Windows Media Player can't swing the darn hammer 4

[EdwardMartinIII]

A few weeks back, I could play music CDs by popping the CD in the drive and closing it. Eventually, my lovely computer would figure out it had a music CD, open up WIndows Media Player, and play it.

What was so hard about that?

Last week, I pop it in and am told

Windows Media Player encountered an error when reading the CD-ROM drive in digital mode. Click OK to switch to analog mode. Click Cancel to retry playing in digital mode.

Hey, digital mode seems like a reasonable thing for a CD, so I click "Cancel". The error window goes away and Windows Media Player sits there, daring me to click the PLAY button. I do. Same error message.

Okay, evidently digital mode is bad, m'kay. So I click "OK".

Quietly, my speakers mock me.

Ah, but here's ANOTHER error message:

WIndows Media Player encountered an error when reading the CD-ROM drive in digital mode. You can try to use digital mode again, or you can switch the Player to analog mode.

Clearly, digital mode is not the way to go. Because I'm naive, I click "More information" and a helpful Helpie window thingy tells me

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Devices tab

Easy so far, there's a few devices there. Now it tells me

Double-click the CD-ROM drive, and then in the Playback area, click Digital.

Does it say "If nothing happens when you double-click the CD-ROM drive, then click here. No. Why? Because I would click there and that would be too easy.

So, nothing happens when I double-click the drive. Well, nothing for longer than a fraction of a second. A window looks like it tried popping up, but it is almost immediately vanishified. I don't get a chance to read it or anything. It's just gone. I double-click the other things and I get properties, but not this. I double-click the DVD-RAM drive and nothing pops up, either.

According to this:

http://forums.thetechguys.com/archive/index.php/t-5414.html

it might be a hardware issue of some sort. Except I didn't have this hardware issue until a few weeks ago (I think). Plus, the article seems to suggest that this only applies to Media Player 7.

According to this:

http://www.zachd.com/pss/pss.html#0xc00d11f8

Q: Why am I getting error 0xc00d11f8 - "Windows Media Player encountered an error when reading the CD-ROM drive in digital mode. You can try to use digital mode again, or you can switch the Player to analog mode."?
You need to go to the player's Tools:Optionsevices menu option, select the Properties for that drive and change to use Analog mode. If that doesn't work, read on...
I've heard that "DVD Region Killer" caused this problem for one person. They ran System Restore to get help get rid of it, and then things worked fine again.

The hardware's stayed the same, and I don't even know what DVD Region Killer is much less installed it. I suppose I could try System Restore, but after I post this note.

This machine is a Compaq Presario 7994. I am using Windows Media Player 9, which, according to Windows Media Player, is the latest version.

Any advice?

Thanks!

Edward

"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door

 

[TekTippy4U]

I'm am not a WMP user, let alone a 9 - er, but I fiddle about here and there....
Try Start > Run Mplayer.exe (should bring up the orig win ver)
when (and if) a player opens, try playing the CD...try many CDs, store bought CDs too.
try Start > Run Mplayer2.exe (as well)

Also, another player/software may have taken over WMP9 default file types or worse - go into Options and find (amongst that jumble of goodies) the File Associations formats , and make sure .cda is selected (actually in 6.4, this isn't even an option)....but tick "Select All" especially if WMP9 is the one and only main media player.

Go Control Panel > Multimedia > Audio tab check to see your 'sound card' is listed in the dropdown boxes for "playback" and record, tick the box "use preferred devices only".
Multimedia > CD Music tab - tick "Enable Digital audio..."

sorry to say, but it could also be spyware/malware
SpyBot, AdAware, and an up to date defs AV scan is in order.

you're on 98?
know how to try a Scanreg /restore? (though got a feeling this won't fix it)
Anyway, if you like -
Press and Hold the CTRL key at bootup (just before 98 logo would appear) and choose "Command Prompt Only" from the win98 Startup menu. Type in SCANREG /RESTORE (notice the 1 blank space before / )

List all media apps/software and media players installed and correlate that with when this started happening.....also have you been burning lately?

