i took the advice of:
"Open windows Control Panel, open Device Manager and open up Display Devices - make a note of the hardware listed here i.e. ATI, Nvidia or Intel.
NOTE: (I do not have "Display Devices" in my Manager, but do have sound controllers)
Next, connect your notebook via HDMI to your Tv. From the Desktop, right click the speaker icon in the Taskbar and select Playback Devices. Left click once ( just to highlight the entry ) the HDMI Output that has the same name as your display adapter and then click the Set Default button - see if you now have audio."
Everything looks good, but the "Set Default" button isn't highlighted. So I am still not getting any sound. I have a Panasonic Plasma TV circa 2006. All other HDMI devices work beautifully