Sound issue

mrmoney · February 12, 2008

For some reason I am not getting sound on my PC, running XP.

When I try to record in sound recorder, I get: "Another application is recording audio"

In Volume Control, I get "There are no active mixer devices available"

In Control Panel > Sound and Audio Devices, I get greyed-out options in the Volume tab, with the top message being "No Audio Device".

And it's weird, because in Device Manager, there are no ! exclamation marks next to any of my audio devices. On the list is: Audio Codecs, Legacy Audio Drivers, Legacy Video Capture Devices, Media Control Devices, Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device, and Video Codecs. It says the drivers are up-to-date. I have also tried uninstalling Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device, restarting, and then re-detecting. Still nothing.

So I'm wondering what the problem is. I should say that ever since my hard drive died and the repair man fixed it, sound has been an issue. Does anybody know what I should do?

Thank you very much.

Seth · February 12, 2008

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help mrmoney.

In Device Manager, right click on the unimodem audio device and choose Properties. What does the Device Status show?

mrmoney · February 12, 2008

It looks a little bit something like this (click to enlarge):

http://aycu06.webshots.com/image/45205/2000060282336516413_th.jpg

So it look as if everything is fine, which makes this very odd.

Seth · February 12, 2008

Yes, that's fine.

It's a combination modem/audio card, correct?

Check DM again and look for anything with a ! or a ? in front of it.

Other than that, it might be easier to go to a local shop as they could sell you used audio card for next to nothing.

mrmoney · February 12, 2008

I assume it is combined, yes. But this is weird. No exclamation marks. No driver issues. Yet it says there is no audio device.

Seth · February 12, 2008

That is weird.

What exactly did the repair guy fix?

mrmoney · February 12, 2008

He replaced my hard drive, since the old one died.

Seth · February 12, 2008

I re-read your post and now doubt the issue is with the card, but rather with the software. Especially with that unusual recording message.

Can you boot into Safe Mode (keep tapping F8 as the computer starts) and check the Sounds and Audio tab?

mrmoney · February 12, 2008

I will try that. I should say: what seems really weird is that all the messages seem to involve the sound card already being in use. I don't see how this could possibly be the case.

Seth · February 12, 2008

Let's see how Safe Mode goes.

After that, we can check your startup programs using msconfig.

mrmoney · February 12, 2008

OK, well I went into Safe Mode and there was no difference in what I saw.

Talk me through this msconfig thing if that's OK with you.

mrmoney · February 12, 2008

Actually, scrap that for now. I just bought a USB sound card off eBay for pennies on the dollar. So I'll see if this sorts my problem. If not, I'll come back to this fine website ;)

Thank you for your help. It was appreciated.

Seth · February 12, 2008

You're most welcome.

Given the recording message and what I posted in #8, I don't think a new sound card will correct the problem, as it seems a program is interfering with the card.

Try this:

Go to Start, run, type in msconfig and hit ok. Put a dot on Selective Startup and click on the Startup tab. Scroll through the list and uncheck everything except your internet security. Click Apply>Ok and restart when prompted. You'll know you did it right as upon the XP boot, a message will appear that you used the System Configuration Utility (just put a dot on Don't Show Me This Again". How is the sound now?

If that doesn't work, open Task Manager by a ctrl-alt-delete and click on the processes tab. Maximize the screen and post a screenshot, as one of those processes is the suspect.

mrmoney · February 12, 2008

OK, well I did a selective startup. I'm still getting exactly the same messages.

This is my Task Manager (note I am still in selective startup):

http://aycu36.webshots.com/image/43235/2002408008489690412_rs.jpg

Tony D · February 12, 2008

Has this ever worked? If so, have you installed any software since it was working?

mrmoney · February 13, 2008

Sound worked before I got my hard drive replaced. It hasn't since.

Seth · February 13, 2008

mr,

I'm just having a look at the processes right now...

Seth · February 13, 2008

I don't see any process which would account for the message.

Let's make sure the Audio Service is running:

Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Services. Right click on Window's Audio and choose properties. Make sure it shows as "Automatic" and that it is running. If it isn't, change it, restart the computer and go back to Audio and Sound Devices. Go through each tab and click on the drop down arrow. Your sound card should appear in the drop down.

Seth · February 13, 2008

It's also possible that the repair guy managed to install the wrong audio driver.

Go to Window's update and choose Custom. Also make sure the Hardware option is checked and see if a better driver is found.

allheart55 · February 13, 2008

You are missing the Microsoft Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) Bus Driver. Without downloading that first you won't have audio. The HP website has a universal type Microsoft UAA. If you are running any version of Win XP this one will work. Download

Seth · February 13, 2008

You are missing the Microsoft Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) Bus Driver. Without downloading that first you won't have audio. The HP website has a universal type Microsoft UAA. If you are running any version of Win XP this one will work. Download

Very interesting allheart.

How did you determine that?

I'm assuming that if the above is indeed the problem, Window's Update would install it. Think so?

AdvancedSetup · February 13, 2008

Yes Windows Update will install it if needed / detected but not as a Critical. You have to chose it as an optional download. I have had to do it many times on many systems.

Seth · February 13, 2008

I don't use Window's Update anymore, but when I suggested the Custom Update, would that have sufficed?

allheart55 · February 13, 2008

You are missing the Microsoft Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) Bus Driver. Without downloading that first you won't have audio. The HP website has a universal type Microsoft UAA. If you are running any version of Win XP this one will work. Download
Very interesting allheart.

How did you determine that?

I'm assuming that if the above is indeed the problem, Window's Update would install it. Think so?

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/allheart55/SMILEY%20SMALL/ShowLetter9.gif I wasn't offered it using the custom setting for Windows update. I had to search for it. Once I installed the UAA bus driver and re-installed the sound drivers the audio was fine. It's really common with HP's and Compaq's. (The computer was a custom built Vega that my son-in-law owned.)