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Device Errors Occur When Using Windows Sound System Apps

Article ID: 114366 - View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q114366

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SYMPTOMS

You receive the error messages below after installing Windows Sound System.

Trying to play a file in Media Player:

This device cannot play.

Starting Sound Finder:

There is no output device available. Sound Finder will close.

Starting Quick Recorder:

Can't find recording and playback device.

Turning on the microphone in Voice Pilot:

The speech driver software could not find any compatible hardware. Error 16386

Using Proof Reader to proof an entry:

The sound output is currently busy.

NOTE: Even when you receive the above error messages, the Audio Control application may load and work correctly.

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These errors occur when the drivers= entry is not set correctly under the [BOOT] section of the SYSTEM.INI file. For Windows Sound System to work properly, the following three drivers must be loaded on the drivers= line in the [boot] section:

   [boot]
   drivers=mmsystem.dll msmixmgr.dll sndevnts.drv

NOTE: The drivers= line is generally the last entry in this section, but it may appear anywhere in the [boot] section.

The first driver, MMSYSTEM.DLL, should have been loaded with the installation of Windows. The last two entries are added when the Windows Sound System is loaded. If any of these drivers are not listed on this line, you receive the aforementioned error messages.

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RESOLUTION

To correct the above error messages, make sure that all three drivers are on the drivers= line of the SYSTEM.INI file. Verify that these .DLL files are in the SYSTEM subdirectory of the Windows directory. If they are not present, you need to reinstall either Windows or Windows Sound System, depending on which files are missing.

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