Sound works, then doesn't during startup

Don't know whether this belong sin "Hardware" or "software," but here goes... My PC seems to "lose" the sound card DURING start-up. I know the sound card is there and is functioning properly, and I know the speakers are connected and function properly, because during the first part of boot-up I hear the "Windows welcome music." But by the time start-up ends, the sound does not work at all --- for system sounds, for playing a CD, for playinv files in Media player, etc. When I look in the "Sounds and Audio Devices" Control Panel, it says "No Audio Device." The sound worked great for years; I have not added any hardwrae for over a year. I cannot link the start of this behavior to any event like installing new software. I have already tried KB article 307918. I have tried the Windows Troubleshooter (didn't tell me anything I didn't alreday know). I have checked to see that the sound card is enabled (it is) and it says "This device is working properly." I tried updating the sound card drivers (it said no updates were needed). My PC is running Windows XP Home Edition SP2. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Where there any yellow question marks or exclamation points in the device manager?
Could you download this app and then upload an attached file of the report it gives you. It sounds like you do have a driver problem.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/EverestFreeEdition

 

There are no yellow question marks or exclamation marks in Device Magaer for any device (not just for the sound devices). I have attached the file; hope it is the one you were looking for. Also: Even though everything I said in my original post is still true, including my inability to play system sounds on command via the Sounds and Audio Devices Control Panel, I have since discovered that the PC will indeed play some sounds. For example, when I do a “Safely Remove Hardware” to eject my thumb drive, the PC play the “bubblegum pop” sound that it always does. Weird.

 

Would you go to Start>Run and type in DXDIAG
Near the bottom of the System tab, will be your DirectX version. Is there one? And what version is it?

 

DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

 

I think there is a problem in the audio in your chipset but I want to check out something first and need a little more info.
First double click your volume icon. Does Master Volume have all the volume controls enabled? (See Thumbnail) Notice that some are muted in the Thumbnail. Make sure none of yours are.
Also what is your exact PC model #? There should be a tag on your PC. Give me the model number with the most info. (see 2nd Thumbnail)
The Everest report is only telling me Compaq Presario 5000 Series and there are a bunch of them. I can get the chipset driver from Intel but I would prefer to get the one off the HP site.

 

1) I know which Volume screen you mean, but I cannot open it. It is disabled ("greyed out"). My guess is that's because it thinks there isn't an audio device (as previously stated).
2) Wow, that wasn't easy to find. It was hiding in a CD storage compartment attached to the front of the PC (which I've never used). Anyway, it's a Presario 5310US and the S/N is 3D19JXDSS42Z.

 

Sorry I should have posted the locations that HP uses to hide those.
Set a system restore point.
Try these two drivers. Install the controller first, test your sound, then install the second if there is still no sound.


ADI Audio Controller Driver for Windows http://welcome.hp-ww.com/img/s.gif
ADI SoundMax AC97 Integrated Digital Audio Driver http://welcome.hp-ww.com/img/s.gif

 

SUCCESS.... then failure! I installed the first one, as you suggested, and everything worked. I played a CD, and then I played an MP3 file on Media Player, and all was well. But just in case, I rebooted. And of course now it doesn't work again. Do you suggest I trying re-installing the first one again (just to be sure), or install the second one, or install the first immediately followed by the second??

 

Install the first, take look at your device manager and see if you still have "No Audio Device" (just out of curiosity) Then install the second, (see if you still have "No Audio Device"), check your sound, reboot, and check your sound again. Let me know what you find out.

 

Didn't work. The sound became nonfunctional sometime during the restart from the second driver's install.

By the way, perhaps it would help for me to define what I mean by “during” the start-up. To me, start-up is a two step process, at least as far as the impact on the user. The first part is what I suppose is the “true” start-up: The PC goes from truly off to at least functional: The Windows welcome screen comes and goes, the desktop appears, etc. This part takes about 60 or 90 seconds. The second part is waiting for the hard drive to stop chattering – loading whatever startup applications it’s trying to load. This part takes about three or four minutes. (It seems like forever, you can imagine; I’ve tried to cut down on the start-up applications but without much luck --- that’s probably a subject for a different post some day.) During this second part I can open and use Excel or Internet Explorer or the Control Panel, although the system is VERY slow until the chattering stops, then performance speed improves dramatically. So it’s during this second part that I can see the Audio Device is available at the start, but by the end it has become inactive.

