Reinstalling Audio Codecs or Media Control Devices in Windows 2000

Removing multimedia codecs (for example, media control devices, audio codecs, and so on) can be useful for troubleshooting multimedia issues. After you remove these devices/codecs and restart the computer, Windows 2000 only reinstalls the Microsoft PCM converter. All of the other devices/codecs are not automatically reinstalled.

This behavior occurs because you can only reinstall multimedia codecs using the Add/Remove Hardware wizard.

To reinstall multimedia codecs in Windows 2000, use the following steps:

1. Restart your computer in Safe Mode:
   a. Restart the computer.
   b. Press F8 for advanced startup options.
   c. Choose Safe Mode and press ENTER.
2. Right-click the My Computer icon and choose Manage.
3. Click Device Manager.
4. Click the + next to Sound, Video and Game Controllers.
5. Right-click Audio Codecs and choose Uninstall.
6. Click Ok to confirm device removal. This may take several minutes.
7. Close the Computer Management window and restart your computer.
8. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel.
9. Open Add/Remove Hardware.
10. Click Next and then choose Add/Troubleshoot a device and click Next.
11. Choose Add a new device, and then click Next.
12. Choose Yes, search for new hardware, and then click next.
13. The Audio Codecs should be listed. Click Next, and then click Finish.

This behavior is by design.

To remove audio codecs or media control devices, use the following steps:

1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
2. In the left pane of the Computer Management dialog box, click Device Manager.
3. Click the plus sign (+) next to Sound, video and game controllers.
4. Right-click Audio Codecs or Media Control Devices, and then click Properties.
5. On the Properties tab, click to highlight the item you want to remove, and then click Remove.