Windows ME No Sound

Hi,
I have been coming to Majorgeeks for quite awhile now and I have learned quite a lot here. I'm hoping you will be able to help me with this problem. Some where along the line I lost the sound in my computer. All sound. There used to be a little speaker icon at the bottom of my screen but it's not there anymore. To tell you the truth I usually had it muted so I really didn't notice it was gone. When I go into Multimedia in the control panel there is a check there that would indicate the icon should be there but it's not and I can't move the little slider that would adjust the volume. I looked to the Microsoft newsgroups and found instructions that tell me to boot in safe mode and go into the device manger. It goes on to say I should remove all sound and multimedia devices as well as all error flagged devices and entries in other devices branch if present. Then reboot and Windows would install all the required drivers. The problem is I'm not sure exactly how to do all that that...... I can get to the Device Manager but could someone tell me step by step exactly which things I should uncheck or is it check?? Thanks for your time and assistance.....

 

Thanks Lugztaz for your help. I just want to be absolutely sure of what to do before I mess things up more. When I go to Control Panel then System then into Device Manager I should click onto Sound, Video and Game controllers.....When I click there I see 5 different things listed. I'm assuming that will all look the same when I am in Safe Mode right? I have only looked there in Normal Mode so far. Then if any of those 5 things I see have a red or yellow check next to them I should just right click on them then shut down the computer. The result will be that those things will be reinstalled when I come back on and I will have sound again......yea !!
One other thing....this was my first question and it looks like there were 5 replies but I can only read 3...Why don't I see the other two?
Again, thanks!!

 

I'm Sam,

First off, I hope you get this post........strange problem. I think Lugztaz suggestion will help you. If not, here is another option if you are still without sound or icon in ( Windows ME ).

Go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Windows Setup tab. Locate the "Multimedia" line, and first uncheck the box by it and click Apply button. This will first remove all the Multimedia support code you have loaded. Then go back and place a check in the box by "Multimedia" (or go to Details and select the options you want if you don't want all of it. Make sure you check the Volume control box if you do this). With the box checked, click Apply button again, and when done, exit out of all windows and reboot.

Then go to Control Panel, click the "Sounds and Multimedia" icon, and at the bottom place a check in the "Show volume control on the Taskbar" box. You should now be able to configure you Sounds again, and adjust the volume of your sound.

Steve

 

Hi again,
Well, I just tried what Steve sugested first because it seemed a bit easier and I'm not very good at this stuff. I ran into a problem though.When I tried to put a check in the multimedia box I got a screen that said: file imaadp32acm was not found......I got this computer used with Windows ME already installed so I don't have a disk. It says I need the Windows ME disk.....
Think I should try the other thing? I'm a little afraid of changing things in safe mode. As a matter of fact the only time I was ever in safe mode was by accident.. ..although I do have the steps to get there now.....
Thanks again...

 

Go to Device Manager again (Lugztaz), Sound, Video and Game controllers, click driver and then update, see if that helps.

Steve

 

Hi again,
I just tried what you said Steve and for each of the five things listed under sound, video and game controllers I went to properties and update. Each time the computer searched for an updated version and came back saying I already had the best driver. Now I did all that in Normal mode. Is that what you meant for me to do?
Thanks, Sam

 

Hi again Lugztaz,
I don't know what you mean by onboard or pci.....
Thanks again for taking the time to help me sort this out.
Sam

 

Hey Sam,

When you get the screen file imaadp32acm was not found, does it give you any other options besides you need the disk? Like browse, search, anything like that.

Also, do a search of your C drive for that specific file, if you find it be sure and note exactly where it is located. I have never used Windows ME but I am wondering if you can search back to certain restore points.

Hopefully, getting the file back or in the correct location you will be able to finish the process and get your sound back.

I will be looking to see where the file should be located.

Steve

 

Hi Steve,
First let me say thanks to you for sticking with me about this. I really appreciate your time. As far as other options with the steps I took it would seem there are others I can try if I only knew how to do them. When I get the screen that says the computer can't find that file there is a browse option. First I guess I have to select one of three places to look. There is a drop down menu that includes: Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS, Program Files\ Common Files or Program Files\WindowsMediaPlayer. If I click on one of those and then there are another three options. One is skip file. Another is browse and the third is details. When I click on details there is an error screen that says Set up could not finish opening a file on source disk. Destination files\Windows\System=WIN_8 CAB. If I click on skip file it lists a different file it can't find about 5 different times but a new file name appears each time......They are msadp32.acm, msq711.acm, msqsm32.acm,tssoft32.acm and last but not least....mplayer.chm. If I select the browse option I get a screen that says open and lists C\, Program Files, Common Files, aol ,acs, net. No matter which of those things I click on I get the screen that says I need the Windows ME disk..... Keeping in mind you will need to be very specfic in the steps you need me to try, I'll be waiting for you advise. I don't know how to search for a particular file or folder. I hope I copied all of the options down correctly. I must have switched back and forth from this screen to the control panel 20 times.....
Thanks very much, Sam

 

Hey Sam,

I have done some more checking and almost everything I can find says you need your disk.

