Last night when I came to shut down my Win7 machine, I noticed that the “Shut Down Sound” did not play.

[The obligatory Windows “Start Up sound” - which can’t be altered without a load of messing - had played OK.]

I booted up again and tested a game AND a website - and both had sound.
[My sound comes via…. NVIDIA High Definition Audio.]

So then I went to “Sounds” - via Control Panel - which is where I go to choose what sounds I prefer - and where the options are under the heading “Windows Default (modified).
I think the “modified” probably refers to the fact that I added a couple of sounds years ago that I brought across from Win98 and WinXP.
[Which, BTW, have all worked perfectly since the day I first implemented them .... until last night]

All the sounds choices are listed but when I select one and apply it and/or “test” it, no sound is heard.
However, if I highlight any of them in “browse” they play fine !!

Can anyone please offer any advice ??

For comparison, go to
https://winsounds.com/how-to-change-windows-sounds/
and scroll down to the picture of the Sound window under where it says "Click the Sounds tab."

Is an event highlighted when you test?
Do you see a little sound horn next to the event you want to test the sound for?
Do you see a sound horn next to where it says "Shut Down Sound" or "Log Out"?
Is there a particular sound listed in the dropdown left of the Test button?

Does it give you an option to "Save As" something other than "Windows Default (modified)" after you've made a change?

I don't really remember how to change Windows sounds. I remember thinking it was a whole lot easier in Windows 98.

To check out all the sound settings, just right click on the sound icon in the lower right of the taskbar.

Hi.

I did a "sniptool" pic of the setting I'm trying to achieve but of course I can't post it here on-site so I used your profile email address, Jenny100, and sent it to you that way.
I hope you don't mind ....
[Maybe you will see something glaringly obvious that isn't right ]

Draclvr. That "sounds" location you are quoting is where I'm already at - and struggling

Cheers.

Mad

EDIT :

I just looked at this settings box on my XP machine and whilst the box is rather different, there ARE little "horn" icons showing next to my selections whereas on the Win7 box there aren't.
That maybe is the problem ??
But if it is, how do I rectify it

(looking at the picture Mad sent, which shows "OlderM" in the dropdown next to the Test button in the Sounds window.)

Mad, I don't understand what "OlderM" is.
I don't have an "OlderM" on my computer.
Is it a .wav file you added called OlderM.wav ?
Is OlderM in the same folder as the default sounds, which should also be .wav files?
On my computer they seem to be located in the C:\Windows\Media folder.

If you choose a different sound for "Windows Logoff" in the Sounds: dropdown, are you able to get one of those to work?

I notice my C:\Windows\Media folder has subfolders in it related to sound themes I must have downloaded from Microsoft at some point. These folder names show up in the dropdown where you have "Windows Default (modified)" selected -- so I can choose a different theme.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that if OlderM.wav is the sound you want to choose, make sure it's located in the same folder as the other Windows Default sounds. If it's in a different folder, you may have to copy or move the OlderM.wav file to the default folder C:\Windows Media. All the sounds you're using should be in the same folder.

If OlderM is the name of a folder that's full of sounds you used to use, you'd want to select OlderM in the dropdown where you have "Windows Default (modified)" selected, then see what sounds appear in the dropdown next to the Test button.

[u](looking at the picture Mad sent, which shows "OlderM" in the dropdown next to the Test button in the Sounds window.)

Mad, I don't understand what "OlderM" is.
I don't have an "OlderM" on my computer.
Is it a .wav file you added called OlderM.wav ?

Yes. OlderM is a .wav file I copied across from Win98.

Is OlderM in the same folder as the default sounds, which should also be .wav files?
On my computer they seem to be located in the C:\Windows\Media folder.

If I go to C:\Windows Media the file OlderM already shows in the list there. But I can't see "Windows Default (modified)" anywhere in C:\Windows Media.
And if I search for .wav files, I just get sent to the list of Libraries.

If you choose a different sound for "Windows Logoff" in the Sounds: dropdown, are you able to get one of those to work?

No.

I notice my C:\Windows\Media folder has subfolders in it related to sound themes I must have downloaded from Microsoft at some point. These folder names show up in the dropdown where you have "Windows Default (modified)" selected -- so I can choose a different theme.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that if OlderM.wav is the sound you want to choose, make sure it's located in the same folder as the other Windows Default sounds. If it's in a different folder, you may have to copy or move the OlderM.wav file to the default folder C:\Windows Media. All the sounds you're using should be in the same folder.

