How do I get sound from an HDMI cable connecting my PC to my TV?

Q  I am having problems trying to use an HDMI cable to connect my computer to my television. The video is present but I cannot get any audio via the cable.

My TV is recognised in ‘Computer-Sound’ but it reads that it is “unplugged”. My laptop recognises it and I have no problem with using it for the same thing.

Both computers are running Windows 7 and the TV is a Sony Bravia. Can you help?
Kevin Taylor

A  This is a fairly common problem and it is usually related to Windows 7’s HDMI output being either disabled or having its volume set to zero.

In the first instance, then, check that the HDMI output is enabled. Attach your laptop to the TV as before, then right-click the speaker icon in the Notification Area of the Taskbar and choose Playback devices. (Note that if the speaker icon isn’t visible, click the small arrow to view the Notification Area’s overflow dialogue.)

In the Sound dialogue box that appears, choose the Playback tab. If no HDMI device is listed, right-click and check that both Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices are ticked (if not, tick the box). Now right-click the HDMI device and, if necessary, choose Enable from the pop-up menu.

Now try playing a video to see if the sound makes it to your PC. If not, right-click the Notification Area speaker icon once more and this time choose Open Volume Mixer: now drag and drop the HDMI device’s volume slider to increase the audio-output level.