Knowledge Base

No Sound, MMSystem or MCI Errors In Windows 95/98

Article ID: 136983

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007


APPLIES TO


This article was previously published under Q136983

SYMPTOMS

When you run one of the programs listed in the "Applies to" section on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows 98, you may experience one of the following symptoms:
  • You do not hear any sounds in Microsoft Art Gallery or Encarta 1997.
  • Sound or video controls in the Media Gallery are not available.
  • When you try to play a video clip, the cursor briefly changes to an hourglass and the program does not play the video clip.
  • Some sounds may play while others may not.
  • You may receive one of the following error messages:
    MMSYSTEM263 This is not a registered MCI device.
    device:WaveAudio
    device:Sequencer
    file: drive:\path\file name.avi
    Wave Error 10: MMSYSTEM263 This is not a registered MCI device.
    Wave Error 7: MMSYSTEM263 This is not a registered MCI device.
    MMSYSTEM281 This file could not be played. Check file or install a driver that supports this type of file.
    Failed to open Sound/Wave device driver. Please check that Sound/Wave is installed. For more information see Read Me.
    Video not available.
    The correct CD must be in drive D: to continue.
    There is not enough memory available to play videos. Try closing other applications, or consult "Troubleshooting" from the Help screen.
    Encarta World Atlas cannot provide access to the audio content in the product, because audio compression codecs are disabled or not installed. Try enabling the codec in the multimedia control panel, or install the driver if it is not present.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if one of the Media Control Interface (MCI) Devices is disabled, not installed, or the line for the device is missing in the Win.ini file.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the Multimedia icon.
  3. On the Advanced tab in Windows 95, or on the Devices tab in Windows 98, double-click Media Control Devices.
  4. Click Wave Audio Device (Media Control), and then click Properties.
  5. Click Use This Media Control Device, and then click OK.
  6. Repeat steps 4-5 for MIDI Sequencer Device (Media Control) and Motion Video Device (Media Control), and then click OK.
  7. Close Control Panel, and then restart Windows 95.
If one of the media control devices is missing, or if the issue continues to occur, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

141349 Error Message: MMSYSTEM281 This File Could Not Be Played


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