No sound on Windows and Windows Media player "Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing this file"

Question

Hey guys,

I have a windows 8 64 Bit and have been having problems with my sound lately.

1. I have tried rolling back the sound driver(Realtek High Definition audio), reinstalled it and also updated it and this only seems to fix the problem temporarily.

2) At the same time, windows media player says " windows media player encountered a problem while playing this file".

3. When I test the speaker/HP under the playback devices. I get an error saying " the device is being used any another application. Please close any devices that are playing audio to this device and try again" (no other applications, audio requiring sites running)
4. Troubleshooting the windows media player says "configuration settings might be set incorrectly" and after applying the fix to reset windows media player. I get the same error when I do the troubleshoot again.
5. some times, the sound on youtube works in for a few seconds and then all I get is the video and from then the volume on my system does not work either.
6. At times, volume returns, windows media player works  when I plug in my laptop for charge, but it stops working after a while including windows media player even though it is still plugged in.
7. Some times after plugging in the power and windows media player works with no sound. The volume mixer shows device - speaker/hp and windows media player levels raising and falling but there is no output from my speakers or head phones. However, if I mute and unmute the speaker/HP all volume including the system volume is restored until the next time it all.
8. Troubleshooting playback shows no errors.

Please help

Answer 1

Hi Zoheb,

This issue might occur if the audio drive is corrupt. Also, if the sound device is being used by another application, you may find such issues.  

1. What is the Model of the HP computer?
2. Did you update the driver from the HP's website or using Device Manager?

Let's run the audio troubleshooter and check if it finds and fixes any issues. Follow the methods listed below:

Method 1:

Refer to the link and follow the steps to troubleshoot audio issues:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/no-sound-help#no-sound=windows-8&v1h=win8tab1&v2h=win7tab1&v3h=winvistatab1&v4h=winxptab1

Check if the same issue occurs. If yes, proceed to the next method.

Method 2:

Let's not allow Windows to take control of the audio device when the applications are running.

Follow the steps mentioned below to do so:

• Right Click on speaker icon at the taskbar. Click on Playback devices.
• Right Click on the playback device within the list of devices and select Properties.
• Go to Advanced tab. Remove the check from the box next to Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.

For further reference:

If you haven't done, download and install the latest audio driver for Windows 8 from the HP’s website:

Make sure that you uninstall the current version of the driver and then install the latest one for the audio card. Refer to the article to know how to update driver on Windows 8:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/all-drivers

Check if the same issue occurs in safe mode.

Please keep us posted. We will be glad to assist you further.

Answer 2

Hi Zoheb,

Since, the issue has occurred recently, let's perform a System Restore to restore the computer to a point prior to this issue. Refer to the link to do so:

Refer to the section "Restore your PC to an earlier point in time":

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc

Please reply to us with the results.

Answer 3

Hey,

I have a Sony vaio SVF14212 laptop running windows 8 64.

When the problem started occurring, I had uninstalled the audio driver and downloaded the latest one from Sony. When the problem still occurred, I did an update of the driver from device manager and it had an update.  

This is the result for the troubleshoot with administrative permission

1. sound troubleshoot - low audio volume warning ( increased it to 40% or so and had no audio response) and Audio device muted ( after troubleshoot, it was unmuted but the problem still persists including windows media player not working and no volume on VLC or for youtube)

2.  Internet explorer audio playback troubleshoot - no errors

3. Hardware and device troubleshoot - no errors

I have un ticked the " allow the application to take exclusive control of the device".

I am not sure if un ticking the exclusive control of the device had any effect or not because before doing that the below testing happened.

While being on battery, system volume, any audio through any application didn't work and windows media player showed error.

After I plugged in the power, Windows media player works, but there is no volume through any application. But all the volume mixer shows the volume bars raising and falling

and there was no sound yet. After I muted and unmuted the "speaker/HP" all the volume was restored. I had immediately pulled the power plug from the laptop to test the speakers and Windows media player and it seems to work.

When I posted the first question, I had already restored the laptop power settings to default in hopes that the system was muting the volume while being on battery. However, I did that yesterday and today I had the same volume problem until I plugged in the power.

http://www.sony.co.in/support/download/587649/product/svf14212sn

The driver version from Sony website and my laptop matches and it shows that the device is working properly.

What do you think?

Answer 4

Hi Zoheb,

Let's move towards Windows Update. There could be an update offered from Windows Update that was not installed properly and is causing the issue. This may be an important or optional update. 

There is a recently scenario wherein after installing update KB2962407on Windows 8 computers, there are audio issues. Can you check the update history and find out if the update is installed recently prior to this issue?

Refer to the link to check for update history:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/windows-8/windows-update-faq

For reference:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-windows_update/sound-problems-in-windows-8/b38d269b-fe21-4235-977d-78ae0d133881?page=2

Please let us know the status of this issue.

Answer 5

Hi,

Actually I have not installed the KB2962407 update and it shows in the optional updates to download list.