OLEXP: Distorted Sounds Heard from Speaker When You Download E- Mail

When you download your e-mail using Outlook Express, you may hear distorted or unintelligible sounds coming from the speaker inside your computer.

This behavior can occur if the "Play sound when new messages arrive" check box is selected in Outlook Express, and the Chimes.wav file is not installed on your computer. The Chimes.wav file is the default .wav (Windows sound) file that is played when you download your e-mail using Outlook Express.

To resolve this behavior, use either of the following methods:

• Install the Chimes.wav file. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
  3. Click the Windows Setup tab, click Multimedia, and then click Details.
  4. Click the Sample Sounds check box to select it, click OK, and then click OK again.
• Change the default sound that is played when you download your e-mail. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Sounds.
  3. In the Events box, click New Mail Notification.
  4. In the Name box, click the .wav file you want.
     
     NOTE: To hear the .wav file you selected, click the Play button under Preview.
  5. Click OK.

To configure Outlook Express to play a sound when you download your e- mail, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. On the General tab, click the "Play sound when new messages arrive" check box to select it.
3. Click OK.

The Sample Sounds multimedia component is not installed by default.