Windows 7 - No login/logoff sound = no media play? Why??

Hi all!

So I've noticed a pattern on my HP laptop that is driving me insane. Sometimes when I turn it on, the login sound does not play. Then when I am actually using the laptop, I can never play any sort of media be it from Windows Media, FLV, iTunes, even Youtube. I have figured out that if I restart my laptop the logoff sound does not play either and I have to force shut down. After restarting, the login sound plays, and I am able to use media. So I have a way to "fix it" but it is really annoying.

Also, I dont know if this is associated with this problem, but when I start up, sometimes, the num lock is turned on when it was not on before shutdown. Would this be an indicator of something with my cards or drivers?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

open the control panel and than go to sound and on the top go to sounds too and chack if the box "play windows startup sound" is enabled

that is checked off as a yes

How to Disable or Change Windows Startup, Shutdown, Logon, Logoff and Other System Sounds in Windows 7 and Vista? visit here for more help try to change some settings in your system

This sounds more like a possible hardware problem if it's intermittent. Considering HP's issues with heat destroying hardware components in laptops, I wouldn't be surprised. What model do you have?

Have you run Windows update lately? If not, do that and see if there are any updated drivers for your laptop that might be causing these issues.