Hi,
My husband's computer is running Windows Media Center and he has been having this small problem for a long time but we have never been able to figure it out and are just curious as to why.
He can play CDs, and all and any sound files using Windows Media Player so he does have sound on his system.
His problem is that when he starts up his computer and also shuts it down, he never hears the Windows Start UP wav file or the Windows Shutdown wav file. I have looked on the computer and both of the files are there in the media folder and when I click to preview the sound, I hear them.
Hopefully someone can explain why he doesn't have these two sounds when he turns the computer on or off.
I posted this question several weeks ago and since I didn't find an answer I closed it down but now I would like to pursue it again.
When my husband's computer starts up he does not have any Windows Start Up sound or when he shuts the computer down, he doesn't get the shut down sound even though they are turned on in the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties.
When I go to the sounds in the Control Panel, I noticed that at the bottom of the window under the Program events, there is a box called
Sounds: with a Browse box. This is NOT available so I can make it the Windows XP sound as it is on my son's computer.
Why is this grayed out, and how can I get it to be active so I can assign the Windows XP sounds to the computer?
The audio may be running on standard drivers installed by Windows. You could find and install the drivers from the manufacturer's website. I doubt it, but it may need accompanying software installed. You could check the drivers CDs that you have for the computer, which may save searching the 'net.
Run dxdiag, type dxdiag into the Run command line. There will be information and some basic tests under the sound and music tabs.
Just out of curiousity have you tried changing the start and exit sounds to a much shorter wav sound, maybe one of those sounds that you know has no problem playing.
I bring this up because I had a timing problem with my own start and exit sounds where only part of the windows defaults were being heard. I changed mine to something very short (Windows XP Logoff Sound.wav) and have had no problem since.
Opps I see you mentioned that changing the sound for the scheme is greyed. Have you actually clicked on a sound assigned to an event. This selection box is greyed until you click on a listed event. At least it is on mine.
Thanks for your help Matt. I haven't checked the driver CDs that came with my computer because I really don't know what or how to check. I did run dxdiag and I ran the tests on Sound 1 and Sound 2 and I heard all the sounds. Everything there seems to be working OK.
goddez1, I did try changing the start sound to a much shorter wav sound. It made no difference, I still didn't hear any start up sound.
I did click the Windows Start Up sound and then the Windows scheme is listed in the bottom so that seems to be OK.
Could it possibly be the speakers? Although it plays other sounds and CDs too.
Thanks again for your help.
Jean
P.S. One more thing, it seems as though when the computer turns on or off there is only a little thud noise coming out of the speaker instead of the start up and shut down sounds.
goddez1 - No, I do not have another profile on this computer. Should I create a new user ID just to test it?
BMoore1129 - I did check to see if the Windows Audio Service was started. I did as you suggested, turned it off and turned it on. No Luck, still no start up sound.
