I have recently reinstalled Windoows98 from the original CD. I have also reinstalled the software for my Sound Blaster PCI128 card. The Sound Recorder works with xxx.WAW files. Real Player One works with xxx.WAW files. Windows Media Player does not work with any audio file and I get an error message with xxx.WAW file: "Cannot play back the audio stream: no audio hardware is available, or the hardware is not responding." I have reinstalled the Multimedia Component a few times from the Windows98 CD, reinstalled Windows Media Player, once with IE6 and once separately. The Vindows Media Player wideo parts works O.K. There is no Multimedia Folder displayed in the control panel. Using Add/Remove Programs in the control panel shows, that all video and oudio programs are installed. I need this audio, player because all Web video, such Feedroom and foreign TV programs use the Windows Multimedia Audio File formats. 1.) How do I get my Windows Multimedia Sound (streaming audio) back? 2.) How do I get the Multimedia Folder displayed in the control panel again? Please, help. Regards, Joseph

Is your sound card installed and working properly? I would double check that first, and troubleshoot as necessary. To fix Windows Media player, the simplest way would be to simply download Windows Media Player 9 from MS's website and install it.

The sound card is installed and works as it should. I have the speakers connected to the sound card outputs and I getting the usual Windows98 start-up sound and Windows98 ShutDown sound. In addition to this I can record speech using the Windows98 Sound Recorder or Scan Recorder software, creating a xxx.WAW file and play it back perfectly using the Real Payer One software. I would like to also emphasise, that before I reinstalled Windows98, I had no problem with the sound card or Windows Media Player. I did not remove or install any hardware. The computer hardware is exactly in the same state as it was before I reinstalled Windows98. I have an additional observation: During the boot-up procedure I see 2 multimedia cards listed with 2 different addresses, but the same IRQ-11. I only have the Sound Blaster PCI128 sound card and the ATI All In Wander Video card. Could this be a problem? If I look at the IRQ setting in the control panel, the sound card has its IRQ set to 10. Since I have Windows98, I download and installed WMP v7.1, however it still does not work. If it would help, I can supply the copies of the Windows Media Resources Registry settings. Please let me know. Thanks for your reply in advance. Regards, Joseph

Hrrmm... It sounds like Windows Media player is trying to use hardware that doesnt exist, which is weird since you say you haven't changed the hardware. If your motherboard has onboard sound, make sure it's disabled. I dont have a quick fix, but here's a rundown of t-shooting steps I might take were I there: - check PC for onboard sound/2nd physical sound card - check device manager for any problems - boot to safe mode, uninstall sound drivers - boot to safe mode again, check sysedit and msconfig for any remaining sound-related files or lines, and also remove any 'ghost devices' in device manager - uninstall windows media player in safe mode - do a audio codec rip n tear in safe mode (may not be necessary, but for good measure...) - once completely clean from any previous sound card stuff, boot to normal windows and re-load sound card - once sound works, use Windows Update to update system with critical updates, AND windows media player 9. - make sure you are connected to the net when you run WMP9 in the event it needs to re-download codecs. It might be less work to just format :-P Try this MS site for details/support as well: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;wmp Not a miracle fix, but I hope this helps none the less...