What software does Windows need to play audio or video

Gundog48 · 23 Sep 2010 at 00:06

After a bad windows update I was left with some corrupted programs and a total lack of audio, I thought it was just audio but then I realised it was video too.

Issues:

WMP fails to load any audio or video files
YouTube displays only the first frame for the duration of the video
Sony software will not open M2tS files
No audio or video at all!

No green bar when I move volume slider

When testing bit rates it says 'failed to play test tone'

So I think I can conclude that it is not hardware or drivers, but some other software windows needs to play media files. I did explore codecs but I fail to see how a couple of broken codecs can stop all types of media to stop working. I need to know what other bits of software could be causing the problem and how to fix them.

Note: I can play games fine but just without any sound- completed Mafia II but I don't have a clue what happened!

Cheers!

Marsman · 23 Sep 2010 at 10:16

I don't know if you can just download software to get it working, it sounds like quite a few things have gone wrong. Can't you use system restore?

Gundog48 · 23 Sep 2010 at 18:03

System restore doesn't fix it and I will re-install when I have time but I have en extremely busy schedule ATM. I didn't really mean adding software, more what does Windows need to play it other than drivers or hardware, such as codecs.

Marsman · 23 Sep 2010 at 18:58

Possible that it isn't anything to do with codecs. Try a media player that uses it's own codecs, VLC for eg. If nothing will play in that, then there is another problem.

Gundog48 · 23 Sep 2010 at 19:20

It is something else because not even Windows can play sounds. Looking for any system files that are required for video or audio to run that may be damaged. Any way to check for corrupt system files?

Marsman · 23 Sep 2010 at 19:43

I wonder if using system files checker would throw up any results, or fix the problems.

Got to Start, Accessories, right click on Command Prompt, and run as administrator. Type sfc /scannow

See if that can fix any problems without resorting to system restore.

Gundog48 · 23 Sep 2010 at 20:25

Doing it now, will let you know what happens!

Gundog48 · 23 Sep 2010 at 20:59

Could not repair it. Checked the log and it is riddled with corrupted files, and absolutely massive list! I did a find search for audio and found a reference to this file:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa939502(WinEmbedded.5).aspx http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa939502%28WinEmbedded.5%29.aspx

Gundog48 · 23 Sep 2010 at 21:02

It was under moved file so that may mean it fixed it, maybe I have to restart before it takes effect. It also found ones with 'network connect' which makes sense as connect to a network doesn't work. I will reinstall, but I want to wait and get an SSD first. Hopefully I can get this fixed now I know what file is corrupted.

Gundog48 · 23 Sep 2010 at 23:59

Ok, just realised I'm going all tunnell vision again. The audio file being corrupted would not account for the lack of any video playback, although I'm pretty sure it is down to these corrupted files.