Since this seems to be a re-starting problem, I have a suggestion: My computer is several years old, and since re-starting takes a very long time ---maybe I need a good registry cleaner. Perhaps I'm grasping at straws but it seems like it could be related. What do you think? If so, do you have one you recommend? I've seen good reviews on Registry Booster, on PC Mechanic, and on AMUST Registry Cleaner. Your thoughts? (This doesn't sound like a "Hardware" forum anymore, does it?)

 

OK, this is not making sense to me. Is there an Audio app starting up in your Start-ups. I notice that you have a SanDisk in your Removable devices. Is that an MP3 Player? You might want to remove that before your re-boots.

This is the chipset driver. It's possible something is bad there that is confusing your system.
("INF Update Utility - Primarily for Intel® 800 Series Chipsets")INF Update Utility - Primarily for Intel® 800 Series Chipsets (1541KB)

Second, (and you may want to use one of these before installing the chipsetdriver), a good safe reg cleaner is CCleaner:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/CCleaner_Slim_No_Yahoo_Toolbar_English_d4191.html

A stronger one and safe if you use it properly is RegSeeker. Install and run. Choose clean the registery, UNCHECK the ActiveX/COM(CLSID) box, click OK. When done running, select all Green, then delete. It will ask to back up, click OK.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/RegSeeker_d2579.html

And last, you are using A LOT of your HDD. It might also help, to run the Windows disc cleaner. Goto My Computer, right click C:, choose properties,click Disc Cleanup, at the next window, choose more options, and click System Restore Clean-up.This will clean up ALL but your last Restore point.

This is the order I would do all this. First, set a system restore point.
1) Run the Windows Disc Clean Up
2) Go into the Tools in CCleaner and look at your start-up (Remove anything that you do not need at Start-up and can run manually) Leave your AV and any anti-malware apps
3) Run CCleaner (both the cleaner and register tools)
4) Install the chipset driver and re-boot
5) Install the audio drivers again if your sound is not working yet.

 

All good suggestions, and I do intend to do all 5 of the things on your list at the bottom of your latest post, but I'd like to answer a few of your questions and ask a few clarifying questions first:

a) The SanDisk removeable device is my Thumb Drive, used for backing up my files, and is not an MP3 player. It was not in the USB port when I installed the audio drivers you gave me.

b) I run the cleaner part of CCleaner (and run Spybot Search & Destroy, and Adaware) religiously ---about every other day! So I think I already do at least the basics of maintenance. Also, I already have removed everything that I know I don't need from auto start-up (there may be a few I don't understand so I'm afraid of removing) .

c) I thought that Windows Disc Clean Up did about the same thing as the cleaner part of CCleaner. Perhaps that's a bad assumption. Since I clean with CCleaner all the time, will Windows Disc Clean Up really do much additional (other than extra Restore Points)? Or is it the extra Restore Points you're specifically trying to get rid of?

d) Here's the biggie: I used to use the Registry Cleaner in CCleaner, but the last time I did it killed my computer, and after days of help on forums such as this, I had to give up and take it to the shop to get it to work again. So I'm gun-shy about doing that. How can I be sure to let it fix only the things safe to fix? That's why I thought another registry cleaner program may be better (and/or "safer").

e) I don't know how to answer your question: "Is there an Audio app starting up in your Start ups."

I really appreciate you hanging in there with me on this.

 

I have just a quick question since I haven't seen this mentioned. After the computer has fully booted (after the hard drive stops churning) go to start=>run=>msconfig, take a look in the services tab and see if Windows Audio is stopped or running. If it is stopped go to start=>run=>services.msc, right click on windows audio and make sure the startup type is set to automatic then start the service........

 

Yes, if you think you don't need them. If all is running well except your sound then it should be OK to leave just the last one. You might be surprised at how much room the restore points can take up. Just trying to get you a little more breathing room on the HDD, without removing any apps.

