Troubleshooting Multimedia

This section describes how to identify and resolve multimedia software problems.

For information about troubleshooting related hardware problems, see Chapter 24, "Device Management."

For information about general troubleshooting issues, see Chapter 27, "General Troubleshooting."

Correcting Problems with Playing WAV Files

When a multimedia application is unable to play waveform-audio (WAV) files, it is usually caused by one or more of the following problems.

The sound card is not installed properly.

Most sound cards come with MS-DOS- based programs for playing sounds or testing card configurations. Run these programs in MS-DOS mode; if the sound card does not work with these programs, it will not work with Windows 98 sound support.

Make sure the sound card settings do not conflict with other hardware. Use the Add New Hardware icon in Control Panel to detect your hardware, thereby determining if you have any hardware for which the appropriate driver is not yet installed. Verify port and IRQ settings.

Note

If the sound card can play MIDI files, the card is probably properly installed.

The volume is muted or too low.

Check to see that the volume in Volume Control is not muted or too low.

To check the volume

• Click the Volume Control icon on the system tray, and make sure the Mute all check box for Wave is not enabled, or raise the volume slider for Wave if it is too low.

  Note

  If the Volume Control icon is not on the system tray, click Start and point to Programs, Accessories, and Entertainment, and then click Volume Control.

A waveform-audio driver is not installed.

If you are running Sound Recorder and there is no waveform-audio driver installed, you will receive an error message. In this case, make sure that the waveform-audio driver is listed in the Multimedia devices list; you can see this list by clicking the Devices tab in the Multimedia option in Control Panel. Check with the manufacturer of the sound card to ensure you have the proper drivers. If you cannot find the correct driver for the sound card in the list, try using the Windows 95 driver for that card or connecting to the manufacturer’s Web site and downloading a current driver.

You should also make sure the correct codec is installed. You can check the codec by clicking Multimedia in the Control Panel and then clicking the Devices tab. The codecs are listed under Audio Compression Codecs.

A waveform-audio MCI driver is not enabled.

If you are running Media Player and cannot play WAV files, perform the following procedure to correct the problem.

To enable the waveform-audio MCI driver

1. In Control Panel, double-click Multimedia, and then click the Devices tab.
2. In the Multimedia devices list, click the plus (+) sign next to Media Control Devices.

   If Wave Audio Device (Media Control) does not appear in the list, the driver is not installed.

3. Click Wave Audio Device (Media Control), and then click Properties.
4. In the Properties dialog box, click Use this Media Control device.

Correcting Problems with Playing MIDI Files

A multimedia application’s inability to play MIDI files is commonly caused by one or more of the following problems.

The sound card is not installed properly.

Most sound cards come with MS-DOS- based programs for playing sounds or testing card configurations. Run these test programs; if the sound card does not work with these programs, it will not work with Windows 98 sound support.

Make sure that the sound card settings do not conflict with other hardware. Use the Add New Hardware option in Control Panel to detect your hardware, thereby determining whether you have any hardware for which the appropriate driver is not yet installed. Verify port and IRQ settings.

Note

If the sound card can play WAV files, the card is probably properly installed.

The volume is muted or too low.

Check to see that the volume in Volume Control is not muted or too low.

To check the volume

• Click the Volume Control icon on the system tray, and make sure the Mute all check box for MIDI is not enabled, or raise the volume slider for MIDI if it is too low.

  Note

  If the Volume Control icon is not on the system tray, click Start and point to Programs, Accessories, and Entertainment, and then click Volume Control.

A MIDI driver is not installed.

If you are using Media Player and cannot play a MIDI file, it might be because there is no MIDI driver installed. Try installing the driver that came with the hardware. Or, if you do not find the correct driver for the sound card in the list, try using the Windows 95 driver for that card.

A MIDI MCI driver is not installed or enabled.

In Media Player, make sure that the option named MIDI Sequencer appears in the Device menu. If not, the MIDI MCI driver is not installed or not enabled.

