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Windows 7 Host. Virtualbox 4.2.10. Windows 7 Ultimate guests with guest additions installed. VMs that previously had sound working fine now have no sound from the host system speakers. The guest systems seem fine. No errors, and the graphs show sound being output. Volume is turned up.

Hard to say when/which version this started with because I don't use sound often, but need it now. Tried both ICH AC97 (definitely worked before) and the Intel HD Audio. Tried various Realtek drivers including 5963_PG286_Win7_Vista_XP_UAAV10a-5013, 64bit_Vista_Win7_Win8_R271, 6305_Vista_PG537. Host system has a onboard VIA sound chip (AMD CPU).

Also tried clean guest install of Windows 7. No joy. If you need other logs, please advise specifically which ones.

Any ideas? Thanks.

Have you checked the obvious, e.g. sound muted in either the guest or the host? Is the host able to make sounds in the same category?

Checked. The host sounds are normal. Sound is not muted in either host or guest.

BTW, this problem includes the Windows test of audio devices/speakers. The test runs normal in the guest in that visually it all looks fine - no errors, but there is no sound coming from the host. Also, no system sounds, MP3 - nothing. It's like the speakers are not connected, but they are. This is with every guest - not just one. At least every one I have tried, which is 4 out of 12 or so.

Well, I have dual boot to Windows 8 also and they work okay there, so I guess it is something with my Windows 7 installation - has to be one of the updates, I think because it worked okay before. Thanks.
UPDATE FOR THE ARCHIVES: Deleted the sound device in Device Manager and let it re-install. Got the VM sound back!

Thanks for letting us know the solution. Sadly, it's an unusual courtesy.

I had to delete the sound device in Device Manager and let it reinstall.

After that it didn't work until I messed with the Levels in Speakers Properties in the Sound menu.