No sound from speakers, can't play audio files in WMP
 

Hello!

Rather recently, I lost the ability to hear sound on my computer. If I try to play an audio file in Windows Media Player, I receive this error message:

Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player cannot play the file because this is a problem with your sound device. There may not be a sound device installed on your computer, it may be in use by another program, or it may not be functioning properly.

OxC00D11BA: Cannot play the file.

This tells me that the problem is not just my speakers suddenly not working (they are plugged in, power on, volume up, and I didn't do anything to them physically from one day to the next; the sound just went away poof). I can still make audio cds from WMP but I can't play/hear them.

Also, when I go looking for the volume control, I get the message:

Volume Control
There are no active mixer devices available. To install mixer devices, go to Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Add Hardware.

This program will now close.


I have tried the trouble shooting steps but have gotten nowhere.

The most recent change that I've made to my computer is that I tried to install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (I was on dial-up so I didn't bother until I upgraded) and that installation failed. I have tried to install it again, but it fails (the first time it tried to install, my Zonealarm popped up a weird notice so I told it no and then the Service Pack failed to install).

I'm trying to figure out if there's an issue with the actual sound card that's in my computer (that it went poof and I need to get a new one) or if I've screwed it up when the Windows XP Service Pack 2 failed to install so its a software problem (i.e. something's not talking to something else).

If anyone has any ideas/suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate them as I have no clue. Thank you!

Sounds like your sound card drivers somehow got messed up, just reinstall them and everything should be working fine again.

Now for the computer retarded question: how do I reinstall my sound card drivers?

If you have a standalone soundcard, check if it's well plugged in it's PCI port. If it's built-in on your motherboard, we'll try something else.

well first thing is to open the case, then find the pci express slot and just shove the card in there...thats if u have a standalone sound card. If u actually do have a built-in one....its either damaged or power is not being supplied to it.

That's one hell of a sound card if it uses PCI-E.

You could also try looking through your BIOS (that thing that asks you to hit Delete upon startup to enter) and look through all of the menus to see if "Onboard Sound" is either Enabled or Disabled.

Actually, F2 RR :).

Thanks for the tip on the soundcard. I didn't think on that (although it surprises me given Windows was not yet loaded.).

Edit: I don't know how, but I guess my brain fell into another dimension during this post as for some reason I thought it was a response to my own. Whoops.

It depends on your BIOS. After going into mine about 40 times in the past two days I can tell you quite solidly it's delete on my system. :p

If it's from Dell, they use onboard SigmaTel audio chips. HPs use RealTek, if I am correct.