See if you can find the imaadp32acm file. Go to Start, Find, click on Files or Folders, that will bring up a box, where it says Name type imaadp32acm, look down to where it says Look in and make sure it says C. Click the find now button and see what you get and where it is located.

Also, what kind of computer do you have, brand name? And do you have any disks for Windows?

Steve

 

Hi Steve,
No luck searching for 4 of the 5 files that show up when I click on skip file...there is one for MPlayer.acm though. My computer is a Dell that I got used a couple of years ago and Windows ME was already installed. The company my brother works for had purchased some computers for a particular project and when the project was complete they offered one to my brother. He already had one so he got this one for me. Nice brother. Let me ask you this, with all that you know about my problem now do you think getting on in safe mode and following those instructions I saw on the Microsoft newsgroup will work? I didn't ask anyone there I just was reading through them and saw a guy give those instructions to someone else that had lost their sound. I think I listed those steps in my first post. If you don't think those will work I'd rather not take the chance I would mess things up even more.
more thanks,
Sam

 

Sorry, looking at something, if you want to try and it gives you pretty specific instructions. Or, wait for some other replys or ideas. Steve

I'm checking the Dell support for something. Steve

 

Thanks Steve,
I'll wait to see what else you might find out.....
Sam

 

OK, there has to be some type of option here. Try going to the Dell support page here http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs see if you have a service tag number to type in and then the product model, both should be on your computer somewhere.

See what kind of info you get, possible downloads, etc. Steve

 

Okay Steve thanks. I'm going to have to move things around to get at the numbers I will need. That will have to wait until I can get some help. The computer desk is kinda in a corner and very heavy. Again, I really appreciate all you have done to help. I'll let you know how I make out.
Take care, Sam

 

Sam,

Let me know if you found anything at the Dell website. If not, using the System Restore option may work. Try and remember how long it has been since you know you had sound or seeing the sound icon, weeks, months. The System Restore will let you restore your computer to an earlier date, it will give you a calendar to go by, you should be able to tell the dates any changes were made to your system files. I have never used WindowsME so I don't know all the features or options but it should be fairly easy to understand.

Try and remember installing / uninstalling any games or programs in the last couple of weeks. How long have you had the computer? Here is how you get to System Restore, I have one more idea if this doesn't work for you

Go to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, click on System Restore

Steve

 

Sam,

I found what might be a better and easier solution. Go to the link I am providing below, scroll down to where it says Windows Me and follow the directions there. Steps # 7 and # 9, I have listed below what you need to type in instead of what shows in the example. You are basically just taking a file from your restore folder and placing it where you are supposed to have imaadp32.acm, the file you are missing. When you are done, you may have to go back and repeat the process I gave you earlier when all this started, where it started asking you for your disk. Here is the link and good luck, http://service1.symantec.com/suppor...2001011114021106?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=4

Step # 7 type in imaadp32.acm

Step # 9 type in C:\ Windows\Syetem32

Let us know, Steve

 

Hi there Steve,
I tried what you suggested but when I got to the screen that where I entered the place I wanted the file to be restored from (C:\Windows\options\install\CAB ) I got a screen that said: File not found verify that you have selected the correct restore from location. The instructions said I might get a screen saying that the file is protected and could not be copied or deleted. In that case it went on to say I would need the Windows ME disk. I'm wondering if you think there is somewhere else I could enter as the place I wanted the file restored from???
As for trying to use system restore, I think it's been a very long time since I had sound.....easily months and months. I did recently use system restore to clear out a bunch of files that had spyware in them but that was well after I lost sound so it didn't go in that batch. If I went back to a restore point that was a long time ago woluld I end up bringing back all those as well?.......Thanks again, Sam

 

Hi Steve,
I finally decided to take the chance of following the instructions I found in the Microsoft newsgroup. And IT WORKED !!! I wanted to tell you thanks again though for all your advice. I learned so many things from your replies to my questions. You're a good teacher that's for sure! After I removed all of the items in the device manager and restarted my computer I still got those screens saying that those very same files couldn't be found. I thought I was going to end up back at square one or worse but all seems well.
Many many thanks,
Sam

 

Sam,

I am still checking on some things, don't give up yet. Me or somebody will get back to you. Steve

BTW, we have storms moving thru and I keep getting knocked offline, if I suddenly disappear you know why.

