sytem ceased to play system sounds

I am running windows xp pro on a pentium3 800mhz system with a creative vibra 128 sound card.
Suddenly without warning, my sytem ceased to play system sounds.This includes yahoo messenger, msn messenger, windows sounds, yahoo games etc. The sound card still works...because movie and sound files still play! In the multimedia section of the control panel, no sounds can be heard or previewed...the play button is greyed out. The tab for putting the volume icon into the taskbar is clicked, yet no icon is present.

I have tried to uninstall and reinstall the sound card, as well as all sound related software such as codecs etc. i have the driver updated to the most recent driver available.

For some reason, Microsoft did not see fit to allow users to install and uninstall multimedia as was allowed in previous versions of windows, so i cant use that to fix the problem iether.

As an intermidiate user , Im stumped, and short of doing a format and reinstall i cant find a solution.Does anyone else have a solution? Other than the sound problem the system is running fine, except for the windows explorer not closing down properly sometimes, and needing to be forced closed on shutdown.

 

That is a contradiction it if I ever saw one.

System not running fine. I believe OS to have problem.

If Explorer is not behaving neither is the system.

Explorer is one of the main parts of the system. At least I do not think that part is different in XP.

Unless you mean Iexplore which is IE.

BillyBob

 

Before you get too drastic with a reinstall, try the following and in this order. They may fix you up completly and at worst will make your system run some better. I'll give pretty complete directions so may be telling you some things you already know.

- open my computer, right click on C:, properties, and select disk cleanup. Run it and let it remove/compact everything it will. Same for any other drives/partitions you have.

- download, install, and run Ad-aware (the free version) and then Spybot and select/remove every thing it finds. Both programs have been updated recently so if you have them but your copies are more than 2-3 months old, get updates.

- start~run~cmd and then in the DOS window chkdsk x: /r where "x" is any/all drives & partitions you have.

- start~run~sfc /scannow and you'll probably need your install CD to fix any bad system files the scan finds. If you have SP1 and it isn't slipstreamed onto your XP install CD, reapply SP1.

- right-click My Computer, manage, device manager and remove any devices marked with a yellow ! then reboot to let the system see and reinstall them.

 

Hi, rarb3 ~

I have encountered 'Windows Audio' service shutting down. This can be a result of another problem. As BB said & as you have unwittingly indicated, you have other issues present.

For now, try this:

• 'Control Panel' > 'Performance and Maintenance' > 'Administrative Tools' > 'Services'
• Scroll down and double-click 'Windows Audio' > 'General' tab
• Put 'Startup type:' to 'Automatic'
• Under 'Service status:' press 'Start'
• 'Apply' > 'OK' > reboot

 

This was my solution

www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=82900#post82900
------------------------------------
Actually it's not exactly as the MSKB article states: there doesn't
have to be a null value for this not to work! If you look at the
string at the root of HKEY_CURRENT_USER you should have name=(Default)
Type=REG_SZ Data=(value not set). After you install Neromix 1.3.039
the data changes to nothing ! If you open the string there is no
value, but if you choose "change binary data" you will see there is a
value!!
The solution: simply right click on that string and delete it. Windows
will immediatley create the right default string and PRESTO! all your
sounds are back!!
Have a great day!
-----------------------------------------------

BenJ

support.microsoft.com/defaul...b;en-us;Q262256

 

Hi, Ben ~

Can you make the links live, please?

 

Living links

There is HTML and there is HTML

Sorry,
Ben

 

Thank U to all who tried to help.
I have tried evrything mentioned to no avail!
I welcome any new ideas...besides the only one i am left with and that is a format and re-install!
That while it may fix the problem, will not teach us how to fix it next time if there should be one!
I have work in progress...converting divx movies to vcd...so I have a while yet before I can perform the "sepuku (hari kirri)" on my system, so we all may have a while to think this thru!
I once again thank U all for Ur input and consideration!

Ronnie

 

Hi, Ben ~

Thanks. There is HTML.

Second link is dead. S/b http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;262256

 

Hi, Ronnie ~

Do you have the 'Windows Audio' service on 'Started'?

Is it set to 'Automatic'?

Have you installed any software within the last week or so?

Did you run scannow as Newt suggested? What happened?

By what means did you uninstall and reinstall the sound card?

Did you delete the value for the end key as Ben suggested?

As an intermediate user, this type of issue does not occur 'suddenly without warning' without some user action on your part.

To help you, we need to know what actions you have taken, which suggestions you attempted and the results thereof, please.

 

I'm not even completely comfortable that a format/reinstall will fix your problems. It's beginning to smell like a hardware issue of some sort. Or possibly buggy drivers for some piece of hardware.

This is going to be more general troubleshooting stuff since I still don't see anything that will allow an Ah Ha and zeroing in on the specific problem.

Multimedia - you can mostly remove it and reinstall it but microsoft tried to protect users by hiding some system components. Use notepad to open %system%\windows\inf\sysoc.inf (where %system% is whatever drive you have the OS loaded on - usually C. Any entry in there that has the word hide in it will not show up when you go to add/remove. And I think multimedia is hidden by default. If you remove all the occurances of the word hide (but leaving the commas there so what was ,hide, becomes ,,) and save the file, you can then see all your windows components. Multimedia - under accessories - should show up and you can uncheck it for partial removal.

Updates - you said you've updated drivers but have you checked for a BIOS upgrade? If not, see if there is one and if so, flash your BIOS.

Heat - can cause all sorts of strange problems. Try taking the case covering off, cleaning any filters, and running for a day or two with the case off and a fan blowing on the system.

Memory - could be a stick with some bad spots on it. If you have more than one memory stick, remove one and run. If the problem gets better or worse, you have probably found the problem.

