Replies

alejr:

Problems, problems, problems.

First, I tried to play some of the old .mp3 files I had saved on my computer, and played in the past. VLC would display the images, but NO sound.

You said to save my current settings: Windows + r, then paste %appdata%vic in the input area, and press OK. For some reason, that won’t work. The second % is not recognized. See the first and second images on the attached.

So I found the subdirectory manually, and saved my current settings. They are the third and fourth image on the attachment.

My version is not up to date. I have 3.0.11 Vetinari (which is the same version I have on my Windows 10 laptop, which works fine), and you said the latest version is 3.0.17.4 Vetinari. So I tried to update, and got a screen that said 3.0.16 was available, and asked it I wanted to download it. I selected ‘Yes’. The first time I tried this, I got the fifth (last) image on the attachment. I tried that several times, as noted. Now I just tried it again. When I select ‘Yes’, there is no image that pops up at all. I left VLC open for 5 minutes to make sure of that.

I also have a stand alone program called Total Recorder. Mine is the Professional version, and is about 10 years old. I just opened it and it plays MP3 (and other formats) just fine.

 

Harry

alejr:

I seem to have had a setback. In my first post, I said:

“If I can access the website via VLC Media player, the sound plays. If the website gives me the option to listen via MP3 or RealPlayer, the sound plays. I also have a Sonos system. If I have a radio station that will not play directly, but access that same station via Sonos, the sound plays.”

The VLC player no longer plays a sound, even if I try to listen via MP3 or RealPlayer. Sonos still works as noted above.

My Firefox browser had an updated version available. I installed it, but it made no difference. I have NOT yet tried to uninstall/reinstall Firefox, Chrome, etc.

 

Harry

alejr:

The attached file shows everything that has been updated since June 1. (Google updates itself, and I first posted the problem on Aug. 16.) But remember, I don’t exactly know when the problem started. I noted in my first(?) post that I was ‘sure’ the sound worked when I updated my website, because I normally always check for that. But at my age, I never have 100% confidence in what I remember!

As I noted in my replies to others who have made suggestions, I ran sfc /scannow as an Administrator. The Verification was 100% complete. The findings: “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity problems.”

I also ran a Malwarebytes (latest version) scan. It scanned over 283,000 items. No threats detected.

You asked if I would see what changes I have made to my browsers, and see if I could reverse the changes on one, and see what happened. The one that I essentially never change is IE 11, because I only really use it to check compatibility with the website I maintain. So I thought I would just uninstall it, and install it again (or install Edge).

I cannot figure out how to uninstall it! From what I can determine by searching, IE is an internal feature of Windows 7, and the only way I can remove it is via ‘the ‘Turn Windows features on or off” screen. But nothing ever happens. I have waited for over 20 minutes. Any thoughts?

Harry

 

 

 

Microfix:

As I noted to Unforgiven, I ran sfc /scannow as an Administrator. The Verification was 100% complete. The findings: “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity problems.”

I also ran a Malwarebytes (latest version) scan. It scanned over 283,000 items. No threats detected.

Yes I have previous system images, using Macrium. But if I overwrite what I have with that, it reverses all the other changes I have made in different programs,data,  etc. Sol that is a VERY last resort.

 

Harry

 

Unforgiven:

As you suggested, I ran sfc /scannow as an Administrator. The Verification was 100% complete. The findings: “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity problems.”

I also ran a Malwarebytes (latest version) scan. It scanned over 283,000 items. No threats detected.

 

Harry

 

alejr:

“BTW, you indicated the sound doesn’t play when you visit the web site you maintain using the “portable” browsers from a USB. Do all other sites exhibit the same problem?”

I only tested a few, including your uncle’s website, on T’bird portables 42 and 60. No sound on the sites that I tested.

I also ran a Malwarebytes (latest update) scan, as someone else suggested. It scanned over 283,000 items. No threats detected.

Harry

alejr:

Reinstalling seemed like a major task, since success is unknown. So I took a different approach. I have several browsers on a USB stick, including Chrome 42 and 60. They both worked in the past. I loaded each of them. Neither provide any sound for the slideshow on the Ottawa Park website.