TT4U

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These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
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[cdogg]

No, I wouldn't bother with "SCANREG /RESTORE" (or at least keep it in the bag for a while). It only gives you the option to restore from the last 5 backups (one is made each time Windows successfully loads - one per day). Since this problem has been going on for a "few weeks", chances are that all 5 are too recent to make any difference. Doesn't hurt to check, I suppose.

So, nothing happens when I double-click the drive. Well, nothing for longer than a fraction of a second. A window looks like it tried popping up, but it is almost immediately vanishified.

Yep, WMP9 is known to have all sorts of issues from the options menu when running in older OS's like Win98SE and WinME.


TekTippy's suggestion to go to "Control Panel -> Multimedia -> CD Music" selecting Enable Digital Audio... is probably the winner!

If not, check the suggestions at these sites (I suspect a corrupted or partial ASPI layer install):

http://www.dvdrbase.com/showthread.php?t=32187

http://www.dvdrbase.com/showthread.php?t=34341

There are also some known issues between Roxio EasyCD and WMP9 in Win98. It could very well be software and/or registry related.


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[EdwardMartinIII]

TekTippy4U writes Try Start > Run Mplayer.exe (should bring up the orig win ver) when (and if) a player opens, try playing the CD...try many CDs, store bought CDs too.

When I go this route: Start >> Run >> mplayer

then under File, I choose to open the CD Audio, and it plays the CD just hunky dory. (these are all commercial CDs)

"try Start > Run Mplayer2.exe (as well)"

I can run that, but I can't figure out how to get it to play an audio CD. I try OPEN, but it keeps wanting to find a FILE on the CD, rather than simply playing the CD.

"Also, another player/software may have taken over WMP9 default file types or worse - go into Options and find (amongst that jumble of goodies) the File Associations formats, and make sure .cda is selected (actually in 6.4, this isn't even an option)....but tick "Select All" especially if WMP9 is the one and only main media player."

All are selected. All were selected anyway -- WM opened up when I put the CD in, it just didn't know what it needed to DO.

"Go Control Panel > Multimedia > Audio tab check to see your 'sound card' is listed in the dropdown boxes for "playback" and record, tick the box "use preferred devices only"."

Use only preferred devices was UNchecked, so I checked it. Tried again. Same error.

"Multimedia > CD Music tab - tick "Enable Digital audio..."

Well, this is interesting. The following words appear, but are GRAYED OUT:
"You can have Windows use digital instead of analog playback of CD audio. This feature may not work with all CD-ROM devices, disable if you are having problems with CD audio."
The checkbox "Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device" is also GRAYED OUT.

"sorry to say, but it could also be spyware/malware SpyBot, AdAware, and an up to date defs AV scan is in order."

Okay, I've updated and run Ad-Aware. Although there were a few pieces of junk, I just ran it until there was nothing showing up. Still had the same problem.

"you're on 98?"

Yep. Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition 4.10.2222A

"know how to try a Scanreg /restore? (though got a feeling this won't fix it)"

Hm, that might not be so helpful, as it's been at least a week or two. I think.

"List all media apps/software and media players installed and correlate that with when this started happening.....also have you been burning lately?"

I've been running Windows Update pretty regularly. Haven't installed anything specially new. Have recently UNINSTALLED McAfee virus software. One of their updates evidently caused some kind of trouble.

All sounded like great suggestions, but no luck. Sorry! Thank you anyway!

Cheers,


Edward

"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door

 

[EdwardMartinIII]

Oh, I last burned an audio CD a couple days ago.

Cheers,


Edward

"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door

 

[TekTippy4U]

see what happens when i read too fast cdogg? or perhaps the 'way' the post was written , had me feelin like the old days, that i never wrote about
ah - if only you could complain to MS as fast as the frustration set in
I overlooked the first few "key" words - "a few weeks back"

TT4U

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[cdogg]

TT4U,
Hehe! I figured you did. I do that all the time...


Edward,
"[blue]The checkbox "Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device" is also GRAYED OUT[/blue]"

Hmmm. Are you sure you didn't change one of the following recently:

1) Physically switch configuration or move IDE drives? If so, check to make sure master/slave is correct.

