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Bad DirectSound driver error message?

Discussion in 'Other PC Software' started by tranceorenji, 2007/02/26.

  1. 2007/02/26
    tranceorenji

    tranceorenji Inactive Thread Starter

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    When I was about to play a music in Winamp, an error message pops up,
    "Bad DirectSound driver. Please install proper drivers or select another device in configuration.
    Error code: 88780078     "

    I searched it in the internet, and also on Winamp to see what's the problem. So I checked my Device Manager, and I notice under the Sound, Video and Game Controllers, one of the device, "Microsoft WINMM WDM Audio Compatibility Driver" have this little yellow circle icon with a black ! in it. I looked into its properties, and it said,
    "A driver (service) for this device has been disabled. An alternate driver may be providing this functionality. (Code 32) ".

    I mean, I do click the troubleshooter for this device, but it's not working for me at all, and I saw other people having the same problems as I do in other forums I searched in the search engine, but the solutions they have for this problem is not working, and I'm afraid that I might do something more worse.

    But it's not only my Winamp, but my whole computer have no sound at all. When I received that error message, I heard a BEEP from my computer, not from my speakers. Even when I log onto windows, no sound at all. I also try to click Volume Control, but there this error message,
    "There are no active mixers devices avaliable. To install mixers devices, go to Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Add Hardware. "

    I mean, I don't remember me changing anything at all to any of the drivers or devices on my computer. So, what should I do?
     
    tranceorenji,
    #1
  2. 2007/02/26
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    tranceorenji - Welcome to the Board :)

    I guess you Googled for Bad DirectSound driver which brings up a lot of hits specific to your error message?

    If you computer has no sound at all then the problem is not specifically with Winamp. The beep you hear is from the BIOS via the speaker built into the case.

    There are two possibilities here - either the sound card or onboard sound chip has died or there is corruption in the drivers.

    The first step is to uninstall all the sound devices through Device Manager (right click on each device under the heading Sound, Video & Games Controllers and click on the option to uninstall if available). Reboot and let Windows find the device again and reload the drivers.

    If this does not work we will need some more information from you regarding the computer such as Make (eg Dell, Compaq or other) and Model Number and details of the motherboard and sound system. You can get this information using Everest - freeware.
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2007/02/27
    tranceorenji

    tranceorenji Inactive Thread Starter

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    PeteC, I tried one of your possibilities, and I uninstall "most" of the devices under Sound, Video, and Game Controller, but all I could uninstall is the Microsoft WINMM WDM Audio Compatibility Driver, and the other device that have the uninstall option are Realtek AC'97 Audio, and I can't uninstall that, because when I tried to uninstall it, the computer just reboot itself and after logging in, the send error thing to microsoft pops up.

    I mean, this is what I have under the Sound, Video, and Game Controller section of the Device Manager.
    - Audio Codec
    - Legacy Audio Drivers
    - Legacy Video Capture Devices
    - Media Control Devices
    - Realtek AC'97 Audio
    - Video Codec

    and the Microsoft WINMM WDM Audio Compatibility Driver that I uninstalled.

    But anyway, here's the information of my computer.
    Manufactured by "eMachines "
    T2642
    Intel(R)
    Celeron(R) CPU 2.60GHz
    2.59 GHz, 256 MB of RAM

    The system is a Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2.

    I hope that's helpful enough.
     
    tranceorenji,
    #3
  5. 2007/02/28
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Apologies for the delay in responding - I had an an answer typed out yesterday when my phone line went down :(

    I suggest you go here ....

    http://www.emachines.com/support/product_support.html?cat=Desktops&subcat=T-Series&model=T2642

    click on Downloads and download the audio drivers and install them over the top of the existing driver and see if that does the trick.

    I found this thread which may be of help re. the Microsoft WINMM WDM Audio Compatibility Driver

    http://www.d-a-l.com/help/showthread.php?t=31512

    I'm not too sure that you need it - the Realtek AC'97 Audio drivers should be all that you need. However a solution is posted here ....

    http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Desktops/Q_22085958.html

    Scroll to the bottom of the page for the solution ....
    You have onboard sound I am sure so ignore the last sentence, but you could check in the BIOS that the onboard sound is still enabled.

    To enter the BIOS or Setup hit Del (or F1) repeatedly as the computer boots and the bios should open. There is often an instruction on the POST Screen - the white text on a black ground which shows as you boot - as to which key to hit to enter set up.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2007/03/06
    tranceorenji

    tranceorenji Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks for your help, but sadly it didn't work. Well, I tried all the three suggestion, and it still didn't work, but when I reboot my computer, it detected a new hardware, Audio Multimedia Control or something like that, I tried to find what hardware it is compatibility with, but I can't find any. Until then, I reload the drivers, and it turned out to be Realtek AC'97, but after all those uninstalling and installing, and configuring the BIOS, there's still no sound.
     
    tranceorenji,
    #5
  7. 2007/03/07
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Have you double checked that Volume Control and any of your other audio programs do not have the sound muted?
     
    PeteC,
    #6
  8. 2007/03/08
    tranceorenji

    tranceorenji Inactive Thread Starter

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    Yes I have, but ever since that problem started, it only shows three things in the volume control, and it is Wave, SW Synth, and CD Player. I remembered my volume control used to have like a lot of settings and so on. Now when I check the properties, that's all it displayed.
     
    tranceorenji,
    #7

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