I saw that thread.... that is an odd issue and I don't know how to address it. 99.9% of the CCleaner users have no problems and all the regulars here use it, without problems. Probably best to skip that and RegSeeker. I don't want to create another problem for you. (one suggestion, IF you get brave, is to clear the box with ActiveX/Class issues. That is the most likely thing to give you problems in the registery. But again, I am not sure what caused your issue before and don't want to create another)

If you could take a screenshot of what CCleaner says is in your start-up and post it, I'll take a look.

@ lcsmith39 Great suggestion, that is usually one of my first things to suggest and I totally forgot.:banghead

 

@Musksnipe, That was the only base you missed, and hey we're only human. We can't think of everything every time and all at the same time as the other crap too.......

 

Thanks again everyone:

The Windows Audio Serive was indeed stopped. However, when I looked I found that it was already set to start automatically. I started the Service, as suggested. Then I rebooted the computer. Unfortunately, the original problem is still with me. So I re-checked the Windows Auduio Service, and it's stopped again. So although it is set to start automatically, it's getting stopped somehow.

I have attached a screenshot of my startup programs as shown by CCleaner. I don't have much to compare it to (i.e., don;t know how many programs would be in an "average" PC), but I don't think there's too much there (i.e., I don't think my 4 to 6 minute total hard drive chattering time at start-up is due to dozens and doxens of programs trying to get start....)

With that said, I'm desperate, and do believe CCleaner is a solid product, so I'll be brave and do all 5 of the steps that Musksnipe suggested a few posts ago (in that order suggested), unless either of you think of something else I should do first, or think of some reason not to do those 5 things...

Along those lines, you said you thought RegSeeker was "stronger" registry cleaner than CCleaner and "safe if you use it properly." Perhaps it's no more unsafe than CCleaner. In other words, if I'm going to take a rsik by using a registry cleaner, why not use the "stronger" one?

By the way, just yesterday I did a full backup of ALL the files I'd ever want to keep off this PC, so I at least won't lose any data if the worst happens.

I'll wait a bit to see if I get any responses before I take the next step.

Thanks.

 

:cry Forgive me but I could not find a way to contact swi99 whoever has this sound problem thing going on. I did take a look at your CCleaner and there's crap loading at startup such as Quicktime, something about AOL in there heaven forbid, anyway get rid of the Quicktime startup, disable delete don't matter there.
:major
I'm seeing all kinds of tips and suggestions here for you, some good and some bad! I use CCleaner amongst my array of other artillary and knowledge of crap removers. One of my rules of safety is DON'T EVER ACCEPT ANY PROGRAMS DEFAULT CLEANUP SETTINGS! <- Repeat 10Xs} The windows registry is always going to have crap in it. When using any registry cleaner uncheck all the scanning options and start one at a time and then add others as you go along. If you check all options at once, what do you think you'll get? About two hundred and fifty errors showing in your registry with 2115499896623298|A32$%^& you name it! Geez.

Ok, I saw a reference to your sound thing in your startup snapshot. Had a simular problem. Had to remove old Monster III card and load built in PC CM Media for my sound. The CD that came with my Motherboard had the drivers and program files on it for the PC built in sound. So I loaded it, so it did not work, so I TOLD Windows XP to search for New Installed hardware and it found it, loaded it and ran like silk afterwards. PnP does not always sense what's going on with your PC. :confused

:wave So in conclusion, I must run before my louzy dialup shuts me off but ya got to know your hardware. Know your sound card and your Motherboard. Get the proper drivers for these things. Wish I could see the other replies to this while I'm posting but can't. Contact me If you want.

Tom :major

 

Hold off on everything! I missed something in your Everest report. You have a SoundMax Card. I saw that in the start-up screenie. What I think is happening is the Windows drivers are OK, but the SoundMax one isn't. When you get to your start-up and SoundMax takes over, you lose your sound.
Here is that driver:http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...softwareitem=ob-29725-1&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

If this works, I'm an idiot.

