A user complains that their speakers are not producing any sound. what should you try first?

Check and see if the speakers are turned off or the volume is turned down all the way. Then if that didn't work, then I would check and see if the speakers are connect to the back of the computer on a desktop, or in the settings and run the test tone if on a laptop. If it still doesn't work then I would say it is a bad connection in the laptop, or a bad port or bad connection to the back of the speakers. And if it is a laptop then I would tell them take it to the shop to get it fixed.