Windows finds, then loses, sound cards
 

Hello,

I have a problem that I haven't seen here yet, although I expect it is
here somewhere.

I have a desktop PC, 350 MHz, running Win98SE.

One day it "lost" the sound card. I re-installed it, and went through
all the steps of installing drivers. Windows said it was installed
correctly.

But when I try to *use* the sound card, Windows Media Player comes on,
then I get an error message that says:
"Windows Media Player cannot play the file because there 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."

So I put in a different sound card. Same error message. This has now
happened for 4 sound cards in 4 different slots ( 2 ISA, 2 PCI ).

Now here are the questions:
1. Is the problem more likely to be in . . .
(a) the motherboard, not connecting properly with the sound card?
(b) the interrupts or some similar resource?
(c) Windows 98?
(d) Windows Media Player?

2. What can I do about it?

Thank you for all replies!

Ted Shoemaker

wrote in message
oups.com...

Hello,

I have a problem that I haven't seen here yet, although I expect it is
here somewhere.

I have a desktop PC, 350 MHz, running Win98SE.

One day it "lost" the sound card. I re-installed it, and went through
all the steps of installing drivers. Windows said it was installed
correctly.

But when I try to *use* the sound card, Windows Media Player comes on,
then I get an error message that says:
"Windows Media Player cannot play the file because there 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."

So I put in a different sound card. Same error message. This has now
happened for 4 sound cards in 4 different slots ( 2 ISA, 2 PCI ).

Now here are the questions:
1. Is the problem more likely to be in . . .
(a) the motherboard, not connecting properly with the sound card?
(b) the interrupts or some similar resource?
(c) Windows 98?
(d) Windows Media Player?

2. What can I do about it?

Thank you for all replies!

Ted Shoemaker

Just a suggestion.
Boot into Safe Mode and go into Device Manager and delete all the listings under
the Sound,Video,and game controllers that pertain to a sound card.
Reboot back into Normal (if there really is such a thing) Windows and reinstall
your sound card drivers. Perhaps it will work.
Still doesn't work? Try uninstalling the sound card and then uninstall WMP and
reboot. Then install the sound card drivers again and reboot and then install
WMP again.
This shouldn't take long and is something you can try while waiting for other
suggestions.
PS: If you are on dial-up, it may take some time to download WMP again.
Maybe even try a program like WinAmp instead of WMP.

Aside from Buffalo, are any conflicts showing in Device Manager for the Sound
adapter under Sound, Video and Game Controllers? Sound cards can be finicky at
times by not wanting to share any resources.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375




wrote in message
oups.com...

Hello,

I have a problem that I haven't seen here yet, although I expect it is
here somewhere.

I have a desktop PC, 350 MHz, running Win98SE.

One day it "lost" the sound card. I re-installed it, and went through
all the steps of installing drivers. Windows said it was installed
correctly.

But when I try to *use* the sound card, Windows Media Player comes on,
then I get an error message that says:
"Windows Media Player cannot play the file because there 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."

So I put in a different sound card. Same error message. This has now
happened for 4 sound cards in 4 different slots ( 2 ISA, 2 PCI ).

Now here are the questions:
1. Is the problem more likely to be in . . .
(a) the motherboard, not connecting properly with the sound card?
(b) the interrupts or some similar resource?
(c) Windows 98?
(d) Windows Media Player?

2. What can I do about it?

Thank you for all replies!

Ted Shoemaker

Brian A. wrote:
Aside from Buffalo, are any conflicts showing in Device Manager for the Sound
adapter under Sound, Video and Game Controllers? Sound cards can be finicky at
times by not wanting to share any resources.

No such conflicts. What's Buffalo?

Ted Shoemaker

wrote in message
oups.com...

No such conflicts. What's Buffalo?

I was refering to the first responder, Buffalo.
Had you tried his suggestion of removing any/all devices under Sound, Video
and Game Controllers in Safe Mode, rebooting and reinstalling?

Does your Sound device show as the prefered device in Control Panel
Multimedia? If not, is it in the drop down list as a selection?

Do you have any Audio apps installed? If yes and/or more than one, you may
want to uninstall/reinstall it/them.




--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

As it turns out, something else is is getting flaky now. The machine
is restarting intermittently for no obvious reason. That may be a
motherboard about to die, or Windows about to die? Either way, I just
bought another box at the Salvation Army store for $10 and will try it.

Thanks to all who responded.

Ted Shoemaker

That is generally caused by a hardware problem: bad fan, bad ram, a power
supply that is getting ready to croak, etc.

--
Regards


Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo



wrote in message
oups.com...

As it turns out, something else is is getting flaky now. The machine
is restarting intermittently for no obvious reason. That may be a
motherboard about to die, or Windows about to die? Either way, I just
bought another box at the Salvation Army store for $10 and will try it.

Thanks to all who responded.

Ted Shoemaker

wrote in message
oups.com...

As it turns out, something else is is getting flaky now. The machine
is restarting intermittently for no obvious reason. That may be a
motherboard about to die, or Windows about to die? Either way, I just
bought another box at the Salvation Army store for $10 and will try it.

Thanks to all who responded.

Ted Shoemaker

Let us know how you make out with the other box. If you still want to try
something in your 'old' box, try removing the ram sticks and then reinserting
them again to make sure you are getting a good connection. Poor connections on
the ram contacts can lead to all kinds of problems , including those that you
are experiencing.
Another possiblity (and there are many) is that your PSU (Power Supply Unit) is
failing.

Buffalo (nospam) wrote:

Let us know how you make out with the other box.

Thanks for the friendly offer. The other box is working great -- and
only cost me $10 at the Salvation Army store.

And I'll look into the possibilities you named for my old one.

Ted Shoemaker