Cannot play Powerpoint sound files on CERTAIN computers.

[aval]

Sound works otherwise (yes, on problem computers) - I can hear Windows
system sounds. I can listen to online radio.

Problem computer details:

Windows 2000 SP4
Office 2003 Pro SP2
WMP 9

These computers previously had Office 2000 installed (yes, sounds
played then). I uninstalled via Add/Remove Programs before installing
Office 2003 Pro SP 2.

Most computers had Office 2003 Pro SP2 installed via Group Policy.

However, the same problem occurs on a laptop on which Office was
installed manually.

Presentation Works fine on other computers (examples):

XP SP2
Office 2003 Standard SP2 - manual install
WMP 10

W2K SP4
Office 2003 Standard SP2 - installed via Group Policy
WMP9

I've tried the presentation on (literally) a dozen other computers
outside the classroom in question: no problem whatsoever.

Sound file is embedded.

I just ran the Office repair tool in Add/Remove. No results. Sound is
turned up to the point I almost burst my eardrums. I can hear the beeps
of Windows system sounds. I can listen to Internet radio.

IF I insert a sound file from the Clip Organizer I can right click on
it and choose "Play sound" and hear it.

Where should I start troubleshooting?

Is there a debugging tool of some sort I could run?

 

[Austin Myers]

It may be as simple as where the files are located on the hard drive. Try
moving everything to C:\test and see if the problem disappears.


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCPro, PFCMedia and PFCExpress
www.playsforcertain.com

 

[Guest]

"Sound file is embedded."

Are you sure it's emdebbed?
What format is the sound file?

 

[aval]

"Sound file is embedded."

Are you sure it's emdebbed?
What format is the sound file?

If I copy the presentation to a different computer (outside the lab) -
placing it on the C:\ drive - and logon as a normal user, that user can
play the sound file just fine. If it was linked, that would be
impossible because the original location was the users home folder on
the file server (to which other regular users would not have access).
I'm only moving one file - not a hypothetical linked file as well.

It's a 5KB .WAV file which would normally be embedded given its small
size.

I worked around the problem by finding a similar sound file for the
user - it now works without a problem.