Windows Sounds Don't Work

[rmo555]

When I right click on the sound icon in the system tray, it brings up
the sounds associated with Windows (Vista Home Premium) actions.
However, when I click on the Play icon, the sounds don't play. WAV
files on my computer are associated with the Windows Media Player
(although I've tried the other available sound players too and the same
thing happens - no sound. My sound card seems to work fine and I have
the latest driver. If I go directly to Windows>Media and play the
sounds, they PLAY!!! I've set all WAV files to play with Windows Media
Player. Sometimes the Windows logo, when booting up, plays a sound -
but most of the time it doesn't. Any suggestions on how to fix this
problem?

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

When I right click on the sound icon in the system tray, it brings up
the sounds associated with Windows (Vista Home Premium) actions.
However, when I click on the Play icon, the sounds don't play. WAV
files on my computer are associated with the Windows Media Player
(although I've tried the other available sound players too and the same
thing happens - no sound. My sound card seems to work fine and I have
the latest driver. If I go directly to Windows>Media and play the
sounds, they PLAY!!! I've set all WAV files to play with Windows Media
Player. Sometimes the Windows logo, when booting up, plays a sound -
but most of the time it doesn't. Any suggestions on how to fix this
problem?

Go to the 'mixer' and push the volume control up..

 

[rmo555]

Go to the 'mixer' and push the volume control up..

That's too obvious a solution. My volume controls are all the way
up!!! I've tried everything I could think of. I would think that,
with my description of my problem, you would realize that I'm a little
more sophisticated a user than to not know the volume controls have to
be 'up.' I've Googled the problem too but couldn't find an answer. My
device manager also says my sound devices are working properly. I have
a sound that says 'You've Got Mail.' When I play it on WMP, it skipped
the word "You've." Also, there used to be a volume "bar" right on my
screen and I could control the volume from my keyboard. The volume bar
doesn't show up any more - but the control still works.

 

[Tae Song]

That's too obvious a solution. My volume controls are all the way
up!!! I've tried everything I could think of. I would think that,
with my description of my problem, you would realize that I'm a little
more sophisticated a user than to not know the volume controls have to
be 'up.' I've Googled the problem too but couldn't find an answer. My
device manager also says my sound devices are working properly. I have
a sound that says 'You've Got Mail.' When I play it on WMP, it skipped
the word "You've." Also, there used to be a volume "bar" right on my
screen and I could control the volume from my keyboard. The volume bar
doesn't show up any more - but the control still works.

Are you having problems with WAV files or other sound formats like MP3 or
WMA?

What audio device are you using (what is it named in Device Manager)?

Is this a laptop?

What's the make and model of the computer?

Did you install any codec software?

Sounds like (no pun intended) the first second or so is being eaten up
somewhere. Could be a driver issue or third-party software to control the
audio (add audio effects, etc.)

It could be a sound option you turned on or off without knowing what it did
and forgot about it.

 

[Bill]

look for the download of fixsound.msi on windows, that fixed my
sounds after installing vista sp2,

 

[rmo555]

look for the download of fixsound.msi on windows, that fixed my
sounds after installing vista sp2,

Thanks you all. I fixed the problem by uninstalling the sound card's
driver - then reinstalling it. Works fine now.