Sound problem on PC

[Tech Zombie]

LookinAround, I still have all of the same things as I have said in my earlier posts. I have no headphones or anything like that connected, only the speakers. Oh... and that thing you said about playing the .wav files on the list, I can't even press the play button, it's all 'greyed out'!

 

[LookinAround]

Verrry Interesting :suspiciou

Please download Serviwin (very handy tool for viewing and managing Windows Services and Drivers).

1) Run it and click View->Services
2) Click Name column to alphabetize by name, then look for AudioSrv
=> Does its Status=Started? (if it shows Status=Stopped then that's your problem)
=> Its StartupType should=Automatic (you can rt click to change it's startup type if needed. Reboot for it to take affect)

3) If 2) above doesn't indicate AudioSrv service is your problem, please attach a copy of your current Services by:
=> Ctl-A (to select all items in Serviwin display)
=> Ctl-C (to copy all items in Serviwin display)
=> Then Paste (Ctl-V) into a txt document you can attach to your next post

4) While we're at it why don't you also click View->Drivers and repeat step 3) to show me all your current driver status

 

[Tech Zombie]

I started it... Oh and I will attach all of my current driver status'.

But now, when I have rebooted, sound doesn't work. I went back onto serviwin and it was stopped!

 

[LookinAround]

So we definitely found at least one of your underlying problems
>> Services with StartupType=Automatic (e.g your Windows Audio service) are started automatically at Windows startup
>> And they should remain running (i.e. (Status=Started)
>> But if Status=Stopped then something prevented the service startup or caused it to fail sometime after it started

I started it...<snip> But now, when I have rebooted, sound doesn't work. I went back onto serviwin and it was stopped!

If I understand you correctly
Your sound works OK once you manually start Windows Audio service?
>> Close Control Panel->Sounds and Audio
>> Manually start AudioSrv (Windows Audio Service)
>> Once you see AudioSrv Status=Started, open Control Panel->Sounds and Audio, click Sounds tab
>> Can you now click the .wav files now and play them???
>> (fyi... the sound files will absolutely be greyed out when AudioSrv is stopped)

Your attachment shows several curiousities
Above and beyond questions about your Windows Audio service:
See all your services below i found with StartupType=Automatic yet also all show Status=Stopped (meaning something prevents them from running once they're started)

Some of these services aren't such a big deal (like you only need Browser if you have networked PC's on your LAN) but you also show things like:
=> Windows Update and System Restore services are Type Automatic yet stopped!

Before going any further to figure out why your Windows Audio issue (let alone all these other services) I think what you must do first:
>> Create a new thread in Virus/Malware forum. Click here for Virus/Malware Removal Instructions
>> Once the experts there certify you malware free, come back here and post a notice to lemme know. I'll then look further at your services
>> But we need to first make sure all these services issues aren't the result of malware!

Browser           Computer Browser          Stopped	   Automatic
CryptSvc          Cryptographic Services    Stopped	Automatic
Dhcp              DHCP Client               Stopped	Automatic
ERSvc             Error Reporting Service   Stopped	Automatic
helpsvc           Help and Support          Stopped	Automatic
HidServ           HID Input Service         Stopped	Automatic
lanmanserver      Server                    Stopped	Automatic
lanmanworkstation Workstation               Stopped	Automatic
seclogon          Secondary Logon           Stopped	Automatic
SharedAccess      Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)	Stopped	Automatic
ShellHWDetection  Shell Hardware Detection  Stopped	Automatic
srservice         System Restore Service    Stopped	Automatic
TrkWks            Distributed Link Tracking Client   Stopped	Automatic
W32Time           Windows Time              Stopped	Automatic
wscsvc            Security Center           Stopped	Automatic
wuauserv          Automatic Updates         Stopped	Automatic
WZCSVC            Wireless Zero Configuration  Stopped	Automatic

 

[LookinAround]

By the way, if you don't backup your stuff regularly, I'd say NOW is an excellent time to do so!

And in addition to any file/folder backups, download DriverMax and be sure to backup all your drivers (use the Export function in DriverMax)

 

[tweakboy]

That's a rare problem, never heard of such thing. Its obviously directX causing this. He did the test and music worked not sound. Soo from knowing that you need to DL and install latest DX drivers... gl

 

[LookinAround]

That's a rare problem, never heard of such thing. Its obviously directX causing this. He did the test and music worked not sound. Soo from knowing that you need to DL and install latest DX drivers... gl

tweakboy

IMHO
1) Viruses and malware causing sound not to work isn't really rare
2) Tech Zombie's sound problem is more likely a SIDE-AFFECT of whatever is causing all those Windows services to be stopped when their Type=Automatic and where these services affected includes the Windows Audio service
3) A sound or DX driver problem ain't gonna to stop your Windows Update and System Restore service from running as evidenced by the data TechZombie supplied
4) Tech Zombie's "windows service not running" problem isn't just the Windows Audio service but MANY windows services (just look at the data posted)

