How To Fix The Sound On My Computer Windows Xp

No mod PC can and should do without sound. Windows XP besides as a lot of applications use sounds to give feedback to the user or to signal an consequence happening. And when you play an MP3 file or sentinel some video, yous definitely want to hear audio from your speakers or headset. Another typical area where sound problems tin come up is while making voice calls over the internet. Skype, AI, MSN, Yahoo, GoogleTalk, they all are very suited for vox calls.

When you are facing sound problems, a structured way of finding the crusade can be helpful. Nosotros will skip the steps where you check if everything is plugged properly since that should ever be the case. If your audio card uses jack-sensing technology, make certain you select the proper device when asked about it (when plugging devices). Follow the green = speakers, pink = microphone, and things should exist okay.

Troubleshoot Audio Problems in Windows XP – Audio Errors

In some cases, you volition see a concrete error that can assistance you fix the sound problem in Windows XP. The media player you are using tin can requite an error, or you can cheque the Device Manager and see an error on the audio device.
Typical examples of sound errors in Windows XP are:

WAV audio playback mistake detected
Your audio hardware cannot play files similar the electric current file
No wave device that tin play files in the electric current format is installed
Windows Media Histrion cannot play the file
This device cannot start. (Lawmaking 10)
The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)

Information technology is likewise possible that there is no error, just:

in that location is but no sound
the sound is non working for internet pages
the audio only works on a headset and not on the (monitor) speakers
sound is of bad quality
environs sound is not working.

In all cases, it could be an audio configuration problem, but oftentimes it is a driver problem. The best approach is to go through the steps beneath and cheque each aspect.

Steps to Fix Sound Problems

If you have an onboard audio carte, yous need to make sure the onboard audio device is enabled in the Bios. Instruction will vary per motherboard, and then y'all demand to follow the instructions in your PC or motherboard transmission for this. If you are using a separate sound card, the onboard should be disabled of course!
In Windows XP, open the Device Manager (open the Control Panel -> double-click the Arrangement icon -> in System Properties dialog box, select Hardware tab -> click Device Managing director button).
In the Device Manager, open the "Sound, video and game controllers" grouping. Here yous should see your audio device equally shown in the prototype.
If the sound device is non listed, check if whatsoever devices are listed in the "Other devices" or "Unknown devices" grouping, most probable with a yellow assertion mark.
When the device is not listed or if devices are listed under the "Unknown devices" group, the most likely cause is a missing or incorrect device driver. If you have the sound driver for the sound device, (re)install the sound drivers. If y'all do non take the drivers the easiest method is to use a driver update tool.
If updating the drivers does not work, y'all demand to discover the cause of the problematic device.
In case the sound device is listed in the Device Manager, and you all the same do not have audio, first open the Command Console.
Within the Control Panel, double-click "Sounds and Audio Devices".
In the get-go screen, with the Volume tab active, make sure the Mute checkbox is not selected and that the volume slider is close to High.
Next, click the Avant-garde button, and in the Avant-garde Audio Backdrop dialog box, make certain you have a valid Speaker setup. At least brand sure it is not prepare to "No speakers". Click OK when washed.
Now click the Speaker Volume button. Both the Left and Correct speaker volumes should be close to Loftier. Click OK when done.
Next, select the Audio tab in the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog box.
In the Sound playback group, y'all want to set up the Default device to your sound card device. Part of the name will normally friction match with the name yous institute in the device manager.

Also click the Volume push button in the Sound playback group and adjust the Volumes to a high enough level. The Volume Control will show the mixer, which does depend on the audio device installed. The sample has a SoundMax audio carte. Clear all the Mute checkboxes.
Y'all can echo these steps for the MIDI music playback.
Although non a frequent problem, check if the Audio Service is running:
- Select Administrative Tools in the Command Panel.
- Then double-click Component Services, which will open a dissever window.
- In the left-hand pane, click Services (Local).
- In the right-hand pane, curlicue down to the Windows Sound service and brand sure it is not disabled. If necessary, right-click Windows Audio, in the popup menu select Properties, and then set the startup type to Automatic.
If you have sound problems in games, you can check the sound card resource. Especially older games take express detection of audio cards in respect to resources (IRQ, I/O address range).

Test Sound with an Application

With these steps, y'all have checked and adjusted the sound setup in Windows XP. If audio problems persist, chances are there are problems with the sound settings in the application you are using. If the sound problems are present for all applications, there probably is something incorrect with the hardware.

The best application to test your sound setup with is the Windows Media Player, as it volition employ the standard Windows sound setup, which yous simply verified and adjusted.
One setting in the Windows Media Player that needs to be verified is the DirectSound device.

Open the Windows Media Thespian.
In the Media Actor, select Options in the Tools menu (press the Alt key to show the menu if non visible).
In the Options dialog box, select the Devices tab.
Now select the Speakers device and click the Backdrop button.
In the Speaker Properties dialog box, select the sound device to use for Sound playback. By default, information technology will have Default DirectSound Device selected, but you tin modify it to the DirectSound device that is listed for your audio device.

As well, clear the Use 24-bit sound for sound CDs, for at present, to make sure that this Operation setting is non causing any problems.
Click OK to close the Speaker Backdrop and then click OK again to shut the Options dialog box.

For testing purposes, use an sound file that was installed with Windows XP. These audio samples are standard audio files, which do not require whatsoever additional or special audio codes.

Other applications that utilise sound will commonly accept a like option to change the audio device selection and volume. For games, the sound setup is particularly sensitive. The right and latest device commuter is often required.

Audio and Video Codecs

When a computer plays an audio or video file, it will decode the sound or video data to be played with the sound device. Each different audio and video format requires its own decoder, or codec. One of the possible bug with no sound is that the right sound codec or video codec is not installed.

If your standard sound files practise play, but a certain MP3, AVI or WMV file does not produce sound, the commencement thing to try is to install missing codecs. You tin attempt and discover out which codec is required and and then find and install that code, but luckily in that location are a number of codec packages that can be downloaded and installed.

One of the most used codec packages is the Yard-Lite Codec Pack. With that installed near sound and video should play without problems … and with sound. There are more of course, a quick internet search can help you discover others.

Find Out Which Sound Carte Is Installed

Knowing exactly what type of audio carte is installed in your computer can be of cracking help in looking for solutions to sound issues. It can assist y'all notice the right sound driver, lookup software, and peradventure help search the internet for more targeted trouble descriptions based on manufacturer and model.

One handy manner of finding out which sound carte is installed is to use a plan like Belarc Advisor. It volition analyze your organization and tell you about your hardware and software.

Belarc advisor results