Beep and other Windows sounds no longer work

coffent · 31 Dec 2016

For no apparent reason, Windows sounds have stopped working. Going to ControlPanel>Sound>Sounds and performing a test on any Windows sound produces nothing. I have sound, as playing a *.wav file works fine, including the C:\Windows\Media\*.wav files. I did a Command Prompt > sfc /scannow and got the message that Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations. What can be wrong?

Layback Bear · 31 Dec 2016

Right tick on your desktop and select Properties.
Tick on Sounds on the window that opens.

You Should find what you need there.

Jack

coffent · 01 Jan 2017

Thanks, but right-clicking on the desktop on either of my Windows 7 computers does not show a Properties pick on the context menu. If what you're suggesting is another way to get to Control Panel > Sound > Sounds, please note I've already been there to no avail. If it's something else, please give me more information. Thanks.

Layback Bear · 01 Jan 2017

Sorry my mistake.
Right tick on Desktop and select Personalize. Then tick on Sound.

Jack

Eric3742 · 01 Jan 2017

Hi

Both
ControlPanel>Sound>Sounds and C:\Windows\Media\*.wav
is the same sound.

Do check your hardware or could there be any interference.
Also do check on the Sound icon on the taskbar.

Do a virus & malware scan for any problem.

Eric.

Attachment for comparison.

Callender · 01 Jan 2017

Worth a check:

Right click 'Computer' in Windows Explorer. In the context menu of Computer, select Manage. Computer Management window, select Device Manager. Click on the View menu and select Show hidden devices. A new group will then appear in the device list - "Non-Plug and Play Drivers".

Expand "Non-Plug and Play Drivers" and find the item named Beep.

Right click and choose "Properties" and check that startup type is not set to disabled.

Other than that look for exclamation marks against any other sound device or driver.

coffent · 01 Jan 2017

Thanks for the suggestions.

I've tried changing my Sound Scheme to Windows Default in Control Panel > Sound > Sounds. When I click "Test" on any of the Windows sounds (the left panel of Eric3742's attachment) there is silence.

I understand that ControlPanel>Sound>Sounds and C:\Windows\Media\*.wav are the same sounds. I can play any of the wav files there using a media player (for example, Windows Media Player) (the right panel in Eric3742's attachment). So the wav files themselves are not corrupted. The problem seems to be that Windows won't play the files for some unknown reason.

I checked Beep/Properties and Status shows Started, with startup type set to System.

It could be a hardware problem, but if so I would have thought that I couldn't play the files with a media player.

Callender · 01 Jan 2017

Okay I can reproduce the problem. Speakers play sound fine but do not play system sounds.

The problem is that there are many sound cards and drivers.

Anyway on my system if I right click the speaker icon in the system tray I get an option to open the volume mixer.

Beep and other Windows sounds no longer work-mixer.jpg

Then if I move the slider for "System Sounds" to the bottom - system sounds remain silent even when playing test sounds.

Beep and other Windows sounds no longer work-volume-mixer-speakers-realtek-high-definition-audio-.jpg

Maybe you could check for similar options?

coffent · 01 Jan 2017

Thanks, Callender, I really appreciate your trying to reproduce the problem. Unfortunately, while what you did may cause the same symptoms, it's not the cause of my problem. All playback tracks are set at mid-level, including System Sounds, as shown in the attachment.

However in getting set to capture the image, I moved the slider and noticed that when the slider is repositioned, Windows plays a test beep to judge sound level, and that I *do* hear. So why should Windows *not* play sounds in some cases, but play them in others??

Layback Bear · 01 Jan 2017

Just a thought. Maybe good or maybe not so good.

Your system has this.

Sound Card Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD with THX SB1270

Find the Control Panel for that card and see if their is any setting that might help you.
Try hooking your speakers to the motherboard and see if that helps.

Your mother board

Jetway Kuroshio BI-600 | TechwareLabs - Part 2

8 – USB 2.0/1.1 ports
1 – PS/2 mouse port
1 – PS/2 keyboard port
1 – SPDIF_OUT port
2 – RJ-45 port
1 – Audio I/O port
2 – e-SATA port

Jack