Windows sounds not working, but sound card ok

[Guest]

Windows XP Pro SP2 Build 2600
Dell Latitude D800
512 MB RAM
37.2 GB HD; 20.2 GB free
Sound Device: Sigma Tel C-Major Audio
I recently lost sounds through the Windows OS. I still can get BIOS beeps.
Playing a CD provides sound; playing a DVD vedio sound is fine; playing the
wave files in the Media folder that Windows uses (e.g. Windows XP Error.wav,
Windows XP Critical Stop.wav, etc.) through Media Player work fine. Windows
OS will not play any sound. The volume icon will not display in the taskbar.
I've unchecked the box "Place volume icon in the taskbar", apply & rechecked;
nothing. I went back several Restore Points. I've uninstalled the sound card
& reinstalled it; Windows recognizes it & sees no conflict. Dell even
replaced the mother board; no change.
This was noticed after June's Security updates from Microsoft. This
coincided with a business trip I took the laptop on. I'm hoping to avoid
reinstalling the OS & all the other software. Any suggestions would be
appreciated. Is my only choice at this point the complete reinstall?

 

[Galen]

In TimP <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Windows XP Pro SP2 Build 2600
Dell Latitude D800
512 MB RAM
37.2 GB HD; 20.2 GB free
Sound Device: Sigma Tel C-Major Audio
I recently lost sounds through the Windows OS. I still can get BIOS
beeps. Playing a CD provides sound; playing a DVD vedio sound is
fine; playing the wave files in the Media folder that Windows uses
(e.g. Windows XP Error.wav, Windows XP Critical Stop.wav, etc.)
through Media Player work fine. Windows OS will not play any sound.
The volume icon will not display in the taskbar. I've unchecked the
box "Place volume icon in the taskbar", apply & rechecked; nothing. I
went back several Restore Points. I've uninstalled the sound card &
reinstalled it; Windows recognizes it & sees no conflict. Dell even
replaced the mother board; no change.
This was noticed after June's Security updates from Microsoft. This
coincided with a business trip I took the laptop on. I'm hoping to
avoid reinstalling the OS & all the other software. Any suggestions
would be appreciated. Is my only choice at this point the complete
reinstall?

Open the control panel and open the sounds and audio devices applet. In
there click sounds, click on the drop down and set the Windows default
scheme. Today's fun tip? Access the sounds applet more quickly by pressing
start > run > and paste this in: control.exe mmsys.cpl

Galen
--

"But there are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world
without them."

Sherlock Holmes

 

[Guest]

I tried your suggestion, but still no change. The volume icon still does not
show in the taskbar & still no sound from windows.
--
Tim
replace nospam with amelect


:

Open the control panel and open the sounds and audio devices applet. In
there click sounds, click on the drop down and set the Windows default
scheme. Today's fun tip? Access the sounds applet more quickly by pressing
start > run > and paste this in: control.exe mmsys.cpl

Galen

[/QUOTE]

 

[Galen]

In TimP <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

I tried your suggestion, but still no change. The volume icon still
does not show in the taskbar & still no sound from windows.

Download TweakUI from here:

Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Make sure the system is set to beep on error. If it's checked uncheck it,
click apply, and then check it again, and click apply. If not then you may
have a corrupt profile that you're dealing with.

This might help you get started in the right direction:

305506 - How to Identify a Damaged User Profile and Create a New Profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305506

How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to a new profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

(you'll probably want this one too)

How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

Galen
--

"But there are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world
without them."

Sherlock Holmes

 

[Guest]

I appreciate your help on this. I've TweakUI & also tried logging on as a
different user; still no sound. I haven't followed all the directions in the
kb articles you refered to. I'll be working Sunday at the office & that would
be a good time to fully test it. I'll update next Monday. Thanks again.

 

[bxf]

In some of the sound-related panels that hang off Control Panel, there
are provisions for selecting the device you are trying to manipulate.
Do you have more than one sound device showing, and if so, are you
manipulating the correct one?

 

[Guest]

I did check that as well. I am working with the Sigma-Tel device.

 

[Guest]

It doesn't appear to be a corrupt user profile. I've tried new local &
network users and still no difference. I appreciate all your help. I'm
wondering if I'm going to after re-install the OS & the rest of the software.
Is that my next option?

 

[Galen]

In TimP <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

It doesn't appear to be a corrupt user profile. I've tried new local &
network users and still no difference. I appreciate all your help. I'm
wondering if I'm going to after re-install the OS & the rest of the
software. Is that my next option?

Well, we've tried the two obvious solutions. I re-install is pretty easy, a
couple of links on my site. It is generally non-destructive but be sure to
backup first. After doing so you'll want to apply updates again though I'd
do them a couple at a time (after SP2) to see if you can narrow down which
on caused this problem with your PC.

Repair Installation of XP :
http://kgiii.info/windows/XP/general/xprepair.html

Galen
--

"But there are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world
without them."

Sherlock Holmes

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your help. I do the reinstall as soon as I get back from vacation.