MP3 Files - No Audio Output With Some Software

I am running Win7/Pro x64. I've uploaded my system specs.

Today I tried playing an mp3 file using Irfanview and could not get sound from my earbuds. The visual interface showed that the signal ought to have been being sent to my ears.

I opened the 'live stream' version of my local NPR station and could hear the sound. My conclusion - this is probably not a hardware problem.

I opened WMP (a seldom used application - I can't find Help>About to check the version) and the current version I encountered looked like something I'd expect to find on a neighbor's Mac. There were some files accessible to me in 'libraries' that I could play, but I could find no interface where I could navigate to a file and open it. Forgive me Steve Jobs, but I've never found Apple software at all intuitive, just frustrating and poorly documented. That is why I use a Windows OS.

I opened VLC Media Player (2.2.2) and I can find and listen to the file. I opened the same file in Audacity (2.0.5) and when I play it no sound comes to my ears. This is the experience I had with Irfanview, even after i downloaded 4.42 x64 and the associated plug-ins.

Does this make sense to an expert? It does not make sense to me.

thanks,

baumgrenze

Hello,

Did I post to the wrong forum?

I've done a bit more research. ZTreeWin tells me that my Irfanview plugins are here:

C:\Program Files (x86)\IrfanView\Plugins

and that the executable file is here:

C:\Program Files\IrfanView\i_view64.exe

ZTreeWin tells me that the plugin branch is the only part of the IrfanView installation still under the (x86). I didn't find a provision for uninstalling these on Control Panel. I don't want to leave behind 'orphan' linking files and/or Registry entries if I can help it.

Can I simply graft the Plugins tree from the (x86) directory to the new one or will this cause more problems?

thanks,

baumgrenze