I also have the same issue, I have Win 7 64-bit and VIA HD Audio

::UPDATE::
If I navigate to the game folder (for me it's D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\skyrim) and run TESV.exe as administrator I get the following error:

C:\Windows\SysWow64\XAudio2_6.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support.

Anyone else experience this?

I didn't get any message when I ran tesv.exe as admin

Fixed the XAudio2_6 issue but I'm still getting no sound. Getting really frustrated. It would be so bad if I could play the game but, as other have mentioned, the beginning sequence doesn't let me get out of the cart no matter what I do.

That's nothing. It's just a description of the box that will pop up should the game determine that warning needs to be issued. Basically all that text on that line will show up in a message box if it finds a file version mismatch. One way you might see this is if you are patched up to a certain version, but a custom mod you downloaded and are trying to load was made using an older version of the game (or CK).

Bump. This seems to be such a simple issue as no other part of the game seems to be glitchy or missing as far as I can tell . Just the sound and the lack of scripting when the carts get to the stone wall in the village. Everyone with this error go back and watch it thinking of it as some kind of Blair Witch opening. The silent snowfall and cold grays of the landscape, nicely framed with the silent cascading hoof clamps of the cart-horses leading you to your destiny as a prisoner. Imagine some malevolent deity like Sheogorath cackling at you whilst you bang your forehead on the computer screen demanding dragon shouts and brews with wenches. Hopefully this entertains for a spell while waiting for the fix.

Day 2, still no fix. The "audio fix" by lowering quality and setting the output on stereo does not work for me. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the game and audio drivers, I even tried installing the game in Spanish and I had the same result. I have the same problem as most users in this topic, I can hear the drums during the Bethesda Logo and after that I hear no audio whatsoever, the cart ride to town has no audio and has no subtitles even though I enabled them in the settings. When the cart stops at the town the event completely stops, it doesn't crash it simply stops, I can't progress further than that point.

Bump. i wonder if when downloading a few files just get skipped? idk not a programmer or anything but still waiting for some admin assistance on this one... really want to play

I have the same bug. Win7 x64

Bump, unable to play until a proper fix is given, reducing audio quality and setting it on stereo doesn't work.

I have the same issue... graphically it looks great but theres no sound after logo and the carts just stop in the first village and i cant do anything... Vista 64, realtek audio...

Bump!

I installed it from a CD.

::edit:: I am a programmer and went through over 8 hours of troubleshooting to no avail. At least I have the latest available driver of everything on my system and my registry is pristine.

I fixed it on my PC!!

As for the problem I was having. Windows Vista 64bit, no sound after Bethesda logo, hangs at end of carriage ride.

I went here http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=35

Download that directx file and install it manually. It will ask you to extract. Just extract into a folder on your desktop and then go into that folder and find the setup exe. Run that. I loaded the game without even restarting the pc and the sound was working!!

I have tried this and it hasn't helped. Windows 7 has DirectX 11 natively so I don't understand why trying to reinstall it would help. Did you do this in Windows 7 64bit?

It says I already have the latest version of DirectX, so that's not working for me. :/

I tried to update DirectX but it said I already had a newer or the same version.

Same here, already have the latest DirectX.

Oh yes, i listen everythin!! I love you Smoke63b!!

I got the same message - that I had the most up to date directx. So i downloaded the full installer (not the web one):

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=8109

extracted files and ran the DXSETUP file - this reinstalled directX and I have sound now! Off to see if this gets me past the carts too...

Thanks all for the info!

What is the target directory for the manual install?

Just choose a temporary directory somewhere. You then need to navigate to that directory and run the DXSETUP from there.

This did work for me, suddenly I have fully working sound. Thanks a ton.

Wouldn't this just be downloading an older version of dx...so that means the real problem lies in the newest rendition of dx? Or it's the problem when combined with the 64bit OSs we've seen perhaps. I don't like how this might effect some of my other games, but I'm trying it anyway. I've waited too long already.

MightyMike you are a GOD! this worked perfectly and i can now play. im so happy thank you so much!