Windows XP fails to recognize sound device on Toshiba laptop

This is Windows XP based Toshiba laptop which was working fine until yesterday. Before I left this laptop yesterday I saw a new icon in my taskbar named “Echo Chamber”. I don’t know from where it appears. However I ignored it and left. Today when I started the system I found the sound is not working any more. I went to system devices and checked, everything appears "working properly."

Later I tried clicking the volume icon in the system tray but nothing happened. When I right click the same, I received the following error message:

“There are no active mixer devices available. To install mixer devices, go to Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware and then click Add Hardware.”

Does anybody know what has went wrong, what is that new icon and how can I fix t? many thanks for all your helps.

Most probably there would be some conflict in the Audio driver or driver might have failed hence you getting these problems. However I don’t know what was that Echo Chamber icon. But in order to fix it, you just need to re-install the drivers. If you have drivers CD, install from it and if not visit Toshiba download Center, enter your model number and download.

I have experienced this issue in past and managed to fix it successfully. Here is what you need to do:

Go to Start> RUN >type services.msc > Enter.
N the opened services applet, look for service named “windows audio”
Go to its properties and set it “Automatic”

Restart the laptop and it should work fine now.

re : services.msc : it worked! Just wanted to say thanks for that Calkittykat.Sound is back now.Great!

i had this same problem only when i went to services and looked it showed up as startup automatic...but the service was stopped?? weird so now i have to go in there and start it everytime i boot up grrrrr