 

Steve,
Looks like our messages are passing in cyberspace......lol
Sam

 

OK, I have found some of the files I think you are going to need when you try the process I first suggested to you ( the one where it keeps asking you for the disc ). Here is a link that list 6 files you can download, http://www.soundcard-drivers.com/drivers/15/15494.htm just click on the AudioDrivers link they provide, some are what you listed, it's a zip file and you have to fill out a registration form, nothing to complicated.

I have never downloaded any files like this so I don't know what kind of info, if any, you get with it. This zip file may put them in the correct location by default or give you a read me file, just be sure and look. Otherwise, I would download the zip file to my Desktop so it's easy to find, before you unzip the file do this. Open Windows Explorer and create a new folder, say in your C drive and name it Win Drivers or something like that, unzip the files to that location, that way when it asks you for the file all you do is Browse and find that folder.

I will keep looking for the other files you listed.

 

Sorry, was so busy looking and typing didn't see your post. Glad you got it, I learned alot also. Steve

 

Hi Steve,
I don't believe it, I'm back to square one with no sound again....gggrr I went back through the whole boot in Safe Mode remove all things in Multimedia and it would seem the only thing that really comes back is the macromedia shockwave flash. ( whatever that is !! ) I saw when I went through the process last evening that I got all those screens saying the files couldn't be found but when I had sound in the end I figured that didn't matter. Wrong !! I went back to your last set of instructions and I went to the page you suggested but I really don't know how to do any of the steps you gave me. I feel so dumb but I don't know what a readme file is or a zip file. I've never created a folder. Could you give me a bit more ( alot ) step by step instructions?......Thanks again,
Sam

 

What happened, did you have sound and then lose it again? Steve

 

Hi there,
Yep !! When I got on earlier this eveniing it was like I hadn't done a thing !!
Sam

 

OK, let us try and get everything you may need. May take a little while to find the other files, so please be patient and we will get back to you, have to go back and find what's missing.

 

Windows Me??????? That is one big problem in itself!!!


The best advice I can give you is to go out and get a OEM copy of Windows XP... dont know about there but here you can get a OEM XP for around $100.00.

Should fix your sound problem "PLUS" many more!!!!

 

Hey Sam,

Going to Windows XP (when you can) is certainly good advice. But, for now I would seriously consider System Restore. I know one of your concerns is some of the viruses coming back and I really don't have a definitive answer to give you, whether they will or won't. You could ask in Spyware Specific at MajorGeeks, but without alot of specifics I don't know that they would be able to tell you. I would go back to a restore point before I got them, maybe even when you first got the computer.

If they do return, you can post a thread in Spyware Specific and be sure that you remove them properly. You mentioned that you "to clear out a bunch of files that had spyware in them", I am just afraid this sound thing may just be the first thing you have noticed. My point is, if you use System Restore you know what you got and then start from there.

Anyway, think about it and if some of the other members have a solution for you I am sure they will post it before you decide. Let us know, there are a few suggestions I have before you restore.

Steve

 

Hi again Steve,
Sounds like you are thinking I shouldn't try to download the missing files from the site you found..... I have never used System Restore. I'm not all that worried about bringing back anything too terrible. I wish I could remember when the sound disappeared. I think it's been gone quite a long time. I have posted this problem on the Microsoft Windows ME newsgroup and I'm still hoping that the guy that has been answering my posts there will have an answer that works. In the meantime I would be grateful for whatever advise you have about using System Restore.
More thanks for all your assistance, Sam

 

Let us know. Steve

 