2) Upgrade to WMP9 recently? It would make sense if the problem started happening around this time.

3) Install, uninstall, and/or reinstall any burning software?

4) Add a new soundcard or install new drivers?

5) Upgrade the firmware in the CD-ROM drive?


This Microsoft article might give a bit more insight:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q264/2/01.ASP

Yet another example of a fix for this issue:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/t1051093786

[maroon]It all seems to be pointing to the hardware configuration, soundcard drivers, or CD-ROM firmware incompatibility with WMP9.[/maroon]


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[TekTippy4U]

very concise reply and good t-shooting technique....i still wish something worked. But hey - always more to try .
OK, now I'm starting to think that the CDROM (older..right?) was actually 'never' playing in digital mode at all, just that WMP9 thinks it should be (possible the latest WindowsUpdate added /replaced an Audio CODEC).
Man i can't stand when Auto-junk messes with your setup.

I heard recently that WU recently added some sort of Media package, can you check the site? and see the details of most recent updates?

Otherwise you'd have to farm thru all the audio codecs listed in the last tab of Multimedia and "try" to guess which one is most recent kinda thingy, from viewing each one's properties.

Another option/possibility is to actually open the case and see if the player has Digital outputs (it should),- and add/replace a cable - though I've never done this and can't figure why it wouldn't be done in the first place.

I also wonder if Compaqs site has an updated ROMpaq / Softpaq fort your PC.
I've got some links buried around here somewhere;
will post 'em soon


TT4U

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[EdwardMartinIII]

cdogg writes "Hmmm. Are you sure you didn't change one of the following recently:"

1) Physically switch configuration or move IDE drives? If so, check to make sure master/slave is correct.

Nope, not at all.

2) Upgrade to WMP9 recently? It would make sense if the problem started happening around this time.

Probably. I did upgrade via Windows Upgrade. It's possible.

3) Install, uninstall, and/or reinstall any burning software?

Nope, nothing in probably more than a year.

4) Add a new soundcard or install new drivers?

No new hardware. Probably haven't upgraded any drivers. I had a sorta' driver-fracas a little while ago, which prompted me on one occasion to do a load-drivers-on-at-a-time process. A while after that, I changed my boot procedure to load ALL drivers (which was a huge friggin' mistake), and then keyed it all back down to that-which-I-needed. The driver-fracas was an attempt to fix this problem, though, so unless I misunderstand causality in the Universe, I'm safe there. Maybe.

5) Upgrade the firmware in the CD-ROM drive?

Nope, not if it involved any conscious thought.

This Microsoft article might give a bit more insight:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q264/2/01.ASP

Hm, insistence the problem is hardware. Typical sort of Microsoft response. According to the link, this should only be a problem if I'm running Windows ME, which I'm not.

"Yet another example of a fix for this issue:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/t1051093786"

Jiminy Christmas! That makes it sound like a crap ASPI layer, too. Bad Windows! No Biscuit! I might have to check that out...

Cheers,

Edward

"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door

 

[TekTippy4U]

hehehe;
here i go again with my regedits;
Start > Run REGEDIT
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\CDROM\0000
and any other 0001,0002,0003 subkeys listed
View the Binary value in Right Pane called "DigitalAudioPlay"
whatcha got?
I got "02" listed in my None Digital machine...
(well - there's the "greyed out " value anyway...hmm...I suspect a "01" will Enable that "Enable Digital.." checkbox in Multimedia >> CDROM drive tab).
BUT
I "suspect" it's not supposed to be so, and an Updated (Slyware) Audio Codec replaced a Good analog one.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I may try changing mine soon as a trial and no other fix works, just cause I'm curious...besides it's easy enough to change back, ....that is - if MS doesn't do it for me during a boot up and device enumeration.

TT4U

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[TekTippy4U]

Double Dohhh!!!
There's a Firmware upgrade for the
PhillipsCDD4801/71/72 CD-R Drive dated 3/05/02

any help?...or atleast does the shoe fit??

