I am running Window XP Pro SP 3 and Outlook 2003.

I want to change my email notification sound so I did so in Windows
and can play it back just fine (in Control Panel) after I change it.

When I get a new email, I hear nothing.

I tried to rename my desire WAV file to the default Windows XP
Notify.wav and it still plays, but I hear nothing when I get a new
email in Outlook.

I tied to create a new scheme and it still does not work when a new
email comes in.

If I put the original Windows XP Notify.wav back, it plays manually
but not when I new email comes in.

I know this worked when I was running Windows 2000, but that was a
long time ago and I just changed it in XP for the heck of it. I don't
use my speakers that much, so it has probably been like this for a
long time and I just noticed it when I wanted to change this
particular sound.

The other Windows sounds seem to work okay except this one.

Any ideers out there?

Is Outlook your Default email program?

If not the .wav might be tied to Outlook Express.

Thanks, but Outlook Express is NOT my default email program (but is installed). I never have used it. Microsoft Office Outlook is the default mail program.

I did look at OE and there is a check box to choose to play a sound when new messages come in, but you can't specify the sound to play in OE (or plain Outlook for that matter).

Specifying a sound is done through Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices, the Sounds tab. I can play my sound from there just fine, but hear nothing when a new email comes in.

I know the other sounds work - like starting and stopping Windows for example, but the New
Mail Notification can play from this tab but does not work when a new email comes in.

Thanks.

You could try the registry edit here:

Troubleshooting Windows XP, Tweaks and Fixes for Windows XP

Line 6 left side: 6. Restore System Default Sounds

Reboot after any change in order to apply.

Also try another user just to see if this is a user specific issue.

If you have no other user you can access the "built-in" Admin account for a test:

How to login as Administrator in Windows XP?

One other thing that comes to mind is a conflict with your Anti Virus scanner if it is set to scan incoming e-mail.

Oh, crap.

I am such a dumbass at times.

I hang my head in shame when telling you that I did not have Outlook set up to play a sound when new email arrives.

Arrrgh.

It is now working - perfectly.

No problem. Glad all is well!

Let us know if we can help further in the future.