Since my recent automatic Windows update, my laptop no longer recognises an
audio output device, claiming one is not installed. All troubleshooting
guides just tell me to enable the device, which is impossible as it says it
is not installed as opposed to simply disabled.

I have never had this problem before, as my laptop has in built speakers.
Any suggestions on how to solve this so I can actually get sound?

Have you tried reinstalling the drivers?
Most laptops mostly use generic parts and generic drivers which should be
available from the vendor, among many other places, or simply letting the OS
search for the driver on your hard drive or the internet. Even Apple
notebooks run on generic Intel parts (apart from the BIOS) and use generic
drivers when booted to a real OS.

"J" <J@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C0018655-17AD-45B7-83AB-37B9636C0394@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Since my recent automatic Windows update, my laptop no longer recognises
> an
> audio output device, claiming one is not installed. All troubleshooting
> guides just tell me to enable the device, which is impossible as it says
> it
> is not installed as opposed to simply disabled.
>
> I have never had this problem before, as my laptop has in built speakers.
> Any suggestions on how to solve this so I can actually get sound?[/color]


Can you find a link to the spec sheet for your laptop or at the very least
give a make and model?