Keep It Simple

Before you assume that your PC is broken, take a look at the disc itself. You may see scratches, fingerprints, or other smudges that could be preventing the disc from functioning properly. Check for debris, such as dust, hair, or dirt, as well. To safely clean a disc, use a clean cotton cloth and wipe from the center hole of the disc to the outside edge, moving the cloth in a straight line—don’t wipe in a circular motion because this can add more scratches to the disc. It’s also possible that your optical drive is dirty or isn’t operating correctly. Insert the disc into another drive to see if it plays. If your disc works in the second drive but not in the original, then the drive itself may be failing and may need to be replaced.

It’s A Mute Point

After you make sure your disc isn’t malfunctioning, check if your speakers are connected correctly to the computer’s audio outputs. Furthermore, you’ll want to double-check all of your master volume and mute settings. To do this in Windows XP, double-click the speaker icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the Taskbar, and you will see the Volume Control window. In both the CD Player and Volume Control boxes, make sure that the volume sliders are set at audible levels (halfway or higher). Additionally, make sure that none of the Mute boxes is selected. At this point, you’ve at least ensured that the sound levels are normal.

To check the volume controls in Windows Vista, click Start and then click Control Panel. Choose Hardware And Sound and then click Adjust System Volume under the Sound section. The Volume Mixer window will open, and you should see volume sliders for Device and Applications. Click and drag the sliders to view the volume level percentages. If the speaker icons show a circle with a red slash, click the icon so the speakers are no longer muted.

Speak Up

Your PC can be a valuable multimedia resource when all systems are go. However, if your CD or DVD doesn’t produce any sound even after you’ve inspected all volume levels, you’ll need to dig a bit deeper to find the true cause of the audio problem. Your next course of action involves an assessment of your PC’s audio and speaker settings.

In WinXP, begin by clicking the Start menu and then selecting Control Panel. Select Sounds, Speech, And Audio Devices. Next, click the Sounds And Audio Devices icon; this should bring you to Sounds And Audio Devices Properties. Although you’ve already tested the volume setting for the entire PC, select the Volume tab to check the Device Volume to see if the slider is near High and the Mute box is unchecked. Now, go to the Speaker Settings section. Select Speaker Volume and shift the sliders to High if they are not already positioned there. Click OK. When you return to Sound And Audio Devices Properties, click Advanced in the Speaker Settings section. Use the Speaker Setup drop-down menu to choose the type of speaker configuration closest to what your computer includes or what you’ve added as an accessory. Now, click OK to exit to the window and click OK again to close out of the Sounds And Audio Devices Properties dialog box.

Vista users will need to enlist a slightly different approach to assess speaker settings. Click Start, select Control Panel, and click Hardware And Sound. Under Sound, click Manage Audio Devices. On the Playback tab, find the appropriate playback device you want to check, such as the Speakers. Click the Speakers entry and click Properties. In the Controller Information section (on the General tab), click the Properties button. On the General tab, the Device Status should say “This device is working properly.” If the Device Status says, “This device is disabled. (Code 22)” or “No audio devices are installed,” you’ll need to enable it manually. To do this, go to the Hardware And Sound window via the Control Panel. Click the Device Manager and then click the plus (+) sign next to Sound, Video, And Game Controllers. Your audio device will be listed here. Right-click the device and select Enable.

Find The Right Program

Once you’ve determined that your audio settings are normal, you’ll want to make certain that your system knows where you want to play your CD or DVD. In WinXP, click Start and click My Computer. Under Devices With Removable Storage, right-click the icon and then select Properties to open the optical drive—this is the drive in which you’ve placed your CD or DVD. Next, click the AutoPlay tab. From here, you can select a media type and an automatic action you’d like Windows to perform. For instance, if you would like Windows to automatically play a CD in Windows Media Player every time you place one in your drive, click the drop-down menu to choose Music CD. In the Actions box, choose Select An Action To Perform and then select Play Audio CD Using Windows Media Player. Click Apply to appropriate these settings to the optical drive. Click OK to exit.

For Vista, open the Control Panel and click Play CDs Or Other Media Automatically under the Hardware And Sounds category. You will move to a screen where you can modify the AutoPlay settings for when you insert different media or connect devices. Next to Audio CD, click the drop-down menu and select the action that will play your CD in the program you prefer. Perform the same steps in the drop-down menu next to DVD Movie. Finally, make sure you select the checkbox labeled Use AutoPlay For All Media And Devices. Click Save to apply these settings.

All Roads Lead To Drives

Although you have taken care of all the obvious dilemmas, there are a few other options you can try if you still can’t hear audio on your CD or DVD. Your DVD/CD-ROM drive may still need to be enabled for digital audio. To troubleshoot this problem in WinXP, open the Performance And Maintenance window from the Control Panel. Next, select the System icon, which will open the System Properties Window. Choose the Hardware tab and then click the Device Manager button. Here, you should see the list of hardware devices installed on your PC. Locate the DVD/CD-ROM Drives entry. Click the plus sign next to DVD/CD-ROM Drives, and your drive will drop in to view. Double-click this drive to open its properties. Next, click the Properties tab. If you need to permit playback for your CD, click the checkbox labeled Enable Digital CD Audio For This CD-ROM Device under Digital CD Playback. Click OK to exit the Properties box and then close out of the Device Manager.

In Vista, open the Control Panel and select System And Maintenance. Next, click Device Manager to open the list of your hardware devices. Next, you’ll click the plus sign beside the DVD/CD-ROM Drives to open the specific drive in your computer. Double-click the drive, and in the Device Properties window, click the Driver tab. Locate the Disable/Enable button. If the button is labeled “Disable,” then your drive is currently enabled. Clicking the Disable button will open a prompt asking if you really want to disable the drive. Following these steps will ensure that the DVD/CD-ROM drive is enabled.

There’s Always Another Way

The Windows Help And Support Center might be your first or last resort, depending on when you think additional assistance is needed. The WinXP Help And Support Center is located in your Start menu; click it to open the Help screen. In the Pick A Help Topic section, select Fixing A Problem. You’ll be led to a list of possible problems you might encounter—choose Hardware And System Device Problems. Next, click Sound Troubleshooter under the Fix A Problem category. From here, you will answer a series of questions regarding the type of audio problems you might be experiencing. Click one selection only and continue to the next set of troubleshooting questions until your problem is solved or you’re directed to another help preference.

In Vista, find Windows Help And Support in the Start menu. Next, click the Table Of Contents and select Music And Sounds. Click Computer Sounds and then click Troubleshoot Sound Problems. Click I Can’t Hear Sound From My Computer, and you’ll be given suggestions of simple things to check. If following these recommended steps doesn’t solve your audio issues, you can click Ask Someone Or Expand Your Search at the bottom of the help window.

The Get Customer Support Or Other Types Of Help screen will direct you to three different categories: Ask Someone, Other Resources, and Microsoft Help And Support Online. Windows Remote Assistance finds someone who will help you on an individual basis. Select Windows Communities to post a question or search for help topics online. For technical assistance, you can search Microsoft Customer Support online.

Stop For Directions

Obviously, there are multiple possibilities as to why you can’t hear the audio on the CD or DVD you’re attempting to play. Before you throw away any discs out of frustration, take some time to work through these steps.

by Joanna Safford