Good day. Audio related question

[Charliesz]

Good day.

Audio related question.

I had a perfect working computer with Windows XP Pro. I've tried installing a Logitech USB camera into my computer. Somehow, after a reboot, i lost my CDROM, and audio driver so i had to reinstall them. Got rid of all exclamation marks in Device Manager and windows states my audio is working well BUT i hear no sound. There is no speaker icon in the task bar. I checked "Sounds and Multimedia" in Control Panel and it says "No Audio". I tried reinstalling drivers for sound again, but no results. I plugged another sound card just to experiment. No sound either eventhough windows says drivers are there and evething is working(NO Audio devic- in Control Panel). Is there a way of getting my sound back?

I guess something got screwed int the registry. I really am trying to avoid the windows reinstall since i have some programs that i really would like to keep.

 

[TunaBoy57]

Good Day
Could we have some specs, eg type of soundcard, mobo, cpu?
Although it seems to me that if you are not squeamish about pulling your rig apart, it might be a good idea to simply turn off the rig, remove the soundcard, reboot, remove(uninstall) all entries referring to the card from device manager, turn it off again. Reinsert the card, and reboot, and let windows re-detect and install the card drivers. (the drivers should still be held in the inf section, so you probably won't need the disc, but it wouldn't hurt to get the latest drivers from the manufacturers website). I would suggest the nearest slot available to the agp slot as I find this provides the most reliability.

 

[Charliesz]

Heya.

I sure did what you siggested. Unplugged the sound card, let windows load up without it. Inserted back and booted, no results. I tried different PCI slots , same. I
ve also tried 2 other PCI soudn cards (Creative SB Live(s)) and still "no audio device" eventhough windows saw the card and installed drivers for it. I've updated my BIOS, downloaded latest drivers for audio. DirectX9 , MS online updates.

The thing is, it worked fine before.

I've scanned my computer using online trendmicro.com against viruses and actually found a trojan which is non-removable. I dont think it might affected the sound anyways.

The specs :

Mainboard: Superb 4L.
CPU : Pentium4 1.7Ghz
Ram: 256MB of some cheap ram.
Sound : ALC210A onboard (DISABLED)
Sound2: Waveterminal 192L PCI sound card - the one i am using.
Windows XP Pro, upgraded to SP1.

 

[linney]

Do you have the Exe Sndvol32 in your System32 folder? If not extract it from CD. If it's there click on it. Make sure nothing is muted on the Volume controls.

If the episode with Logitech caused so much trouble it might be an idea to run the System File checking program anyway.

Type SFC /Scannow in the Start Run box.

How does it behave in Safe Mode? Any sound?

 

[Charliesz]

Sndvol32 is present but when i double click it, it comes up with an error saying some mixer is missing. Nothing is muted because there is nothing to mute heh.

Ran SFC /scannw. Now, little window poped up with a progress bar . When it reached 100% it just disappeared, is that ok?

Ive tested using onboard sound too now, so in total, 4 sound cards produce no sound - thats not hardware fault.

 

[linney]

SFC completes and vanishes without too much fuss. If you look in the Event Viewer any files replaced should be mentioned in there. Also check your Event Viewer for other errors and clues to your sound problem.

Make sure Windows Audio service in Services is running and started.

What was the exact error from clicking on Sndvol32?

In the System.ini file (via Msconfig) do you have a line for wave=mmdrv.dll that is ticked under the heading Drivers?
Not sure what is supposed to be there but probably something to do with sound.

319095 - Volume Icon Is Not Displayed in the Notification Area, and You Receive an Error Message When You Try to Add It

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;319095&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

If they don't work you could try repairing windows itself by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[Charliesz]

Thanks you all.

 

[dalincerguy]

I have the same sort of problem, the exact message that I get reads:

There are no active mixer devices available. To install mixer devices, go to Control Panel, Click Printers and Other Hardware, then Click Add Hardware.

This program will now close.

This happened after I attempted to install a MS Digital Sound System 80. Worked great until a reboot.

David

 

[bcastner]

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1066427444

 

[dalincerguy]

Followed the link from bcastner, and was unable to change my situation.

Do have "Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator" showing up without problem on the Device Manager.

Still cannot open the volume control panel.

System:
Windows XP Pro
AMD Duron 1.3GHz
512M Ram
10 GB HD x 2 (Plenty of Disk space available)

Scanned for viruses, Spybots etc all clean. Defragged.

Right now can play a CD and change volume through Media Player 9.0. Cannot hear any other sound source.

Sound and Audio Devices control panel reports "No Audio Device". Builtin Mobo sound system is SiS 7012 and reports all ok with this in Device Manager.

No warnings from Device manager at all.

All thoughts appreciated.

David

 

[linney]

http://groups.google.com/groups?q="...ilable"&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&c2coff=1&scoring=d

Use a utility like Belarc Advisor to see exactly what sound card you have installed and then obtain the latest XP drivers from the manufacturers site.