Having re-read your questions and my answers, I am confused now, Jenny100. I'm SO hopeless at this kind of stuff.

EDIT

When I am looking at OlderM via browse and can actually play it, it is called "Wave Files *.wav". I don't think that's a folder name, is it ??

I'm assuming you've already tried rebooting.
If not, that's the first thing to do.


and from earlier

So none of the sounds work when you "Test" them in the "Sound" interface, but the Windows Logoff sound is the only one that fails during use of the computer? Or maybe the Windows Startup sound is the only system sound that works (since it's a separate thing from the rest of the sounds).

If that's the case, something may have gone wrong in the registry or there may be damage to a system file.

You could try the suggestions on the following page, which include running sfc (system file checker) and making a new user account to see if that account has the same problem or not.
***Answers forum at Microsoft***


+_+_+_+_+



No, that wouldn't be the problem. I just wanted to confirm that OlderM was not a folder containing the old .wav files that you wanted to use (and that you weren't telling Windows to "play a folder" instead of playing a .wav file).

Maybe something went amiss during the repairs of this computer a couple of weeks ago.

Heck, Jenny100, that Microsoft stuff sounds a bit over the top of my head.
Although thank you for finding it

And Draclvr, surely the Sounds would have failed before now if the repairs to my machine caused the problem ??
The Sounds have only JUST failed

I think your tech will have to look at it then.
I found another website that claims to have a download that will fix the problem.
However, they say that besides no system sounds, the symptoms also include not being able to hear sound in online videos like YouTube (though other sounds work).

You didn't mention not getting sound in online videos, so I'm not sure if your problem is the same thing.

https://www.pcnexus.net/2012/01/no-system-sounds-in-windows-7how-to-fix.html

The site also gives an alternate solution that doesn't require their download but requires another Windows 7 computer -- they tell you how to export a registry setting from a working Windows 7 computer and import the setting to the computer that's missing system sounds.

This is a solution your tech might be able to try since he probably has access to other Windows 7 computers. I wouldn't recommend you try their fix yourself, and if you're getting sound in YouTube videos it may be the wrong fix anyway.

Also of concern is why this happened -- something your tech may want to look into.

Hi Jenny100

Sorry I couldn't get back here till now.
And yes, I've had a word with my Son in Law and he said he will look at it for me "sometime" but probably not for a while as he's absolutely overloaded with work right now.

I don't have problems with sound on any websites or with any games I play.

The problem is just with the particular sounds that are linked to Programme Event Functions .... like Shut Down, Empty Recycle Bin, etc. etc..
I personally think, as you have suggested, it's a registry issue or a corruption of some kind.

Anyway, thank you very much for taking the time to try and help.
You are MUCH appreciated

And if/when it gets solved I'll come back and let you know.

Thanks.

Mad

I had a similar problem a couple of computers ago and since everything else sound-wise was working as it should be, I just ignored it. And yes, it was probably a registry issue or a corrupted file.

Things not being how they should be, when they could be, drive me mad, Marian.
(I think I must have a "disorder" of some kind )

I understand, Mad. I used to be that way, but as the years went by and more and more things went awry (with both computers and life in general!), I had to change my attitude in order to avoid having a breakdown.

I think your tech will be able to fix it, Mad, so help is on the way and you won't have to put up with it forever. You've done all you can for now, and fortunately your other sounds are working.

Thanks, Jenny100. Yes, I do feel he will be able to fix it when he gets time

Real life had a serious go at me, too, some years back, Marian.
So I know those desperate feelings and certainly wouldn't let anything as "mundane" as a computer problem drive me to a breakdown. No Sirree !!

YAHOO !!!!

My Son in Law has been round and fixed the "Sounds".
Fabulous

Your SIL is worth his weight in gold!

Hooray for your SIL, Mad! He is terrific.

Glad to hear the problem is solved now, Mad.

Yes. My Son in Law is a SuperStar !!

And you can tell him we said so! Also tell him that it would be nice if he could make international house calls.

Hahaha !! I think I know what response I would get to the "house calls" suggestion, Marian

Although I do tell him, occasionally (just not TOO often, got to have him keep his feet on the ground) how impressed my Forum friends sometimes are

Personally, I would love to learn at his feet!