I also went to Speakers Properties on my computer. The General tab screen said the device is working properly. The Levels tab screen had the Realtech HD Audio output set to 80, and the Rear Orange In also set to 80. The Rear Green, black and grey were set to 0. I reset them to 80, and rebooted my computer. Sadly, no sound. (I tried hooking up my speakers to each of those ports on my computer, although they are not listed as speaker output ports. No change.)

I then went to the Advanced tab screen. The default format is “24 bit, 48000 Hz (Studio Quality) and both items in the Exclusive Mode are checked. I ran the Test, and it worked fine. On the Enhancements tab, Immediate Mode is checked, none if the items in the list (Environment, Voice Cancellation, etc.) are checked, and the Setting Box says ‘None”.

I went to the Speaker Setup screen. The “Full-range speakers” had Front left and right checked. When I clicked on the speakers, they each worked. The ‘choose your configuration’ page had the Audio channels set to Stereo. I checked ‘Test’, clicked eack speaker, and they both work.

The Realtek High Definition Audio Properites screen, General tab, said the device was working properly.

Do any of these provide any more clues as to what I should test?

 

Harry

 

 

alejr:

Mine was set at “mute all other sounds”. I changed it to “Do nothing”. I closed Sound, closed Thunderbird, rebooted the computer, and reopened Thunderbird. Sadly, still no sound.

 

Harry

the unforgiven:

Like alejr, I have all these browsers because I maintain a website, ottawapark.org, for a local park. I need to make sure any changes I make to the website are compatible with all of them.

 

Harry

 

Alex5723:

Pale Moon, Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer. All exhibit the problem.

 

Harry

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Alex5723

alejr:

I tried running the General: Fixes in the Codec Tweak tool. No help.

I opened the Open Volume Mixer and checked the volume for each of my three browsers (Firefox, Chrome and Pale Moon). Each was set to 67. I increased them to 80. No improvement. I checked the Sound settings on each of the browsers. They all allowed the sites to play sound.

I manage a website for a local park: http://www.ottawapark.org. If you open the website, and go to the lower right hand corner of the Home page (which is the page that automatically opens) and click on the ‘sun’ icon (to view the  Summer slideshow) the slideshow with a musical trilogy playing in the background will open. I updated the website on August 8. The slideshow music was working then. So what I initially suspected, the Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB5015861), which I installed on 7/27/2022, must not be the problem.

Do you think this might be a hardware problem in my tower computer? If so, how might I confirm that it is hardware related? I have an ohm meter. And if it is, other than taking the tower into my local repair shop, can I fix that?

I initially assumed it was NOT a hardware issue, because as I said in my initial post, if I can access the website via VLC Media player, the sound plays. If the website gives me the option to listen via MP3 or RealPlayer, the sound plays. I also have a Sonos system. If I have a radio station that will not play directly, but access that same station via Sonos, the sound plays.

 

Harry

the unforgiven:

 

Sorry you feel that way, but it is not true. As you can tell, I am no expert at making changes to Windows and related products. I have found in the past that majorgeeks is long on capabilities, and short on basic instructions. So I generally stay away from it.

 

Harry

alejr:

Well, I installed K-Lite Coded Pack 17.1.5 (Basic), as you recommended. I did not change any of the Preconfigured settings. During the process, I got a screen which said my Realtek High Definition Audio Drive Setup needed to be updated, so I did that also.

Unfortunately, the problems that I noted in my initial post on 8/16 still exist. No improvements.

What do you suggest that I try next? I did NOT try to run on K-Life the General:Fixes or Settings:Reset, or any of the other options. Should I try some specific ones?

 

Harry

 

 

alejr:

I went to the K-Lite Codec Pack webpage you recommended. I see that there are various versions. Do you recommend the Basic or Standard?

From reading the instructions, It appears that I do not have to remove any files from my computer first, and that the K-Lite program will recommend any that need to be uninstalled. Is this your experience?

 

Harry

I ran DirectX diagnostic tool. No errors. I looked at the data dump, and it seems to say that I have 7 codecs total. I don’t seem to have Windows Media Player on my computer, so I can’t use that to tell me.

Is there another way to find them?

How many should I have, and what should they be named?

 

Harry