 

One step forward and two steps back? I attemoted to install it, but during the install wizard (right after files were extracted) I got this message: "Windows Audio Service ahs been enabled! Please restart your computer and run the SoundMAX installer again." It looks like it may have partially installed. For example, I now have a SoundMax entry under Start -> All Programs. But, alas, the original problem still exists, and the Audio Control Panel still says there sisno audio device.

By the way, I don't know what it could possibly mean to "run the SoundMAX installer again" -- Re-install what I just got done installing? That makes no sense!

 

I think it means re install the driver. The driver probably stopped installing to get WIndows Audio service going.

 

You mean the driver you gave me in Post #19?

 

Yes, this one.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...reg_R1002_USEN

I suspect that when the driver was installing, it detected the Windows Audio service was not enabled and stopped so that it could be enabled, without actually installing. The shortcut you see in your start menu is from the first part of the install.

 

Sorry, didn't work.

I rebooted, went to the page in your link, click on the "Install Now" button, and got stuck at the same place. Attached is a screen shot of where it hangs up. :cry

 

Have you checked to make sure the Windows Audio is already started before starting the driver install?

 

That's a new one. Am I supposed to do that? The instructions on the web page didn't say so. Please be more specific. Are you saying that I was supposed to stop or disable the Windows Audio Service before starting the driver install? :confused

 

Yes make sure that Windows audio is running before installing that SoundMax driver.
Go to Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Services
Scroll down the list of services until you find Windows Audio
Open up Windows Audio by double clicking
Make sure it is running, if not, click on Start.
Then install the driver.

 

I got farther, but got the attached screen shot.
This would be the third time in a row I'd have to install the same thing? (I'm not asking you to defend the logic, just to make sure I'm doig it right.)
Do I:
1) Reboot.
2) Check to see the Windows Audio Service is running; if not, Start it.
3) Re-install (by clicking on the "Install Now" button on the web page you sent me in Post #19 and again later).

 

I know it seems like we are going in circles here. I am not sure why that driver is not installing. I am going back to step one.
1) Go to CCleaner and look for SoundMax in the installed programs list and un-install it. Also, make sure it is removed from your start-ups. If it is not there go to add/remove programs and do it from there.
2) Delete the driver install set-up for SoundMax (it should look like and be named the same as the thumbnail)
3) Goto device Manager and un-install your audio devices, if any are showing.
4) Re-boot your PC. Make sure Windows Audio Service is running. (Before and after re-booting)
5) Do you have sound? No.... goto 6
6) Install this chipset driver
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/i815echipsetdrvr
7) Re-boot... Sound? Make sure Windows Audio Service is running. No...goto 8
8) Check your Device Manager. Does it still look the same as before? Right-click on Sound, Video, and Game Controllers and click scan for hardware changes. Sound? No... goto 9
9) Re-download the SoundMax installer, (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...reg_R1002_USEN) make sure Windows Audio Service is running, and install...Did that work?
If this doesn't do it, I'm stuck.

 

Say, before I do all that good stuff... After re-boot, a:confusedn error message popped up, and it might be related... It says "Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem and needs to close." Could this be terminating the audio Service??

 

Not sure what could have caused that, either malware or possibly the driver issue. Both can do that.(and I imagine there are other things, too) Run a spyware scan and see if it detects anything. If this is a first time thing and doesn't happen again, I wouldn't worry. If it continues to happen, you could check your Event Viewer (Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Event Viewer) Look at the system report and see if you can figure it out. If not, I would start a new thread and attach that report.
One other thing you might try, before doing the things in my last post. (if you have a recovery partition or your XP disc)
Goto Start>Run and type in cmd. That will open a DOS window.
Then type sfc \SCANNOW
This will compare your Windows files to the original Windows files and repair any that are corrupted or missing.

 

How do I k ow if I "have a recovery partition or your XP disc"?

 

You have a D: partition. Is that labeled Recovery? Usually HP's do have a recovery partition. (I'm on a HP) Look in My Computer. The disc would be your XP install disc if you have one

 

I saw nothing in the Event Viewer that rings a bell, but that's one huge set of info to look over.

I do have a D: partition. Is is not labeled Recovery, but it may have been that way when I bought it; I may have renamed it. So I did the sfc/scannow.

