How To Install a Media Controller for Computer Speakers

Media devices such as a speaker system that are meant to output audio from your computer interact with a computer's operating system through a software device known as a media controller. If you have recently upgraded your operating system and your current speakers stopped working or you installed a new set of speakers that won't play the problem can likely be solved be re-installing the media controllers. You can install the controller by using a built-in feature of your operating system that doesn't require an extra installation disc.

Instructions

1. 

   Bring up the computer's main "Start" menu by clicking on the Windows button at the far left side of the tool bar located at the bottom of the desktop. Scroll up through the Start menu options and click on the button labeled as "Control Panel."

2. 

   Use the scroll bar at the right side of the new window that will pop up on your screen to navigate down through the Control Panel options. Locate the icon with a picture of a computer next to a toolbox labeled as "Device Manager." Double-click on the icon. Click the "Continue" button if your computer's operating system brings up a second window asking for your permission to open the Device Manager menu screen.

3. Locate the entry in the Device Manager menu screen labeled as "Sound, Video, and Game Controllers." Click on the plus sign to the left of the entry to bring up a list of audio devices connected to your computer. Right-click on the name of your speaker system and choose the "Uninstall" option. Click on "OK" and wait for the operating system to finish uninstalling the speaker's software.

4. Close down the Device Manager window and then restart the computer. Wait for the operating system to bring up a new window asking you to install a media controller for the attached audio device. Click on "Next" and then click on "Install." Wait for the installation to finish and then return to the Device Manager menu in the Control Panel window.

5. Right-click on the name of the speaker system and then choose "Properties." Navigate to the tab at the top of the window labeled as "Drivers." Scroll down through the options in the tab and click on the button labeled as "Update Driver." Click on "OK" and wait for the newest speaker drivers to download from the manufacturer's website.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not also update the speaker's device driver after re-installing the media controller the speakers may not properly play any audio.

References

• Troubleshooting Sound Problems
• Audio Media Controller Troubleshooting