Encarta Err Msg: There Is a Problem with Your Sound Card... [homemm]
ID: Q224004 CREATED: 24-MAR-1999 MODIFIED: 11-JUN-1999
WINDOWS:
WINDOWS
PUBLIC | kbenv kberrmsg kbsound kbimu

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia for Windows 1997 Standard edition
- Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia for Windows 1997 Deluxe edition
- Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia for Windows
- Microsoft Encarta 98 DVD-ROM Reference Suite for Windows
- Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99
- Microsoft Encarta Reference Suite 99
- Microsoft Encarta Reference DVD-ROM Suite 99
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you attempt to play a sound in one of the programs listed at the beginning
of this article, the sound may not be played, or you may receive the following
error message:

There is a problem with your sound card configuration; Refer to your sound
card documentation or windows help to make sure your sound card is installed
properly.

CAUSE
=====

This behavior can occur if the audio codec that the program uses to play sounds
is missing, damaged, or installed improperly.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this issue, use the appropriate method for your version of Encarta
Encyclopedia.

Encarta Encyclopedia 99 and Encarta Africana
--------------------------------------------

To resolve this issue, copy the L3codeca.acm file from the Encarta Encyclopedia
99 or Encarta Africana Installation CD-ROM to the Windows\System folder on your
hard disk, and then verify that the System.ini file is properly configured. To
do this, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Installation and Resources CD-ROM for the program into your CD-ROM
drive. Press and hold down the SHIFT key when you insert the CD-ROM to
prevent the CD-ROM from starting automatically.

2. Click Start, and then click Run.

3. In the Open box, type the following line, and then click OK

:\aref\codec

where is the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive.

4. Right-click the L3codeca.acm file, and then click Copy.

5. Click Start, and then click Run.

6. In the Open box, type "system" (without the quotation marks), and then click
OK.

7. On the Edit menu, click Paste. If you are prompted to overwrite the file,
click Yes.

8. Click Start, and then click Run.

9. In the Open box, type "system.ini" (without the quotation marks), and then
click OK.

10. In the following sections in the System.ini file, verify that each of the
following lines are present:

[drivers]
wave=mmsystem.dll

[drivers32]
msacm.L3acm=L3codeca.acm

[mci]
waveaudio=mciwave.drv

NOTE: If any of these lines do not appear in the System.ini file exactly as
they are list above, type a semicolon ( at the beginning of the line,
press END, press ENTER, and then type the line exactly as it is listed
above.

11. On the File menu, click Exit. If you are prompted to save the changes, click
Yes.

Encarta 98 Encyclopedia and Earlier Versions
--------------------------------------------

1. Insert the Microsoft Windows 95/98 installation CD-ROM into your CD-ROM
drive. Press and hold down the SHIFT key when you insert the CD-ROM to
prevent the CD-ROM from starting automatically.

2. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

3. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.

4. Click the Windows Setup tab.

5. In the Components box, click Multimedia, and then click Details.

6. Click to clear the Audio Compression check box, click OK, and then click
Apply.

7. In the Components box, click Multimedia, and then click Details.

8. Click to select the Audio Compression check box, click OK, and then click OK
again.

9. Close Control Panel.

If the issue continues to occur, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q177038 Sounds Are Choppy or Not Played in Encarta and My Personal Tutor

MORE INFORMATION
================

Encarta Encyclopedia 99 and Encarta Africana use the Fraunhofer IIS MPEG Layer-3
codec for sound playback. Earlier versions of Encarta Encyclopedia use the
standard Windows audio codecs for sound playback.

\**
\** PARTNER:
\** The value data of the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\l3codeca.acm value in the following key
\** in the Windows registry does not affect audio playback in Encarta Encyclopedia
\** or Encarta Africana:
\**
\**
\** HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion
\** \SharedDLLs
\**
\**
\**

Additional query words: multi multi-media media mm ee99 eafr ee98 ee97 ee96

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Keywords : kbenv kberrmsg kbsound kbimu
Version : WINDOWS:
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb
\* Edit Status : Published
\* Tech Status : Approved
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