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Volume on my PC has disappeared

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Name: curlycurtin
Date: December 28, 2006 at 10:10:43 Pacific
OS: Windows XP
CPU/Ram: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 51
Product: eMachines
Comment:

Hi Everybody,
I have this problem with my volume. I use Windows XP. I haven't downloaded anything recently that might effect my PC. My volume icon does not appear in the taskbar and my computer plays no sound whatsoever. When I try and access my volume control (which does not appear in the taskbar now) i get the message:

"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."

I have tried this but the computer tells me there is now hardware outstanding or something.

Also, if I go to sound scheme and just try and play a random sound like Asterix, I get the message:

"Windows cannot play the sound %SystemRoot%\media\Windows XP Error.wav. Your Sound card may be in use."

I can't find my Windows XP CD so I cant reinstall anything. I am absolutely stumped.



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Response Number 1
Name: XpUser4Real
Date: December 28, 2006 at 10:30:53 Pacific
Reply:

try a system restore back to when it worked

Hopefully my advice will help you...Please post back with your results....thanks


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Response Number 2
Name: Tufenuf
Date: December 28, 2006 at 10:42:01 Pacific
Reply:

curlycurtin, Try this:

Go to Start --> Run, and type in:

services.msc

Clik OK

A window will pop up with a list of services. Scroll down to Windows Audio. Right-click
and click on Properties.

Make sure that "Startup type" is set to automatic. Also, make sure, under "Service
status," start is selected.

Tufenuf


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Response Number 3
Name: Tufenuf
Date: December 28, 2006 at 11:18:46 Pacific
Reply:

curlycurtin, You'll also find some possible solutions at the link below. Just click on the ? mark to the left of "Where did my Sounds go?" to expand it.

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top...

Tufenuf



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Response Number 4
Name: curlycurtin
Date: December 29, 2006 at 06:18:33 Pacific
Reply:

Thanks for your help both!!! But I still can't get it to work :o(

I tried the services.msc idea. Everything you said to check was fine. The path to executable is set at C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs. Is this correct?


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Response Number 5
Name: Tufenuf
Date: December 29, 2006 at 07:31:56 Pacific
Reply:

curlycurtin, "The path to executable is set at C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs. Is this correct?"

Yes that path is correct. Have you tried the possible fixes at the Kells-Korner link?

Tufenuf



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Response Number 6
Name: Tufenuf
Date: December 29, 2006 at 07:46:02 Pacific
Reply:

curlycurtin, You may also want to go to the link below, scroll down to line 320 (left column) and click on "Restore Volume/Net Icon to Notification Area" to download a reg file. Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it and answer yes to the import prompt.

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_...

Tufenuf


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Response Number 7
Name: curlycurtin
Date: December 29, 2006 at 12:20:31 Pacific
Reply:

Hi Tuf,

Thanks for all your help!! I've tried everything you have suggested but nothing works. I also tried a system restore but it just keeps telling me the system cannot be restored no matter what date I choose.

I really dont know what else to do.


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Response Number 8
Name: curlycurtin
Date: January 7, 2007 at 07:44:47 Pacific
Reply:

SORTED!! Here is what I did for the benefit of anyone else who may have this problem.

Okay, I uninstalled the sound driver the computer was using because it was obviously faulty. Then, I found my XP disk and tried on numerous occasions to reinstall the audio drivers. Once it worked because when I restarted it played the music when the computer shut down, but then when it came back on, NOTHING.
I discovered that McAfee was being overly helpful and stopping the changes from happening. So, this is what I did:

1. Uninstalled McAfee Security Suite
2. Uninstalled Sound drivers
3. Inserted XP disc and installed the sound drivers
4. Restarted my PC, went into control panel>sound, speech and audio devices>sound and audio devices.
5. In the "volume" tab I ticked the "Place volume icon in the task bar" box (which was greyed out before)
6. Then in the "Audio" tab I selected the "Realtec AC97 Audio" device for both Sound Playback and Sound Recording.
7. In the "Voice" tab i selected the "Realtec AC97 Audio" device for both Voice Playback and Voice Recording.

This seemingly has solved my problem.


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