"No sound mixer device is available" Computer Question

Dallas59 ^ | 10/14/2008 | Dallas59

[Dallas59]

The computer in the Living room was infected with a virus and after running the scan and fix I now have a problem with "No sound mixer device is available" error message. I have no sound. I have tried the the Service Management route and restarted the service , several times, no go. I have tried the Bios route and enabled all on board audio. Nothing. I downloaded and installed the Realtek 97 codecs and still no go. I used the XP CD to try and repair the service and nothing. I tried copying the Machine.inf file and eliminating line 20. Nothing. I am now to the point of just saving important files and reinstalling XP. The Microsoft website was really no help in just a single, understandable fix.

Has anyone else had this problem? Any fixes?

[Dallas59]

Dang Computers....

[valkyry1]

I am now to the point of just saving important files and reinstalling XP

Sometimes that is the easier route when you are all done with it. 

[stylin19a]

try here for starters:

http://forums.techarena.in/windows-xp-support/744055.htm

[library user]

Did you try Last Known Good Configuration?

[gjones77]

Make sure you’re reinstalling the correct drivers, there are actually various AC97 is just a standard, make sure you’re installing the proper drivers.

Are you using onboard sound or are you using a separate sound card, and who makes the motherboard/card?

Also, this may sound odd, but make sure that if it is onboard sound that’s it’s enabled in the BIOS.

[AmericaUnited]

Sounds like your sound card/hardware driver got zapped. Reinstall it, not just the codecs.

[library user]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935448/en-us

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833846/en-us

[mmichaels1970]

As others have said, you need to reinstall the sound card driver. If the sound card in integrated with (built directly into) your motherboard, you should have a motherboard CD that has all of these drivers on it. If you don't have the CD, get the model number of the motherboard from your device manager and download the drivers online.

If you have a non-integrated sound card, open the computer up and get the sound card model number. Download and reinstall the drivers online.

Out of curiosity, do you know how you got the virus? I just cleaned somebody's computer who got one from opening an email attachment claiming to be from UPS. Turns out, his sound card drivers are gone and I have to go visit him to reinstall.

[relictele]

Whenever I’m fighting hardware issues I often boot from a Knoppix CD (http://www.knoppix.net/get.php).

I’m not a Linux zealot but a self-contained OS on CD/DVD obviously bypasses the entire Windows setup and will allow you to determine if there is any hardware failure - Knoppix has drivers for almost every flavor of hardware including sound cards and if it boots with sound operable then at least you can eliminate hardware failure as a possibility.

Assuming hardware is intact then reloading drivers is simple but often effective.

[GregB]

If I have to reinstall my XP I have to go download 97. Sure has got me baffled!!

[TomGuy]

If the Windows Audio Service got turned off:

http://www.pchell.com/support/no_active_mixer_devices_available.shtml

[Dallas59]

Where was that hiding? I will try that.

I tried last known config and no go. I was using an old Sound Blaster USB connection to the surround speakers. I reinstalled that with the CD and it didn't bring back the sound and stop the error message. The computer was bought in 2005 and was a Presario 6000. It's got a P4. I've put in 2 gigs of ram, a GForce 7600 card and 780 gigs of space.

[mmichaels1970]

Whenever I’m fighting hardware issues I often boot from a Knoppix CD

Seems like an interesting idea for fighting viruses as well. In Windows, even booting to a safe-mode command prompt frequently requires too much overhead to remove a virus. On occasion, I've had to install a second XP OS to just clean the viruses with the first. Then delete the second OS, adding about 90 minutes to the removal process. With your Knoppix suggestion, I can boot to a self-contained OS and get a "clean" scan of everything on the hard drive....interesting.

I've never tried it, but based on your post, I think I'm going to get myself a copy.

[Dallas59]

The computer is sort of “communal property”. I use it my roommate uses it and so do people who visit. It’s hooked up to my Philips 47 inch and occasionally we go to OVGuide to look at movies. I’m thinking that one of the websites on OV was compromised and may have infected it. I clean out the computer on a regular basis with CCleaner and EasyClean, plus I get rid of all the %temp% files and scan it with SuperSpyware eliminator, Spybot, Spyware terminator and Defender. I have looked in the original box and had no motherboard CD. I will try that.

[TomGuy]

I have preached this for a couple of years now:

Find a program, such as clonegenius which does partition/drive imaging. It could save you a multitude of headaches and time.

http://www.boot-up-cd-fix-computer.com-http.com/spotmau-disk-clone-backup.html

I have my OS (WinXP) and my programs on a 28Gb partition (drive C). I put my saved files on a separate partition (drive D).

I make a clone of the OS partition whenver I get it to the basic level (upgrades, etc.,) that I want. Then, if disaster happens, I simply restore the OS partition, in its entirety.

Clonegenius takes about 40 minutes for the initial clone (non-compressed) and about 40 minutes to restore. That is better than spending a day reinstalling XP from scratch and another week reinstalling the various programs.

Since my data files are on Drive D, they are usually unaffected by anything that happens on Drive C.

Clonegenius is $25. It has saved my bacon many times in the last 2 years. There are similar programs. Find one and use it.

[UB355]

I had a similar problem. I put a shortcut to the sound control panel on my desktop to solve the problem.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Are you using onboard sound or are you using a separate sound card, and who makes the motherboard/card?

That's a good question because if it is a separate card, it can be removed and then reboot the machine then shut down and reinstall the card. Windows should find it and either load drivers or ask for the CD with the proper drivers. Either way you should have sound.

Or...if you have onboard sound...buy a decent sound card that comes with its own driver CD and install that in the same way.

Or...just save your important files and wipe the thing clean and reinstall XP. That would be the fastest route to Nirvana.
Make sure you have your valid 25 digit COA license key ready before you start that routine.

[RightFighter]

I’ve been doing IT work for many years, with literally thousands of incidents of working on various Windows XP configuration problems, and I have never, and I mean NEVER, seen the “Last Known Good Configuration” option fix ANYTHING.

[mmichaels1970]

Presario Drivers

I picked a random "Presario" model and sound card drivers appeared on the list.

[uptoolate]

Learned this about three years ago. Got tired of re-installing, and updating, the billion programs on my system.

I use Ghost. Is Clonegenius just as easy? I’m always looking for the cheaper way if not free even. Are there any freeware stuff out there you would recommend?

I found a good free partition manager program called EASEUS. Workrd like a charm.