Windows 95/98: Troubleshooting Problems with Compressed Audio

ID: q133365

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft 500 Nations, version 1.0
  • Microsoft Ancient Lands for Windows, version 1.0
  • Microsoft Bookshelf for Windows, 1995 edition
  • Microsoft Bookshelf '95 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Bookshelf 1996-97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Cinemania for Windows, 1995, 1996 and 1997 editions
  • Microsoft Complete Baseball for Windows, 1994 edition (see below)
  • Microsoft Complete Baseball Guide for Windows, 1995 edition
  • Microsoft Complete Gardening for Windows, version 1.0
  • Microsoft Complete NBA Basketball for Windows, 1994-1995 and 1995-1996 editions
  • Microsoft Dangerous Creatures for Windows, version 1.0
  • Microsoft Dinosaurs for Windows, version 1.0
  • Microsoft Dogs for Windows, version 1.0
  • Microsoft Encarta for Windows, 1995 edition
  • Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia for Windows 1997 Standard edition
  • Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia for Windows 1997 Deluxe edition
  • Microsoft Encarta World Atlas for Windows, 1997 edition
  • Microsoft Greetings Workshop, version 2.0
  • Microsoft Julia Child: Home Cooking with Master Chefs for Windows, version 1.0
  • Microsoft Musical Instruments for Windows, version 1.0
  • Microsoft Music Central for Windows, 1996 and 1997 editions
  • Microsoft Oceans for Windows, version 1.0
  • Microsoft Reader's Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself Guide for Windows, version 1.0
  • Microsoft SoundBits, Hanna-Barbera, version 1.0
  • Microsoft SoundBits, MGM Movies, version 1.0
  • Microsoft SoundBits, Musical Instruments, version 1.0
  • Microsoft Wine Guide for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.0a, 2.0
  • Microsoft World of Flight for Windows, version 1.
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 98
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator for Windows 95, version 1.0

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to play a sound clip in Microsoft Windows 95/98, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Your audio hardware cannot play files like the current file.

Mmsystem326 No wave device that can play files in the current format is installed.

Error Starting Program! A required .DLL file, Msacm32.dll, was not found
When you attempt to play a video clip in Microsoft Windows 95/98, you may receive the following error message:
Mmsystem296 The file cannot be played on the specified MCI device. The file may be corrupt, or not in the correct format.


CAUSE

This behavior can occur if both of the following conditions are true:

  • You play a sound clip or video clip that contains compressed audio.
  • Microsoft Audio Compression Manager (MSACM) files are missing, damaged, or not compatible with your version of MSACM.


RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the appropriate methods.

Removing and Reinstalling Audio Compression Drivers

To remove and reinstall Windows 95/98 Audio Compression drivers, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.


  3. On the Windows Setup tab, click Multimedia, and then click Details.


  4. Click the Audio Compression check box to clear it, and then click OK.


  5. Click Apply.


  6. On the Windows Setup tab, click Multimedia, and then click Details.


  7. Click the Audio Compression check box to select it, and then click OK.


  8. Click OK.


  9. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish installing the audio compression drivers.


If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Removing and Reinstalling 16-bit MSACM Drivers and Codecs

Microsoft recommends that you use 32-bit MSACM unless your program requires a 16-bit MSACM codec. 16-bit MSACM is installed by programs that use 16-bit MSACM. If the issue only occurs when you use a program that uses 16-bit MSACM, remove and reinstall the 16-bit MSACM drivers and codecs. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.


  2. In the Named box, type msacm.ini msadpcm.acm imaadpcm.acm msgsm610.acm, and then click Find Now.


  3. On the Edit menu, click Select All.


  4. Press DELETE, and then click Yes.


  5. Remove and reinstall the program that uses 16-bit MSACM.


Confirming 32-bit MSACM Installation

Microsoft recommends that you use 32-bit MSACM unless your program requires a 16-bit MSACM codec. 32-bit MSACM is a component of Windows 95/98. To verify that the 32-bit MSACM driver files in your Windows\System folder are properly installed, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.


  2. In the Named box, type msacm*.*, and then click Find Now.


  3. In the list of found files, verify that the Msacm.drv, Msacm.dll, and Msacm32.dll files are located in the System folder. Delete or rename any copies of these files that are not in the System folder or the Sysbckup folder.


  4. In the list of found files, verify that the file versions of the Msacm.drv, Msacm.dll, and Msacm32.dll files match, and that the file versions are 4.0 or greater. To check the file version of a file, follow these steps:

    1. In the list of found files, right-click the file you want to check.


    2. On the Version tab, note the file version.


    3. Click OK.




  5. If any of the files are missing from the System folder, if the file versions do not match, or if the file version of any of the files is less than 4.0, proceed to the appropriate method for your version of Windows to remove and reinstall the 32-bit MSACM drivers.


Removing and Reinstalling 32-bit MSACM Drivers in Windows 98

To remove and reinstall the 32-bit MSACM drivers in Windows 98, follow these steps:

  1. Insert the Windows 98 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.


  2. Click Start, and then click Run.


  3. In the Open box, type the following line, and then click OK:
    <cdrom>:\win98
    where <cdrom> is the letter of the CD-ROM drive.


  4. On the View menu, click Folder Options.


  5. On the View tab, under the Hidden Files branch in the Advanced Settings box, click Show All Files, and then click OK.


  6. Extract the Msacm.dll and Msacm32.dll files from the Win98_33.cab file, and then extract the Msacm.drv file from the Win98_40.cab file. To extract a file from a .cab file, follow these steps:

    1. Double-click the .cab file that contains the file you want to extract.


    2. Right-click the file you want to extract, and then click Extract.


    3. Double-click the icon for the hard disk on which Windows is installed, double-click the Windows folder, and then click the Sysbckup folder.


    4. Click OK.




  7. Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode.


  8. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER:


    9. cd \windows\system
  9. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER:


    10. del msacm*.*
  10. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER:


    11. cd ..\sysbckup
  11. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER:


    12. copy msacm*.* ..\system
  12. At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER.


Removing and Reinstalling 32-bit MSACM Drivers in Windows 95

To remove and reinstall the 32-bit MSACM drivers in Windows 95, follow these steps:

  1. Insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.


  2. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.


  3. At the command prompt, type <cdrom>:, and then press ENTER, where <cdrom> is the letter of the CD-ROM drive.


  4. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER:


    5. cd \win95
  5. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER:
    extract win95_08.cab msacm*.* /l <drive>:\windows\sysbckup
    where <drive> is the letter of the hard disk on which Windows is installed. If you are prompted to overwrite the files, press Y.


  6. At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER.


  7. Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode.


  8. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER:


    9. cd \windows\system
  9. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER:


    10. del msacm*.*
  10. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER:


    11. cd ..\sysbckup
  11. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER:


    12. copy msacm*.* ..\system
  12. At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER.


Additional query words: errmmsg quiet halts multi media multimedia multi-media mmtitles kbmm m.s.a.c.m. sounds greetingsw gw2

Keywords : kbenv kberrmsg kbmm kbsound kbtshoot kbimu
Version : MACINTOSH:1.0; WINDOWS:1.,1.0,1.0a,2.0
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: May 4, 1999
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.