Now I am doing a "full clean" (CCleaner, followed by Spybot S&D, followed by full system Norton Antivirus scan). That takes several hours on my computer. (I'm writing this from my other PC.)

I would like your opinion about whether existence of the "Generic Host Process for Win32 Services ...needs to close" error message, if it cannot be corrected/eliminated, will make doing the nine items suggested in your post of 11:49 this morning pointless/ineffective.

 

Everything I have read about about that message points to three things;
1) Malware: which can also affect your drivers. If it is malware, I think Spybot will find it. Just make sure it has the latest updates and is immunized.
2) Driver problems: Un-installing the new SoundMax driver that is not installing properly, should stop the problem, if that caused it.
3) SP2 not being fully updated: Are your WIndows Updates complete? I think this is not a likely problem because this has just started happening.
Is that correct? Never got that message before this?
It is either the improper install, which we will fix by following the steps I posted, or it is malware.

 

Just completed the "full clean" I described earlier. Norton Antivirus says "No viruses, spyware, or other risks were found." So it probably isn't malware. And it probably isn't SP2; I ran Windows Update last week --- UNLESS it somehow didn't run properly and that could cause the problem? Should I run it again to be safe before i run your "nine point plan"?

 

No, Start on the steps I posted.

 

I have encountered a problem in Step 1. I get the error message in the attached screenshot. I assume I should try to unistall from Add/Remove Programs Control Panel?

 

Use CCleaner "Tools'" and remove the 2 SoundMax entries from your Startup, reboot and then uninstall SoundMax

 

Umm, if I'm reading it correctly, there's only one. (See screenshot) Does that mean I didn't do something right somewhere previously and we need to try something else? Or just delete that one and move on?

 

It's ok, there was 2 SoundMax in your original startup screenie. Just delete this one out of startup and follow the steps that I posted....
If after finishing #8 and you still have no sound..... hold off on #9 and there is an additional thing to try.

 

Well... I deleted the one SoundMax entry from my Startup, rebooted, and then when I tried to uninstall SoundMax (using CCleaner), I got the same error message as in post #38 (posted 12-31-07 @ 11:05am).

 

Check your Start-up again for either of these two entries (see Thumbnail) Also check in task manger for either of those two. If one or both are running there, end the process, and then try un-installing SoundMax again. Don't re-boot before doing this. If you get the message again, attach a screenie of your processes running in task manager.

 

I think I may have solved it --- or at least put an acceptable band-aid in place. I found it by what my friend calles "intelligent, careful poking around."

Here's what I did: I ran services.msc (fromStart -> Run). Double clicked on the Windows Audio service and looked around. So I went to the Recovery tab. Noticed that under "Selet the computer's response if this service fails" all three of the entries were listed as "Take No Action." I changed the first two entries to "Restart the service," clicked Apply and the clicked OK. I have rebooted my computer four times (with a half hour of random usage between reboots just to make sure) and the audio has continued to work every time. So I think the band-aid is repeatable.

Again, I may not have actually "solved" the problem; that is, I have not found the root cause, only compensated for the result of the problem. I believe the Audio Servicve is still being killed by the "Generic Host Process for Win32 Services... needs to close" error but I am now forcing the computer to re-start the service.

I have done a bit of research on the "Generic Host Process" error. I may try the actions describe din Microsoft Knowledge Base article 931852, although I believe I have only the first symptom described, not the second. Almost everything else I've found on this error applies to Windows Server OS, not to XP Home Edition.

I also got brave and ran the registry cleaner in CCleaner.

Any thoughts?

Happy New Year and thanks for sticking with me on this.

 

I still think it (the Generic Host message) has to do with the SoundMax driver but if it is working for you, great!
And Happy New Year to you, too.

 

As far as the audio itself is concerned, I think I will leave it alone for now. I've just spent too much of my time and effort this holiday working on it to chase it much further.

However, can you shed any more light on the "Generic Host Processor" error? For example, do you have an option on Microsoft Knowledge Base article 931852?

Is the proper etiquette to post that question in the "Software" forum?

 

I would start a new thread on that . I don't know much but what I read when you brought it up earlier.