desktop sound missing

I have a strange problem with my sound. Within applications, the sound works fine, but I've lost all the Windows sounds, ie startup and shutdown, new mail chime, minimise etc.
When I check the Sounds in control panel, they're all listed and will play when tested, but they just don't go.

This is independent of using desktop speakers or not, no mutes checked, nothing like that.

CD's play normally etc, it's just the desktop that's gone silent

 

Try going to a start => run line, keying in

Code:

sfc /scannow

and clicking OK.

Since sound seems OK except for the system ones the system file checker may be able to locate and replace a bad or missing file and get you back in business.

 

thanks, I've now tried this but no difference

 

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2857422465-927890586-840360825-1003\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default

All of the available default sound settings are found under that Key. If you're comfortable looking in the Registry, verify that the Key exists on your system and that there are settings in the subkeys for each default sound that reflect your choices.

If the Key is intact and seems proper, look for the sounds files being referenced at the various locations indicated by that Key and verify that they exist at those locations. They may have gotten erased or corrupted somehow.

 

Thanks, couldn't find that exact key, but under this one
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-3168153238-2329214861-3124719955-1005
it all looks as it should (I think) and the sound files referenced do exist in their locations.

Within the sound scheme box (in CP) you can test the sounds, and they work here.

I saw a suggestion on another bulletin board for a similar problem to boot off the windows installation disk and then choose the repair option from the second screen, so I might try that.

 

Yes, that would be what is called a "Repair Install." It will probably cure your problem, however you will then need to install your Windows updates again, the SP2 and the HotFixes since SP2.

Good luck.

Here are a couple of useful links for you:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxphome/installxpcdrepair/part1.htm