Windows ME - No Playback Devices

**hcl** · 02-10-2007, 09:48 AM

I'm trying to get the sound working on an old Windows ME computer. I downloaded & installed the latest drivers from the MSI website & it shows up as working OK in device manager, but the sound control panel says "no playback devices".

I've done a bit of googleing & everyone seems to say either reinstall windows or find VXD drivers. I don't want to reinstall windows & I can't find any VXD drivers.

The motherboard is a MSI MS-6178

**tweak'e** · 02-10-2007, 09:53 AM

is the winME a new install ?

have you downloaded the intel drivers ?

is the sound turned on in the bios?

**hcl** · 02-10-2007, 10:22 AM

I did a repair install of ME after faulty RAM caused some corruption.
Sound is turned on in the BIOS.
I haven't found any sound drivers for it on the Intel site, but I have downloaded the official soundmax drivers from MSI.

**tweak'e** · 02-10-2007, 10:26 AM

not the sound drivers, intel motherbard and video drivers.

any ! in device manager?

**hcl** · 02-10-2007, 11:40 AM

Yes. I have reinstalled the chipset drivers. I left the video drivers alone because they are working.

No ! in device manager.

**hcl** · 02-10-2007, 02:08 PM

I installed an old PCI sound card that ME had built in drivers for & it still says no playback devices

**wainuitech** · 02-10-2007, 03:14 PM

No play back devices usually means no drivers for the Card are installed.

ME is a real pain sometimes, what is the make & Model of your sound card?

**hcl** · 02-10-2007, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by wainuitech

No play back devices usually means no drivers for the Card are installed.

ME is a real pain sometimes, what is the make & Model of your sound card?

The sound card is detected as a creative 16 bit sound card. There is no branding on the actual card.

Both sound cards show up in the devices tab in the sound control panel, but the other tabs say no device.

**CYaBro** · 02-10-2007, 05:16 PM

I remember this problem from way back when I last worked on an ME machine

To fix this problem you have to do some repairing of the soundcard settings in the registry.
I will see if I can find what needs to be done.
This problem always occured when I did a repair install of ME as you have done.

**CYaBro** · 02-10-2007, 05:33 PM

While I look for the registry entries that need fixing try this:

Boot into Safe Mode
Go into the Device Manager and remove everything under Multimedia/sound
Reboot into Normal mode and Windows will detect and reinstall drivers.