Hi Johnybeanz,

What's the OS?

I'm using win 8

So everything was working fine until you plugged your iPod? Did you try system restore to point prior to connecting your iPod?

no.. 

When i got the computer everything was fine. I got sound from everything. Internet, applications, games, programs etc. After a couple days i didn't get any found from internet and then after a couple more days no sound at all from anywhere. But the speakers work perfect i know that for a fact. I reset to factory settings because i thought i had messed some settings up. Worked fine for a couple days then same thing. No sound from internet, then no sound at all. 

Obviously, the hardware is fine, since restoring the factory settings fixes the problem. So we just need to figure out if it's a driver or settings issue. Have you checked downloads for an updated driver?

Yes. Drivers are up to date.

  just purchased my alienware.  tower only.  windows 8.  im having basically the same problem.   no sound at all.  im using the

Creative HD speakers I already had.  drivers installed okay.  pc recognizes that their there.  shows that their getting sound but

nothing come out.  doesn't matter whether I choose the controller or speakers as default.  I have the speakers plugged into

line out.  what do I need to do get them to play.  thx

sounds like a compatibility issue with audio drivers and windows 8 im wondering if a system restore uses a Microsoft certificated driver over the dell driver to resolve the sound problem

I have had this happen more than once.  what i did was run a online windows sound diagnostic and windows have fixed it every time.