Audio Hardware cannot be found on LAPTOP

[Guest]

I have a Dell laptop and everything has been running fine. I unplugged
everything and took it to the library to work on a paper. As I was in the
library I turned the volume to MUTE. When I got home and tried to change it
back it said that NO AUDIO DEVICE could be found!!! If I try to open ANY
PROGRAM that requires volume it does not work. When I turn on my computer it
gives me an error message from the Generic Host Process saying there is a
problem and the program has to close... and another dialogue says that there
is an Application Error and the memory could not be "read"... and to click ok
to terminate the program and cancel to debug it... this is just as sOON and I
turn on my computer... nothing happens no matter if I press ok or cancel. If
I go to the volume control dialogue box it simple says there are no active
mixer devices available to install mixer devices go to control penel, click
printer and other hardward, then click add harware. I tried doing this and
it says that my volume controls are functioning fine. but they aren't. I
cannot turn my sound back on, help me

 

[Codswallop]

I have a Dell laptop and everything has been running fine. I unplugged
everything and took it to the library to work on a paper. As I was in the
library I turned the volume to MUTE. When I got home and tried to change
it
back it said that NO AUDIO DEVICE could be found!!! If I try to open ANY
PROGRAM that requires volume it does not work. When I turn on my computer
it
gives me an error message from the Generic Host Process saying there is a
problem and the program has to close... and another dialogue says that
there
is an Application Error and the memory could not be "read"... and to click
ok
to terminate the program and cancel to debug it... this is just as sOON
and I
turn on my computer... nothing happens no matter if I press ok or cancel.
If
I go to the volume control dialogue box it simple says there are no active
mixer devices available to install mixer devices go to control penel,
click
printer and other hardward, then click add harware. I tried doing this
and
it says that my volume controls are functioning fine. but they aren't. I
cannot turn my sound back on, help me

What's showing in Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager, for
sound, video and game controllers? Any signs of conflicts? If you right
click on any of the audio devices then properties, you can troubleshoot from
there. Windows XP has a troubleshooting section for no sound. You may have
to delete the audio devices then reboot so that the audio drivers can be
reinstalled.