manager said everything functioning properly. I changed the volume controls with the speaker icon, internal keyboard, USB keyboard, to make sure it was not on mute. I had no choice but to restart. Sound works now. But how to keep this from happening again?! The troubleshooting website says to restart. EVEN YouTube said If Playback Begins Shortly, Try Restarting Your Device!! This is not acceptable. I want to know the cause and I want to know how to fix the sound WITH ZERO restarting involved. If anybody knows the information then kindly provide it. If there is no solution, then Microsoft does not know how to make operating system function.

 

[fireberd]

Your post does not give any system specs and what "restart" did you do? Just reboot the PC? Reinstall Windows 8?

More information is needed for someone to try and assist you.

 

[inHYPHENcorrect]

sorry. ... i meant reboot.

windows 8 amd a4-5000 apu with radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.50 ghz 8.00 gb (7.46 gb usable) 64 bit operating system x64 based processor no pen or touch input is available for this display. 440 GB e9g78ua#aba 17-eo98nr

 

[fireberd]

Its very difficult to determine what happened, especially since a Reboot fixed it. Only troubleshooting when there is a problem, could help to determine what happened.

Sorry.

 

[inHYPHENcorrect]

I am almost positive that it was "Free Alarm Clock" software that caused the problem. I noticed the problem occurring on another laptop with windows 7 and I while I did not try to use VLC or YouTube, I checked the volume levels. When adjusting the levels, it is supposed to make a noise so that is all the troubleshooting that I did. I made a guess and decided to close out Free Alarm Clock and open Free Alarm Clock again before I reboot. The sound is back! I decided not to reboot. Because the sound came back after closing and reopening Free Alarm Clock.