Hi Steve,
Well last night I took a shot at system restore and all did not go well. As best as I could tell the latest date I could go back to was July 12, 2004. Even though I knew my sound had been gone much much before then I figured I'd give it a try and maybe if I got back to July it might let me go back even further from there. The restore process seemed to be going fine until it was about 80% complete and then it ground to a halt. I closed it out and when my desktop returned all of my AOL software was gone. I had an AOL CD so I put that in and for a while it would start and then stop with an error screen that said Comp01 has caused an error in Kernel32DLL. I tried it a few more times and then it got a little further through the process and I got another screen that said Comp01 has caused an error in Quicktime.QTS. When I tried to close that box the download stopped completely. This went on and on as I kept trying the CD again and again until it finally finished loading. I think at this point I'm just going to let things as they are. I really didn't miss having sound all that much until I came here and started going through all the things on the Interesting Web Sites forum.....
I do want to thank you again for all of the time and efforts you went to to help me. As I said before, I learned a lot from you in the proccess.
Take care, Sam

 

Hi Steve,
Since you have already invested so much time and effort in helping me I wanted to tell you the latest advise I got from the Microsoft guy. He had me search under files and folders for Base2. I found that in C:\WIN9X. When I clicked on that there was a list of 163 items but the 9 I am missing weren't included in the list. He said I should go through the original steps he suggested. To start in safe mode and remove all of the items under sound and multimedia and this time when it can't find those files to direct it to C:\WIN9X. You know I don't really know what I'm doing but since I already didn't see them in the list of the 163 why would he have me go through all that again?? He said if the wizard doesn't find them I will need to install updated sound drivers for my particular card and he explained to me how to find out what the make and model should be....I went back and looked at that site you found and it looks like I could get at least some of them there. I'll try the first steps he gave me again tomorrow and see what happens with that...... Take care, Sam

 

Hi Steve,
I'm wondering if you would be so kind as to give my no sound issue one more shot. To tell you the truth after trying system restore and having such a problem with that I was scared off from trying anything else for a while. I'm disabled and have no room in my budget for computer repairs much less a replacement if I screwed this one up completely. I have tried a few more things though. I have now found those 9 missing files. Six of them are in C:\Windows\System and the other three are in C:\Windows\Help. When I right click on the first 6 and try to open them it asks what I want to open them with and when I click on properties it says open with unknown application and the archive box is checked. Two other in C:\Windows\Help say pretty much the same thing about inknown application to open. The last one is swlogo.bmp and that will open. It's the Macromedia Shockwave Flash. That's been the only one that had a check in the box under the Windows Setup in Add and Remove Programs\ Multimedia all along. Now they all have checks but I still have no sound. The one way I can get the sound to work is to start in Safe Mode remove all of the devices there and restart in Normal Mode. The problem is I would have to do that whole thing every time I get on because I'm back to no sound the very next time. Is there help for me yet???
Again thanks,
Sam

 

Sam,

I don't mind one bit. But, there are many members here on this board with much more experience and knowledge than me. Hopefully some of them will step in and try and figure this thing out for you.

I will be checking and we can get the smart geek's to give it a look.

Steve

 

Sam, do you still have the original steps the Microsoft guy gave you? If so, try that even though you didn't see the files listed.

One other thing that might be an option for you, in checking around I found out it might be possible to contact Dell and get a restore disk. Just something maybe you could try, it would be nice to have one even if you get this particular problem solved.

Steve

 

Hi Steve,
I have followed the steps the guy from the Microsoft newsgroup gave me and they work but I would need to do them every time I go online and want sound. What he told me to do was start in safe mode and remove all of the things listed under sound and multimedia then to reboot in normal mode and all of the devices would be reinstalled and that works fine. The trouble I was having the first few times I tried it was that as it was reinstalling the devices it would say those 9 files could not be found. Now I found them and the reinstallation of all of the devices goes like clockwork after I reboot in normal mode. The strange thing is that I start back at square one every time I reboot........
I wanted to tell you about that site you found for me that had some of those missing files a while back. After recovering from my terrible attempt at system restore I thought I would just download them and maybe ask you later where to go from there. As I went through the steps to get to the download there was a point where I would have been required to download a couple of other things. As I recall they were mostly the sort of downloads that are available here....anti-spyware,anti-virus, etc....... Well, I trust everything here but I wasn't going to trust everything there and decided not to go through with it.
So for now things here are quiet =;>) If I want to take the time to go through that entire process of removing and reinstalling the sound stuff I can have sound but I sure wish I could figure out a way to have sound without all that. I have been working my way through the software section here in hopes of finding someone else that had this problem and got it solved. I've been doing the same thing in the Microsoft Windows ME Multimedia section. So far no luck...
The other thing I have tried is setting a restore point when I have sound and going back to restore at that point. That doesn't work either....=:>(
Hopefully one of the other geeks will read this and know what I should do like you said. Thanks for all your help.
Take care, Sam