Cannot Hear MIDI Playback Using Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth

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This article was previously published under Q193255

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SYMPTOMS

When you play a Musical Instrument Device Interface (MIDI) file, you may not hear any sound even though the volume settings are correct.

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CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Gm16.dls file is missing or damaged.

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To resolve this issue, extract a new copy of the Gm16.dls file from your Windows 98 CD-ROM into the Windows\System32\Drivers folder using the System File Checker tool. For information about how to extract a file using System File Checker, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: 129605 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129605/EN-US/ )
TITLE : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

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MORE INFORMATION

The Gm16.dls file (short for General MIDI Downloadable Sounds) is the file in which the MIDI instrument sounds, or samples, are stored for use by the Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth device. Note that the Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth device is available for use in Windows 98 only when Windows Driver Model (WDM) audio drivers are being used.

The Gm16.dls file is licensed from Roland and features the Roland GM/GS Sound Canvas Sample set.

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