Audio disappears on Windows XP

[robert_neville]

The volume on my machine can not be adjusted as expected. Windows XP sound panel works, yet the overall volume level fluctuates between high and low levels. The volume becomes randomized playing low for some time; then adjusts to a normal playback level. The low volume is almost inaudible without cranking up the volume in the sound panel (which is still too low). When normal playback returns with this setting, the volume becomes too loud. The situation occurs across multiple file format; mp3, xvid, flash video, avi. In addition, it relates to multiple video and audio players.

My audio card and drivers worked properly in the past. The volume control performs as expected. I suspect that something changed on the software or codec side. Window Media Player 11 continually updates itself and may have downloaded a rogue codec, which conflicts with another device driver/codec. It seems as the problems begins once I play a file in WMP.

Please let me know if you have some guidance on troubleshooting the situation. The device manager does not have any exclamation points; Audio devices are functional; I ran Spybot for malware/spyware.

[asdandyou]

Hi

Try to uninstall the sound card driver through device manager(rightclick on My computer>properties>hardware tab) under (+)sound,video and game controllers, and re-install it. Also update the driver file through internet.

[Jeremy]

Reinstall/update your sound drivers, remove any codec packs/bundles you may have installed, especially if multiple ones are installed and see what happens.