No Windows sounds

OK, this is driving me nuts! I've looked here and other places but no answer to this exact issue.

Background: I have the same exact problem with 2 completely different computers. Different Manufacturers, different audio, different versions of XP. Toshiba Laptop has XP Home, Gateway Tower has XP MCE. Both kept up to date (SP3).

While others report sound issues recently, mine problem is that ONLY the Windows sounds are gone. If I do a System Restore back to remove the August or September Windows Update, Windows sounds work fine. As soon as I do the current Windows Update, they are gone.

By "gone ", I mean no welcome opening sound, no closing sound, and computer "beep" sound instead of a normal windows sound with other programs (ATF-Cleaner, for instance). The Windows sounds ARE still there and accessible and make noise when I went to check and ran them......

I have two other XP computers (HP and Dell) that do not have any problem. One of these also has the same audio (Realtek AC'97) as my laptop.

I have no problem playing any audio / video source on either computer with this problem. It's just the Windows Sounds that don't work after the necessary Windows Update.

The only thing in common between the two computers that have this issue is that they both are telling me that they have a Java Update that needs to be done. AFAIK, the two computers with no problem are up to date on Java, but to be honest I rarely use those two, so they may not be fully up-to-date on Java. I'll check on that shortly before I check back in here.

So..... does anyone have any clue what I need to do? Not running the Windows Updates is obviously not the answer.

 

Quick Updates:

Three of the XP computers have AC'97. One is an Intel version, the other 2 are Realtek. The Gateway does NOT have / list AC'97.

As for Java (IF this might be where the issue is...)

Dell tower:
no Java

HP tower:
Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4.1_02
Java Web Start
Java 6 Update 20

Toshiba Laptop AND Gateway Tower (the computers with issues):
J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 1 (Toshiba laptop) / Update 2 (Gateway tower)
Java 6 Update 26

Only the Update (1 or 2) is different and both have a Java Update ready to install.

I don't know if this helps (or is the issue).

 

On this page, line 6, left-hand column, click on "Restore System Default Sounds" to download a small .reg file.

Instructions on how to use is after it has been downloaded are at the top of the page.

It can't hurt to run it and it often fixes the problem you're having.

If your antivirus software objects, ignore it. The files from Kelly's Korner are safe.

 

Should I run it before or after I run the Windows Update?

 

I don't suppose it makes any difference. If you run it before, it fixes the problem, then the update causes the problem again, run the .reg file again.

 

OK. I'll try it before the updates first and report back.

 

AND......

We have Windows sounds again!

I did have to run the file AFTER running the Windows Update. Not sure why and don't particularly care, just nice to have everything back to normal on both computers.

(and for those following along, apparently Java had nothing to do with the issues I was having)

Thank You, Miz!

 

Upon Further Review....

This did NOT fix the problem.

It does only temporarily.

Once I reboot a second time, we're back to no Windows sounds.

So... any more ideas?

 

Since the file you ran made a change to the registry, it follows that when you reboot, something else is changing it back.

It could be some kind of malware, in which case you need to post in the Malware and Virus Removal forum after reading this.

 

Makes sense to me... I've started the process and will post when finished.

FYI - It's the laptop that I know has ths issue and will work on first. I'll check the status on the tower after the laptop is back working as it should.

 

OH OH . . .

While going through the steps in the Malware-Virus Removal instructions, I had no issues until Step 4. While downloading the file needed, everything stopped at 99%. Then, I got a BSOD:

A problem has been detected ...

*** STOP: 0x0000008E (oxC0000046, 0x805150DB, 0xB7A066AC, 0x00000000)

Beginning dump of physical memory
Dumping physical memory to disk: xx​

Then it rebooted, and a ton of CPU Usage occurred. For many minutes.

SO,

1 - does the above help &/or give any clue(s)
2 - do I start over, or continue with STEP 4

And no, the file I was trying to download did not show up.

 

You may receive an error message on a Windows-based computer: "STOP 0x00000050" or "STOP 0x0000008e "
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/903251

General troubleshooting for an error message that you may receive randomly in Windows XP: "Stop 0x0000008E "
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945658

 

deck continue from step 4 and let the malware analyst know of this issue. Remember to post the logs in the malware and virus removal forum.

 

Will do.

I've done some searches, looking for possible files listed in the 1st link above. Nothing found...... Fingers crossed.

 

I'd advise against self diagnosis and leave it to the expert to talk you through things.

 

Update -

My laptop is now working as it should! It did take a few days to get through everything. It did have a couple of issues...

I will be checking the desktop computer later this week to see if it is back to normal or if more is needed to be done there. I would start today, but way too many things are already scheduled over the next 3 days. If that computer does need more work done to it, once I start on it I will need to get it done as quickly as possible. Homework waits for no child...

 

Latest Update . . .

The problem of no Windows sounds has returned...

Please insert your own sad sigh here.

I am at my wits end on this.

I am heading back over to the Malware area... maybe we missed something, or maybe we're chasing the wrong gremlin, or ...

Meanwhile, does anybody here have any possible ideas?

 

Hi Miz ! (and everyone else, too!)

UPDATE -

It appears that while my laptop is "clean ", it's age may be starting to show. The Windows sounds have returned after running through all the Malware searching and fixing and adjusting, but then the laptop will completely mess up AND the Windows sound disappear. And then they return. . .

It may possibly need a new internal part or 2. We can't seem to nail anything down definitively yet. . .

Which may mean I'll need to replace it.

MEANWHILE... The file listed above works on the Desktop computer that ALSO has this same issue. Every time I run it. When I do a cleaning (I use ATF-Cleaner and CCleaner), when I reboot the computer the Windows sounds are gone! Run the file, reboot, and they are back. And they stay back... until I reboot AFTER running the cleaners!

(If I run the Cleaners but do not reboot, the Windows sounds do NOT go away... until I reboot.)

I'd understand this more if all 4 of my XP computers did this. But it has only affected 2 of them.

Anyway, I plan to attack the desktop computer later tonight and tomorrow to see if we can find out why that one is doing this.

I'll keep you posted.