Sound device problem

After a recent reboot, I have lost the the ability to play all my audio
files. I have several media players on my computer, and all of them have
stopped functioning. The audio files do not open or play without sound; the
video files play, but without sound. The Windows start-up music and some
sound effects still play (otherwise, I would have suspected my speakers had
failed, but this verifies that they are functioning). Each device provides
its own explanation for why it's not working, usually in the form of a
dialogue box that gives me sometimes-conflicting clues as to the nature of
the problem.

Winamp says: Bad DirectSound driver. Please install proper drivers or select
another device in configuration. Error code: 88780078

Windows Media Player says: Windows Media Player cannot play the file because
there is a problem with your sound device. There might not be a sound device
installed on your computer, it might be in use by another program, or it
might not be functioning properly.

RealPlayer says: Cannot open audio device. Another application may be using
it.

I have tried rebooting several times with no effect. The Windows
troubleshooter insists all devices are working properly. I ran the
"msconfig" command to make sure all the drivers and devices are starting
normally, but the problem persists.

I do not know if it is related, but I also am getting a dialogue box on each
reboot titled "svchost.exe Application Error". It says: "The instruction at
0x7c9105f8 referenced memory at 0x00000010. The memory could not be read."
and gives me the option to: "Click OK to terminate the program" or "Click
CANCEL to debug the program".

Does anyone know what any of this means, and how I can solve this problem?

Try reinstalling DirectX
Download details DirectX 9.0c End-User Runtime:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=0A9B6820-BFBB...99-9908
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Mark L. Ferguson



"Shadow" wrote:

> After a recent reboot, I have lost the the ability to play all my audio
> files. I have several media players on my computer, and all of them have
> stopped functioning. The audio files do not open or play without sound; the
> video files play, but without sound. The Windows start-up music and some
> sound effects still play (otherwise, I would have suspected my speakers had
> failed, but this verifies that they are functioning). Each device provides
> its own explanation for why it's not working, usually in the form of a
> dialogue box that gives me sometimes-conflicting clues as to the nature of
> the problem.
>
> Winamp says: Bad DirectSound driver. Please install proper drivers or select
> another device in configuration. Error code: 88780078
>
> Windows Media Player says: Windows Media Player cannot play the file because
> there is a problem with your sound device. There might not be a sound device
> installed on your computer, it might be in use by another program, or it
> might not be functioning properly.
>
> RealPlayer says: Cannot open audio device. Another application may be using
> it.
>
> I have tried rebooting several times with no effect. The Windows
> troubleshooter insists all devices are working properly. I ran the
> "msconfig" command to make sure all the drivers and devices are starting
> normally, but the problem persists.
>
> I do not know if it is related, but I also am getting a dialogue box on each
> reboot titled "svchost.exe Application Error". It says: "The instruction at
> 0x7c9105f8 referenced memory at 0x00000010. The memory could not be read."
> and gives me the option to: "Click OK to terminate the program" or "Click
> CANCEL to debug the program".
>
> Does anyone know what any of this means, and how I can solve this problem?