Windows 7, no audio output device installed

[HendersonD]

Installed Windows 7, 32bit under vSphere 4.1. In the system tray the sound icon has a red x with the message "No audio output device installed". In device manager there is no audio devices. VMWare Tools is installed.

Any ideas?

[mcowger]

This is expected - vSphere does not provide audio out.

[HendersonD]

Two related questions:

1. If I use this new Win7 VM I setup as the basis for rolling out View desktops, how do the View desktops end up with audio working?

2. If I use this new Win7 VM as a clean image to build a Thinapp, will I run into any problems with certain software that when installed expect a sound card?

[mcowger]

1) The protocol itself (PCoIP / RDP) will enable a virtual sound device on connect/login.  It works fine.

2) Nope - shouldn't be an issue unless the app checks for a sound card on install (pretty rare except for specific sound editing apps) or the app needs the sound card configured a specific way with a specific name (also very rare).

[HendersonD]

Matt,

Thanks for the quick answers. One more question, I think I already know the answer. I think all of my Windows Server 2008 R2 VMs have sound enabled. I am guessing vSphere adds an audio driver to these VMs but it does not add one to desktop operating sytems like XP, Vista, and Win7. Is this correct?

Dave