To verify that the MIDI MCI driver is enabled

1. In Control Panel, double-click Multimedia, and then click the Devices tab.
2. In the Multimedia devices list, click the plus (+) sign next to Media Control Devices.

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

3. Click MIDI Sequencer Device (Media Control), and then click Properties.
4. In the Properties dialog box, click Use this Media Control device.

To install the MIDI MCI driver

1. In Control Panel, double-click Add New Hardware, click No, I want to select the hardware from a list when prompted to have Windows 98 search for your hardware, and then click Next.
2. In the Hardware Types list, click Sound, click Video And Game Controllers, and then click Next.
3. Click Microsoft MCI in the Manufacturers list, and then click MIDI Sequencer Device (Media Control) in the Models list.
4. Click Next.
5. To complete the installation, click Finish.

The incorrect MIDI output device is selected.

If the selected midi device is incorrect, you hear no MIDI output. Choose only External MIDI or MIDI OUT for an add-on MIDI daughter card or if an external MIDI device (for example, a synthesizer) is connected to the MIDI port of a sound card.

For example, if you do not have an MPU-401 compatible synthesizer plugged into the MIDI port, make sure that MPU-401 is not selected as your default MIDI device.

To select the correct MIDI output device

1. In Control Panel, double-click Multimedia.
2. Select the MIDI tab.
3. Choose the proper MIDI playback device under MIDI output so that it appears in the box under Single Instrument.
4. Click OK.

Correcting Problems with Playing a DVD Disc

Because DVD uses several pieces, the first step in troubleshooting a DVD issue is to narrow down which piece is not functioning correctly.

• Make sure that the DVD drive is displayed as functioning correctly in Device Manager.
• Make sure that Windows 98 can read the data on the CD by using Windows Explorer to see the contents of the DVD disc. There can be at least two folders: Video_TS and Audio_TS.
• Make sure that ActiveMovie is working correctly by playing an AVI file.

Correcting Problems with Playing or Hearing an Audio CD

When a you are unable to hear an audio CD being played, it is commonly caused by 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, 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 volume is muted or too low.

Check to see that the volume in Volume Control is not muted or too low.

To check the volume

• Click the Volume Control icon on the system tray, and make sure the Mute all check box for CD Audio is not enabled, or raise the volume slider for CD Audio if it is too low.

  Note

  If the Volume Control icon is not on the system tray, click Start and point to Programs, Accessories, and Entertainment, and then click Volume Control.

Digital CD audio for the CD-ROM device is not enabled.

You can have Windows use digital playback of a CD audio for digital devices, such as USB speakers. This feature works with only certain CD-ROM devices.

To verify the digital CD audio is enabled

1. In Control Panel, double-click Multimedia, and then click the CD Music tab.
2. Select the Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device check box.

The CD audio MCI driver is not installed.

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

To verify the CD audio MCI driver is enabled

1. In Control Panel, double-click Multimedia, and then click the Devices 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 Properties.
4. In the Properties dialog box, click Use this Media Control device.

To install the CD audio MCI driver

1. In Control Panel, double-click Add New Hardware, click No, I want to select the hardware from a list when prompted to have Windows 98 search for your hardware, and then click Next.
2. In the Hardware Types list, click Sound, click Video And Game Controllers, and then click Next.
3. Click Microsoft MCI in the Manufacturers list, and then click CD Audio Device (Media Control) in the Models list.
4. Click Next.
5. To complete the installation, click Finish.

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, check the internal or external audio connection between the CD-ROM drive and the sound card.

Correcting Problems with Hearing from Headphones

Verify that the sound card is correctly installed by reviewing the card’s properties.

To view your sound card’s properties

1. In Control Panel, double-click Multimedia, and then click the CD Music tab.
2. Make sure that the volume level is set to produce sound from the headphones. If not, use the slider to adjust the CD Music Volume.

Note

If you have Digital Playback enabled on the CD Music tab, the headphone output for the CD-ROM drive is disabled.

Additional Resources