/* EDIT */
For this case, recommended solution is first verifying malware free cause 1) it can be the root cause of the problem given the symptoms and 2) unless you rule out malware first one might just end-up chasing "red herrings" for a solution

 

[soulslayer]

It's am almost certain that it is a virus/malware program stopping those typical Windows tasks. I know for sure that as long as System Restore Service is set to 'Automatic' that it's status should remain as 'Started.' The same goes for 'Windows Audio' service. All these services can be viewed by going to Start -> Run and entering services.msc and click OK. Just adding that in for those who may want to check it out without having to use Serviwin.

@ LookinAround: They don't call you TechSpot Guru for nothing. Good troubleshooting here. I am learning a lot.

 

[LookinAround]

thanks for the feedback soulslayer

here's another tip (just in case you, or anyone else, wasn't aware:

As explained in prior post, every Windows service with StartupType=Automatic is automatically started when Windows starts.
>> That's why it's sometimes useful to check all your Windows services that are set StartupType=Automatic
>> Any Automatic startup service should show Status=Started BUT if Status=Stopped (meaning the service is not running) can be the clue to a problem

So when you look at your Windows services, (whether via services.msc or Serviwin)
>> Click on StartupType column header to sort the services by StartupType
>> Then you can see all your Automatic start services listed together
>> So now is easy to eyeball the Status column to see if any Automatic startups are Stopped

and, as it happened to be in TechZombie's case, there were soooo many and different types services with this problem makes sense to first check for Viruses before anything else (i.e. not only sound/media services stopped but also network services and system services and other non-sound/media related services were stopped etc.)

 

[LookinAround]

And (just fyi) will toss in the following info as well...

Services listed with StartupType=Manual are loaded at Windows startup but not started (i.e. loaded into Windows but aren't yet running)
>> These services are started "on demand"
>> When started (and running) their Status=Started
>> But these "on demand" services can also be stopped after their service is finished. So once these on demand services are done their Status might remain Started or might be Stopped if the s/w that started it may have stopped it when done

Services listed with StartupType=Disabled are not even loaded when Windows starts. That means if you change the StartupType of a disabled service you must first reboot for the change to take affect and you before can start it

 

[Tech Zombie]

By the way, if you don't backup your stuff regularly, I'd say NOW is an excellent time to do so!

And in addition to any file/folder backups, download DriverMax and be sure to backup all your drivers (use the Export function in DriverMax)

Back them up where? (Sorry if this is a stupid question...)

 

[LookinAround]

Backup onto a physically separate storage media.

Ideally, buy an external hard drive (IMHO only buy one that comes with its own AC adapter - as those are most reliable, TRANSLATION: don't put your critical data on a device that must rely on all its power to come from the USB port)

Other options:
=> Burn to DVD
=> If you MUST can save to a flash drive in the near term but understand those devices can be notoriously unreliable so you really want a dependable external (or 2nd internal drive) or burn to DVD.

But remember: Having backups means you always have TWO copies of your data available

 

[Tech Zombie]

I'm copying all the things that I really don't want to lose onto a USB as we speak (type). I already have most of my files on my laptop though. Oh and i've made a thread in virus/malware removal.

 

[LookinAround]

1) Remember to also backup all your current device drivers (see my prior post. You can use DriverMax freeware)
2) You might also consider rather if you might just want to reformat your HD and reinstall XP
>> Is up to you. Will try to help whichever route you want to take
>> You'd need your XP install CDs of course
>> You'd also need to still know the serial numbers for any installed software you paid for (as you will be reprompted when you re-install it)
>> And of course you'd need the each product software installation CD (or can usually find the installs packages online to download. It's the serial numbers you need to remember/recover before any HD reformat)
>> I can give you a tool to recover your MS XP product id and MS Office product IDs if need be

Anyway, the reformat/reinstall is just another option.

 

[Tech Zombie]

I don't want to reformat/reinstal. Anyway, I think i've fixed it. I downloaded the free antivirus software Avira AntiVir Personal, did a scan, and deleted a malware program which it deteced, and some things in the temp folder, I have restarted and now my sound (and other services like themes) have started. But wait, I have restarted again and the sound has gone and themes is playing up, so I still have problems.

 

[LookinAround]

Please follow the steps and post your logs as requested and then post another message asking for help. You need to have the logs reviewed and walked through the necessary steps for a thorough cleanup.

It's quite common for people to only get partial results on their own... (i.e. the full mess only comes back. Sometimes worse)

Follow the steps and post logs please.

/* edit */
And post the logs back in the Virus/Malware thread */