I recently purchased Skyrim through Steam. The game downloaded and the first time I went to launch the game, it said it was downloading and installing DirectX. The game launcher screen then came up a few minutes later, and I hit play. Within seconds, a window popped up saying that Skyrim had stopped. I tried to start it again via Steam, and again it said it was downloading and installing DirectX. And again, when I clicked play, a window popped up seconds later saying that Skyrim had stopped. I then ran the "DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer" from Microsoft (I'd provide the link, but I don't have permission to post links).

When I tried the game the third time, I received the same error that Skyrim had stopped working.

I rebooted, started the game from Steam, clicked "Play" in the game launcher, and this time Skyrim started up. The Bethesda logo pops up, and I hear the accompanying audio. When prompted, I click "New" to start a new game. The game starts, but there's no audio. The first time, I just assumed the first few minutes were in silence as I had my character look around. After the horses and wagon came to a stop, I got suspicious that something was wrong, so I quit, and restarted the game. The second time I noticed the character across from me speak, but didn't hear anything. There's no music, no background noise, no speech.

System specifications:

Vista Ultimate System Pack 2 - 64-bit
Intel Xeon CPU 3.2GHz (dual core)
4 GB RAM
Radeon HD6850
M-Audio Audiophile 2496

For what it's worth, what I've seen of the game looks great (and the game selected High qualtity settings). My computer seems to have no issues with it (so far) except for the missing audio.

Things I have tried (courtesy of my searches via Google):

Uninstalled/Reinstalled Skyrim via Steam
Made sure the Default audio format is "2 channel, 16 bit, 44100 Hz (CD Quality)"
Installed the latest drivers from M-Audio.
I have attempted to use the "DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer" again, but it simply tells me that it's already installed.

I have also tried an old SB Live! with the KX Drivers. Used the on-board HDA audio. In both cases, the results are the same as with the M-Audio: No sound once past the Bethesda logo. This makes me think it's not an issue with the soundcards or drivers, but with DirectX or the game. I'd like to remove and reinstall the DirectX End-User Runtime stuff, but it doesn't show up in the "Programs & Features" Control Panel.

I've run out of ideas. Can anyone assist?

Adam

So you never tried to change the sound settings in game?

Well the only options in-game are volume controls, as far as I can tell. By default (at least here), Masters, Effects and Voice are all maxed out. Footsteps and Music are at about 75%. Not surprisingly, descreasing the maxed out ones doesn't help, and neither does increasing the other two to 100%.

Ok, start the game, tab out and then look at the windows volume control thing. lower left corner, press it and select (Mixer) Mine's in swedish so i don't know what yours will be names, but they are the same. Make sure Skyrim is maxed up there. If that doesn't work, i don't have a clue what the problem is.