Event logs - may have some hints. Try removing all the current entries. Then when you next have problems, check the system and applications logs for new entries with about the same time stamp. If you see some questionable ones and aren't sure, post em here. Just open the event, click on the icon below the up/down arrows, and paste the text-only contents of your clipboard in here.

If none of the above helps, post back because there are still a couple of things to try before a format/install.

 

Well at least it is an expansion card.

I agree with Newt a format and reinstall may not fix this and think about all you will have to do to prep for a reinstall and also to get it back to like it is now.

Here is what I would do!

Device manager remove the sound card.

Shut down.

Physically remove the sound card. Look for any unknown devices if any remove these also!

Boot back into safe mode first try not to let full mode start.

Recheck the control panel for the sound card or any unknown devices. If there are any unknowns then remove them.

Reboot to full mode, (it is important that the computer comes back up once in full mode without the sound card) now recheck the unknowns again and if clean then shut down, reinsert the card back into the computer and restart.

If it does not detect the card it "may" be dead. If it does detect the card then use the latest drivers and reinstall.

Nuff for now, your choice to do this.

Let us know!

Mike

 

Thank You Guys....
U have given me some stuff to try here that is certainly fresh for me!

Newt I am really happy with the method for unhiding windows componants..It still doesn't list the sound events option in there..so it probably wont help..but ill give anything a try right now! i don't like the idea of microsoft hiding componants from me...now they are available to me..for that I thank U!

As far as heat and hardware issues are concerned, all fans are working properly...and as mentioned before, sound works in all instances except within programs as sound events! This makes me certain that its a software problem rather than a hardware one (which I sure hope is true..due to lack of funds right now lol!)
The same sounds that wont work in programs can be run outside of them in media players!

mflynn Ur ideas take my already tried steps to the max..and I certainly will try that too..a complete uninstall and reinstall of the sound card might help...though the attempt without physically removing it didnt bare fruit!

BruceKrymow I have tried all that was mentioned in the posts up to now without any positive results. I have uninstalled all codecs and sound programs I have recently installed, also to no avail. The problems started while playing yahoo pool, and converting a divex to vcd concurrently. The system was running slow, so when the sound disappeared I thought it was merely a system "overload" which would disapear after my next reboot. this didnt happen tho! All sounds worked up to that point, and all software and codecs and drivers on system were in place at the time..in other words, other than system "overload" no changes were made at the time to cause the problems incurred!
Maybe that bit adds some light to U guys..it doesn't for me!

I once again thank all of U for Ur help..my gratitude knows no bounds!

 

Ok!

The proceedure I gave requires that the computer come back in full mode to acertain that windows recognizes that the HW is actually gone and to do a little additional clean up. This will cause a full and cleaner install when you go back with it.

DO REMEMBER THIS. If it does not detect new hardware when you reinsert the card then the card may have gone south!

If you would also do the following it may help assure sucess. Do this when you finally come back to to full mode. Reboot even again after you do the below.

1. search the disk for creative*.* and vibra*.* and if they seem related to the sound card delete them.

2. Download RegCleaner use it to look for any entries pertaining to Creative and or Vibra.

RegCleaner <http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/shtml/regcleaner.shtml>

Look in first 2 cols for Creative and or Vibra and any other programs you thought you uninstalled or removed, these are the dregs left by the uninstaller.

Also tag and remove any that you are "POSITIVE" are not supposed to be on your computer. Any doubt leave them!

After removing these go to the top Tools-Registry Cleanup-Do them all. Delete all it finds.

Then shutdown and reinsert the card.

Mike

 

I thought only the system event sounds weren't working?

Those are are only '.wav' files only.

You have all sound except for system event sounds, correct?

 

yes BruceKrymow that is correct...all sounds except system events or events in other programs. All other sounds...wav, movies, ac3, mp3 whatever do play!

I cant even preview them in the sounds and multimedia section of the control panel, but I can play them in media player!

 

Ok! OK!

Stop the removal! This is not hardware! Thanks Bruce for having that clarified.

The proceedure I reccomended may just cause windows to correct this but it is a windows config problem and not hardware as I thought. So i would do it only as a last resort.

Been out for past hr or 2 and headed back out. Will check back later!

mike

 

Well Mike looks like U may be onto something..what it is I still do not know!

I await Ur input as patiently as I can!

This is way beyond my knowledge or experience..and while not being an experienced professional, and being somewhat a novice in regard to xp...I do have some computer experience!

I have done all of what has been mentioned before, short of the complete removal of the card as advised above...and most of it I had done or wanted to do before the idea's were mentioned in here...but as to what configuration problem exists..I have no clue!

How it got messed up is a mystery to me too, since I have not tinkered with the configuration, and it happened while work was in progress! I have norton internet security installed which generally should protect me from an attack, were that the cause of the changes!

When one knows a little, it sometimes is more detremental than knowing nothing...U are then less susseptible to listening and learning, thinking U know it all! I therefore throw my hands up in the air and say....

"I KNOW NOTHING, I HAVE NO CLUE, I AM OPEN TO ANY VIABLE LOGICAL EXPLANATION AND SOLUTION! PLEASE HELP ME NOT HAVE TO FORMAT AND RE-INSTALL! LETS FIND A SOLUTION FOR ALL THOSE MICROSOFT USERS OUT THERE WITH SIMILARE PROBLEMS! "

Ronnie (who once knew a quite a bit and now knows nothing!)

 

OK!

Where did you get the "LATEST DRIVERS" for your sound card?

Do this

start-run
type

dxdiag

run the sound test and let me know the results.

Mike

 

All tests were ok...came up with a message that
"Your soundcard does not support hardware buffering. Sounds will only play back from software buffers "

Main deal is that sounds worked!
Now what?
Driver came from creative.. I downloaded the driver again..when the problems started just in case!