Correcting Problems with Playing or Hearing an Audio CD

When a user is unable to hear an audio CD being played, it is commonly due to one or more of the following problems:

The CD-ROM drive is not properly installed.

Place a data CD in the CD-ROM drive and make sure you can view the files in Windows Explorer or list the files at the command prompt. If you can, then the CD-ROM drive is properly installed. If not, verify your disk drivers (ESDI, SCSI, Proprietary, MSCDEX) and make the appropriate configuration changes so that you can view the files on a data CD.

The CD audio MCI driver is not installed.

In Media Player, make sure that the option named CD Audio appears in the Device menu. If not, then the CD audio MCI driver is not installed or not enabled.

To verify the CD audio MCI driver is enabled

  1. In the Multimedia option in Control Panel, click the Advanced tab.
  2. In the Multimedia Devices list, click the plus (+) sign next to Media Control Devices.

    If CD Audio Device (Media Control) does not appear in the list, the driver is not installed. See the following procedure for instructions.

  3. Click CD Audio Device (Media Control), and then click the Properties button.
  4. In the properties dialog box, click Use This Media Control Device.

To install the CD audio MCI driver

  1. In the Add New Hardware option in Control Panel, click No when prompted to have Windows 95 search for your hardware, and then click the Next button.
  2. In the Hardware Types list, click Sound, Video And Game Controllers, and then click the Next button.
  3. Click Microsoft MCI in the Manufacturers list, and then click CD Audio Device (Media Control) in the Models list. Click the Next button.
  4. To complete the installation, click the Finish button.
The CD-ROM is not connected to the sound card.

If the CD-ROM is playing and there is no sound coming from the sound card speakers, try plugging the speakers or headphones into the audio jack on the face of the CD-ROM drive. If you get sound, then check the internal or external audio connection between the CD-ROM drive and the sound card.