Microsoft KB Archive/930883

= Programs that play audio stop working and duplicate entries appear in the Default Format audio format list in Windows Vista =

Article ID: 930883

Article Last Modified on 8/29/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Windows Vista Ultimate
 * Windows Vista Starter
 * Windows Vista Home Premium
 * Windows Vista Home Basic
 * Windows Vista Enterprise
 * Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Business
 * Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition

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SYMPTOMS
You open the properties dialog box for an audio device in the Sound control panel on a Windows Vista-based computer. You may then find that duplicate entries are listed in the Default Format list on the Advanced tab of the properties dialog box. Also, when you select one of the entries, and then click Test, you may receive an error message that resembles the following:

Failed to play test tone

Note You may receive a different error message, depending on your hardware.

After this problem occurs, you may be unable to use other programs that play audio. For example, programs such as Windows Media Player or Windows Media Center do not play sounds correctly.

This problem may occur after you change the entry in the Default Format list for the device. To open the Default Format list for the device, follow these steps:
 * 1) Click Startvistastartbutton.jpg], type mmsys.cpl in the Start Search box, and then click mmsys.cpl in the Programs list.
 * 2) Click an audio device that is listed, and then click Properties.
 * 3) Click the Advanced tab, and then note the items that are listed in the Default Format list.



Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista, 64-bit versions


STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information about how hotfix packages are named, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

816915 New file naming schema for Microsoft Windows software update packages

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Additional query words: Winx64 Windowsx64 64bit 64-bit audio control panel duplicate bit bitrate hz frequency

Keywords: kberrmsg kbbug kbfix kbqfe kbprb kbexpertisebeginner kbhotfixserver KB930883

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