System beep instead of email notification sound/IM's are silent

[Guest]

Hello All,

I have the exact same problem as Megan R does in regards to her question,
"System Beep and Email Notification Sounds Disappeared". I get a system beep
whenever I get a new email message. I have done the same exact
troubleshooting as she has and still cannot get it to work. Everything looks
as if it should work but it doesn't. Also, MSN Messenger does not make a
sound when a new IM Message arrives. I have a HP Pavilion zv5330us laptop
with XP Professional Service Pack 2 (build 2600). I am using MS Office 2003.
I am more than happy to discuss the various troubleshooting steps in detail
if you need them!

Thank you for any help you can provide.

---Guy

 

[Heirloom]

Guy,
Open Control Panel: Start, Settings, Control Panel.........scroll down
to Sounds and Audio Devices, click on the Sounds tab and you should be able
to select the particular sound you want for any of the listed items. Also,
you can 'test' the sound bite from the same tab. If you want, you can even
import a .wav file from another source to customize your machine.....
Heirloom, old and can't hear anyway

 

[Guest]

Heirloom,

Thank you for your post! Yes, I did do that. Here are all the actions I
have done to attempt to rectify the situation.

1). Went into the Control Panel and clicked on Sounds and Audio. Clicked on
the Sounds tab at the top. Ensured the Sound Scheme is set to Windows
default. Tested both email and IM. Result: No sound.

2). Went to the Control panel and checked on the line New Mail Notification
sound was set to Windows XP Notify. I also checked the line for MSN Messenger
and made sure there was a notification sound for it too. Also, in each window
when you click on the Play icon (next to new mail notification and MSN
Messenger) I was able to play and hear the sounds. Got back out and tested
both email and IM. Result: No sound.

3). Went to the Control Panel and replaced the the new mail notification
sound with a new sound and replaced the MSN Messenger new IM notification
sound with a new sound. I then clicked on the play icon for each new sound. I
was able to play and hear the sounds. Got back out and tested both email and
IM. Result: No sound.

4). Checked The tickbox on Outlook's Tools/Options/General Tab "Play sound
when new message arrives". It is checked to play a sound. Also checked the IM
Messenger 7.0 tick box to ensure that when a new IM comes it will play a
sound. It is checked to play a sound. Got back out and tested both email and
IM. Result: No sound.

5). Uninstalled and then re-installed the sound driver. Tested both email
and IM. Result: No sound.

6). Upgraded sound driver from vendor's website. Tested both email and IM.
Result: No sound.

7). Uninstalled Outlook and MSN Messenger. Reinstalled Outlook and MSN
Messenger. Tested both email and IM. Result: No sound.

8). The last big thing I did before this issue occured was install the
latest version of RealPlayer. I uninstalled Realplayer. Tested both email and
IM. Result: No sound.

9). Went to MS Support Database and found that the QOS in certain network
cards may interfer with audio. Went to Control Panel and unchecked the QOS
for the network card and rebooted computer. Tested both email and IM. Result:
No sound.

I have a sinking suspicion that the issue could be in the Registry, but I
have no idea where and what to look for.

I would appreciate any ideas you would have!

---Guy

 

[Heirloom]

Looks like you have covered all the bases..........and I agree that the
problem may be Registry related, possibly something with file associations.
I wish I could provide more, but, I think you should wait for one of the
gurus on this one......my limited knowledge prevents me from making further
suggestions.
Heirloom, old and nothing like the sound of
silence

 

[Guest]

Heirloom,

IT HAS BEEN FIXED! I am posting this to help anybody else who has this
issue. Here is the fix:

Click on the start button. Go to Run Type in regedit

Once registry editor has opened up left click on the Hkey_Current_User key.
In the right hand area you will find a binary string value that says
Name: (default)
Type: REG_SZ
Data: VALUE NOT SET

Now if your data does NOT say value not set simply right click on the
default string and delete. Windows will immedately create you a new
one. Restart your computer and you should hear sounds.

Somebody at my office did a search on www.ask.com and found the fix! Here is
the actual link to it: http://www.pcbanter.net/archive/index.php/t-14985.html


---Guy

 

[Heirloom]

Will definitely add that one to the "notes." Thanks for posting back, Guy.
Heirloom, old and needs lots of notes

 

[Guest]

Top job Guy. It solved my problem as well. Thanks.