Hi
My wife has the problem with her Gateway laptop. It is Gateway MX6030.
Cleleron 1.4g with 512 m memory and 60g hardrive(41 g free space). Window-xp home SP2. It started about 5 months ago. For a while then my wife tried to use speakers(sound) if we went to accessories>entertainment> sound control
it would show up with this message.
Volume Control
---------------------------
There are no active mixer devices available. To install mixer devices, go to Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Add Hardware.

This program will now close.
---------------------------
OK
all the sound option were grayout.
I have checked if there are any yellow marks in system hardware or any errors on drivers. None found. This is message in event logs to tell me there any problems. After checking I have found that Windows audio is set to Disabled.
Temporary fix is to Administrative tools and click on services and scroll to Window Audio which is set to DISABLED and reset it back to automatic. And reboot the laptop.
After reboot sound is back on and all controls are OK. This status work ok for 2 or 3 days and it goes back to no sound and on active mixer on and window audio is again sitting at disabled status.And I go same routine.
Question what is the problem(software or hardware) on the pc and what is forcing window audio to go back to disabled and how to permanently stop it from happening.
Thanks in advance for any help. Walter.

Do you recall installing any software about 5 months ago that could have coincided with this issue?

Also next time it happens check your Event Viewer:

Event Viewer
--------------------------------------------------
Check your Event Viewer via Administrative Tools.
Open the System as well as Application tabs and look for red X errors that coincide with your problem. Details here:
How to view and manage event logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
Basic information on Event Viewer errors can be found here: EventID.Net

Hi Jephree
Thanks for your reply. I do not recall to install any new programs in span of about 6 months. Only thing with red “x” was at 9.12 AM yesterday here is data from event viewer
Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Hang
Event Category: (101)
Event ID: 1002
Date: 3/13/2009
Time: 9:12:27 AM
User: N/A
Computer: YOUR-C2129D70E1
Description:
Hanging application IEXPLORE.EXE, version 6.0.2900.2180, hang module hungapp, version 0.0.0.0, hang address 0x00000000.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at Events and Errors Message Center: Basic Search.
Data:
0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 48 61 6e 67 ion Hang
0010: 20 20 49 45 58 50 4c 4f IEXPLO
0018: 52 45 2e 45 58 45 20 36 RE.EXE 6
0020: 2e 30 2e 32 39 30 30 2e .0.2900.
0028: 32 31 38 30 20 69 6e 20 2180 in
0030: 68 75 6e 67 61 70 70 20 hungapp
0038: 30 2e 30 2e 30 2e 30 20 0.0.0.0
0040: 61 74 20 6f 66 66 73 65 at offse
0048: 74 20 30 30 30 30 30 30 t 000000
0050: 30 30 00
Hanging application IEXPLORE.EXE, version 6.0.2900.2180, hang module hungapp, version 0.0.0.0, hang address 0x00000000.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at Events and Errors Message Center: Basic Search.



0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 48 61 6e 67 ion Hang
0010: 20 20 49 45 58 50 4c 4f IEXPLO
0018: 52 45 2e 45 58 45 20 36 RE.EXE 6
0020: 2e 30 2e 32 39 30 30 2e .0.2900.
0028: 32 31 38 30 20 69 6e 20 2180 in
0030: 68 75 6e 67 61 70 70 20 hungapp
0038: 30 2e 30 2e 30 2e 30 20 0.0.0.0
0040: 61 74 20 6f 66 66 73 65 at offse
0048: 74 20 30 30 30 30 30 30 t 000000
0050: 30 30 00

Thanks Walter

Is the problem only with "Windows Sounds" or is it an issue with all sound?

You could try to reinstall the Gateway audio drivers. I don't think it is the issue here but can't hurt in trying. Use their "locater" to find your exact model:

Gateway Support - Drivers, Software and Firmware Updates

Hi Jephree

Drivers are fine. when i go onto control panel and open sound and audio devices I get no audio device and entire panel is gray out. If i go into accessories > eterteinment > valume control I get this screen.
---------------------------
Volume Control
---------------------------
There are no active mixer devices available. To install mixer devices, go to Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Add Hardware.
This program will now close.

At that point I go into control panel administrative tools > services and find Windows Audio
Windows Audio which is set on disabled and change it back to auto and start it. at that point all the sound is back again I can get into control panel I have conexant AMC audio listed and panel is all OK I can play with it. Same situation is in accesiories when I get into Valume control it is all OK.
Problem is that some program or services is disabling the Window Audio portions in Services. As soon AS I set it to auto and start it am fine. What I need to find what is seting the Window audio to disabled which is killing my sound.
Thanks Walter

I think this is probably worth a shot. I checked around Kelly's Korner and found a "restore sound - windows audio service" registry key and it might help.

Kelly's Korner has been safe in my experience. Here's the direct link to the registry key or you can go to her site and search for number 371.

You can go through your starting programs and services and see if you find a culprit.

Go to Start Run... (Start Search in Vista) & type in:

msconfig

Click OK (hit Enter in Vista).

Click on the Startup tab:

Click: "Disable all"

Click on the Services tab:

Put checkmark in "Hide all Microsoft services"

Then click: "Disable all"

Click OK.

Restart computer in Normal Mode.

You will be told you are in diagnostic mode. Click: "Don't show me this again"


You can experiment by activating each program or service one at a time. Although tedious it might find the culprit.


You can also see if the issue persists in Safe Mode.

Safe Mode
--------------------------------------------------
Can you get into Safe Mode?