Belarc Advisor:

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Alternatively use System Restore to return to a point before your problems.

 

[dalincerguy]

Belarc Advisor says that I have the SiS7012 like my system says. I went to the SiS website, got new driver. I have an onboard sound system.

Installed / Rebooted. No change.

Still get the same message.

Please note: CD's Play OK
MP3's play OK
MIDIs do not play OK
Snd Vol32 does not open.

Thanks for the continued attention.

P. S. This problem happened a while ago, and system restore does not have a record that far back. ( I keep system restore down to 3% of my disk).

David

 

[linney]

DirectX: Description of the DirectX Diagnostic Tool

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;190900&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

HOW TO: Resources for Troubleshooting Sound Problems in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307918

Check that Microsoft GS Wavetable Synthesis is your default MIDI program:
In Control Panel, double-click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.
Click the Audio tab.
Click Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth in the Default device drop-down list fo Midi music playback , and then click OK.

If you have trouble setting up midi sound it may help to Remove everything in Device Manager in Sound, Video and Game Controllers and let Windows rediscover them after a reboot.

Have you updated DirectX and Windows Media Player or tried reducing sound or video acceleration just a little?

Try Safe Mode (Do you have this problem in Safe Mode?).

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

If they don't work you could try repairing windows itself by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[dalincerguy]

Linney;

Responding to your last message:
1. The Direct X diag showed no errors, however It shows the Modem #4 Line Playback as the only choice of audio device.

2. I have worked with the Sound Troubleshooter for more than an hour, and have not changed anything. Got it confused.

3. I cannot select MS GS Wavetable SW Synth on the control panel that selector box is greyed out.

4. I have already attempted removal / reinstallation of all devices in Sound, Video and Game controllers (2x)

5. Direct X is recently updated and WMP is as of Win XP SP2. This problem existed before I installed SP2 and was not changed by that installation.

6. I will run a test in safe mode. I have not done that yet.

7. I have run SFC /scannow and did not request / correct any items.

8. God I thought we were past "reinstalling windows" at least I hope so.

Some more details:
When I go to the Sounds and Audio Devices Control Panel, I see "No Audio Device" on the first screen.

On the "Audio" Tab the recording and playback show:
"Modem #4 Line Playback" and "Modem #4 Line Record"

and I cannot change them (only choice shown)

On the hardware tab, I see the following listed. All are showing "Working OK" status.

ATAPI CDROM
GST DVD ROM SCSI CD-Rom Device
Unimodem Half Duplex Audio Device
SiS 7012 Audio Driver
Audio Codecs
Legacy Audio Drivers
Media Control Devices


This whole mess started when I plugged in an MS Sound System 80 USB speaker system!

David

 

[dalincerguy]

Additional Update.

Went to safe mode confirmed problem again.

Removed all devices under Sound Video and Game controllers and allowed them to reinstall.

No Change.

I really do not want to re-install windows!

This is a settings/registry error. Why might we need a 2ton bat to fix this?

David

 

[bcastner]

Install the codec pack:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/format/codecdownload.aspx

 

[linney]

Sorry to keep harping back to it but it does still appear to be a driver related problem, of course I could be totally wrong.

Try the free scan of your system offered by this link and see what driver they say you need.

Driver Detective:

http://www.drivershq.com/

 

[bcastner]

I have a workstation with the SIS 7012, and the driver details for the SIS 7012:

Silicon Integrated Systems corp. (1-06-04)
4/23/2002
Driver Version: 5.10.0.6060
Driver Signer: Microsoft Windows Driver Compatability Publisher

And it works fine.

 

[dalincerguy]

Linney and Co;

I went to drivershq.com and their scan suggested that I needed new drivers for a variety of items on my system, including the sound drivers.

After signing up and paying $30USD, I have a screen that lists the non-up to date drivers and where to get them. I did so, cleaning up most, but not yet all the drivers on my system. The sound driver is much older and not XP Certified. I installed anyway. And guess what.

Same problem. Still. Unchanged.

Next thoughts. Does anybody want to see the results of some system scan? Belarc? System Info posted?

Persisting into the night.

David

 

[linney]

So much for their free scan, sorry about that.

Here's something you could try.

266465 - HOW TO: Perform a Parallel Installation of Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;266465&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

You can do the same with XP. Don't install any unnecessary programs, just keep the parallel installation as simple as possible.

Only install what third party programs and drivers are necessary for your sound setup. Where possible keep the install (sound software) away from your current installation's Program Files folder by installing them into a folder in the parallel install and not (if possible) into your current XP. As an added precaution back up or copy the original Program Files folder for any later restoration.

Check for results prior to adding any Service Pack (and again afterward) to see if there is any difference.

The above should tell you once and for all whether your currently installed software is causing the problem or whether your hardware is the problem.

See if you sound works in the new parallel install.