TT4U

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[TekTippy4U]

TRIPLE DOUBLE DOH!!!!!
I forgot to post the link

http://makeashorterlink.com/?P3F962CC8

this is a shorter link ...., you'll see the original and be redirected quickly ( i can't stand those 5246 character links)

also Everything else for that PC should be there if necessary

note; Not saying it's entirely the cure, or even a partial fix...but

TT4U

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[TekTippy4U]

Before I forget;
thought I'd mention also - it's possible that WU scanned your machine and found the DVD-RAM software and drive and assumed, that "it" was your Main Default CD player.
Check the software settings for the DVD-RAM drive, as far as Digital play

Also look in WMP options under the DVD area and CD area too for a Digital Play setting....I used to have RealOne installed awhile back and almost immediately ripped it out due to it's insistence on wanting to take over my drives and software and formats and default player....plus the spyware , but that's another issue

TT4U

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[EdwardMartinIII]

Bam!

It was a crap ASPI layer. Darn Microsoft and their crazy schemes.

I updated the aspi layer as per the instructions at

http://radified.com/ASPI/forceaspi.htm

which took a bit of thinking, as my files weren't quite in all the places it expected them to be.

So, now I pop in a CD and Media Player 9 kicks up and actually reads the damn thing.

I can also get properties of the CD-ROM via the "normal" route.

Furthermore, my scanner is now back online, which I was thinking might turn out to be a different problem, but was in fact, the same problem.

So, yay!

Thank you cdogg, for the key to the problem. Thank you TekTippy4U for walking me through trying so many things on my path to the solution. You were both great!

Cheers,


Edward

"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door

 

[TekTippy4U]

Wonderful! EdwardMartinIII - thanks for the kind words

and mucho Kudos to !!cdogg!! as well

makes me wonder;
[1] What does it say NOW in --> "Control Panel -> Multimedia -> CD Music" selecting "Enable Digital Audio......."
[2] What caused this nonsense in the first place?......i mean why would WU change around the ASPI layer?....or was it the DVD-RAM. software?

oooo , just realized, the "scanner"....these usually are USB, which are enumerated as SCSI devices and layered through ASPI....right?...wonder if you mungled the scanner/software which fudged the ASPI ? or 1 of the other 2 above.
hmmm (scratch-scratch)


TT4U

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[ANFPS26]

Good thread. I wish most were this informative and entertaining!

Jim

 

[cdogg]

Edward,
Glad that worked!


Windows Media Player 9 was originally designed with XP in mind. It was then modified to accomodate older systems like 98 and ME. Anytime an application is modified at a higher level instead of being designed from ground up, you can expect issues like this (which is why I don't bother with WMP9 in 98 or ME).

Anyway, the ASPI layer is a different beast under Win95/98/ME than it is under 2000/XP. Too bad WMP9 isn't more careful during installation!


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[TekTippy4U]

Thanx for the xtra * Jim!

Can anyone answer my last 2 questions...so I can learn what "should" be seen listed there (or "should" it be GRAYED out) in the First Place?

IS that checkbox "Enable Digital ....." Available now EdwardMartinIII???

cdogg;
also real curious if CAUSALITY, but I understand, this answer can be more guesswork......
Too bad WMP9 isn't more careful during installation!
I mean it's not like he "just" installed WMP 9

TT4U

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[cdogg]

TT4U,

Actually, read Edward's 4th response addressed to me. You'll see that his answer to questions 2 & 4 would indicate that it was either the installation of WMP9 or the "driver-fracas" incident. He said it worked fine a few weeks ago, so the real question is whether he had WMP7 or WMP9 at that time.

My guess is that the corrupted ASPI layer disabled the "Enable Digital..." checkbox. It shouldn't be grayed out anymore, unless the option isn't compatible with his sound card or CD-ROM.


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[EdwardMartinIII]

Ah, in answer to an earlier question:


"Multimedia > CD Music tab - tick "Enable Digital audio..."

Well, this is interesting. The following words appear, but are GRAYED OUT:
"You can have Windows use digital instead of analog playback of CD audio. This feature may not work with all CD-ROM devices, disable if you are having problems with CD audio."
The checkbox "Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device" is also GRAYED OUT.

It's still grayed out.

Cheers,


Edward

"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door