"New mail" sound issues - Win7/64

[Daledoc1]

Hello:

Having trouble getting the "new mail" sound to play on my Win7/64 desktop.

Never had problems with v.6.* on XP, or Vista; have no problems on Win7/32 laptop.

However, on my Win7/64 desktop, there were only a couple of default, pre-installed Windows wav files that would work for version 6.*. (The majority of my archived wav files and "new" ones would NOT play.)
Today, I had to restore the machine to factory image, so I installed MWP2010 1.0.10, instead of 6.5.4.
Alas, same problem.
None of the really cool wav files posted to the related threads here at the forums seem to work in this environment (even though the same files play just fine on my 32-bit Win7 laptop).
Even plain "sound effects" stored under C:\windows\media don't tend to play properly in MWP in the Win7/64 environment.
All of my drivers are current, and there are no other audio problems with the system.

Research on the net suggests that Win7/64 somehow handles wav files differently in some way (that I don't understand).

So, can anyone help?

TYVM,

daledoc1

[rusticdog]

I assume you're getting the other notifications though such as the blinking icon or balloon popup ?

[Daledoc1]

Hi, RD:

Yes, MWP is otherwise fine (as are all my other apps that play sounds).
And it was/is always fine on every other platform and in all versions.

It's "always" been an issue on the Win7/64 box, even when it was brand new (just 6 months ago).
I thought the situation might be remedied when I installed 2010 for the first time on this system after the factory image.

I notice that, unlike in older versions, MWP plays sounds from within the application directly, as I no longer see it listed under control panel > hardware and sounds >sounds.

So, presumably ANY suitable wav file should work, right? (I have "HAL" from 2001 Space Odyssey playing on my Win7/32 laptop.)
Do the files have be in a particular folder or file path to work? (The one I use on my laptop is just under My Documents > Download Audio, and that path works fine.)

It *is something weird about 64-bit Win7 -- just can't seem to figure it out.

Thanks!

BTW, I was pleasantly surprised after a totally UNpleasant factory image of my computer today to discover that my new 2010 license key *did* allow me to register my 2nd computer. Thanks!

[rusticdog]

In the Notifications section there is a Play button, if you press that does the sound play ?

[Daledoc1]

No.

I have to "trial and error" my way through the available sounds to find something that works.
None of "my" wav files seem to do so -- so, right now, I'm using 'Windows Notify".
Would like to be able to use something else... (Nothing fancy, just a little "ding" or something....)

It is weird.
(Along these same lines, the 2009 versions of my bundled security suite played its sounds fine on my Vista/32 box. The exact same software, bundled on my newer Win7/64 box did not. The morons at McAfee had no explanation for this -- all other users had same issue in the Win7/64 environment BTW -- and they have since removed sounds from their programs anyway....)

And when I play the sounds using Windows Media Player or MediaMonkey, they play fine.
Just not within MWP.

My sound card drivers are UTD and all, so I don't think it's my hardware.
When I called Dell TS about this back in Feb, they did say that there *is* something about CERTAIN sounds (esp wav) with Win7/64.

Knowing so little about computers, this has me stumped...

daledoc1

[Sidewinder]

No.

I have to "trial and error" my way through the available sounds to find something that works.
None of "my" wav files seem to do so -- so, right now, I'm using 'Windows Notify".
Would like to be able to use something else... (Nothing fancy, just a little "ding" or something....)

It is weird.
(Along these same lines, the 2009 versions of my bundled security suite played its sounds fine on my Vista/32 box. The exact same software, bundled on my newer Win7/64 box did not. The morons at McAfee had no explanation for this -- all other users had same issue in the Win7/64 environment BTW -- and they have since removed sounds from their programs anyway....)

And when I play the sounds using Windows Media Player or MediaMonkey, they play fine.
Just not within MWP.

My sound card drivers are UTD and all, so I don't think it's my hardware.
When I called Dell TS about this back in Feb, they did say that there *is* something about CERTAIN sounds (esp wav) with Win7/64.

Knowing so little about computers, this has me stumped...

daledoc1

Have you taken a look at what app the .wav file is defaulted to? and is that different than your other system.

[Sidewinder]

No.

I have to "trial and error" my way through the available sounds to find something that works.
None of "my" wav files seem to do so -- so, right now, I'm using 'Windows Notify".
Would like to be able to use something else... (Nothing fancy, just a little "ding" or something....)

It is weird.
(Along these same lines, the 2009 versions of my bundled security suite played its sounds fine on my Vista/32 box. The exact same software, bundled on my newer Win7/64 box did not. The morons at McAfee had no explanation for this -- all other users had same issue in the Win7/64 environment BTW -- and they have since removed sounds from their programs anyway....)

And when I play the sounds using Windows Media Player or MediaMonkey, they play fine.
Just not within MWP.

My sound card drivers are UTD and all, so I don't think it's my hardware.
When I called Dell TS about this back in Feb, they did say that there *is* something about CERTAIN sounds (esp wav) with Win7/64.

Knowing so little about computers, this has me stumped...

daledoc1

I poked around a couple of places and found on user that Dell solved the problem for:
"I did end up calling Dell, and they had me update by SIGMATEL audio driver, and that worked! "

[Daledoc1]

Hi, Sidewinder:

Thanks for your suggestion -- I'll check on both of these.

I'm probably not explaining it clearly, but there's nothing inherently wrong with any of these wav files -- I can play them in a media player (WMP or Media Monkey, etc).
It's only when I try to play them in an application that they don't work.
Even if I copy/paste them into the C:\Windows\Media directory, they still don't work.

Not only do they not work, but when I browse to them (anything other than the default Windows sounds), and then click the "preview" button in MWP2010, MWP crashes!! (Reproducible, I might add). I end up having to close the app from the "looking for a solution" window.

As for the audio drivers, they are current with the most recent versions at the Dell site, but I might check the sound card manufacturer's site -- they probably have something newer. Dell usually recommends NOT installing newer version from the manufacturer until they (Dell) test/publish them. But, since there do seem to be subtle issues, it might be worth trying.

Well, I've got bigger projects to work on getting the computer running.
I'll continue to work on it.

Thanks to you and RD for your help!

daledoc1

[rusticdog]

Email me a couple of the sound files to [email protected] and I'll take a look