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If you can't hear any sounds after you install a new sound driver for Microsoft Windows, follow the troubleshooting steps in this article.

1. Make sure the sound adapter works from MS-DOS.
   Most sound adapters come with self-diagnostics programs. Run one if present (for example, TEST-SBC.EXE or DIAGNOSE.EXE for Sound Blaster, TBTEST.EXE for Thunderboard).


2. Make sure that system sounds are enabled through the Control Panel.
   Run the Sounds application. If the system sounds are unavailable, the sound driver probably will need to be reinstalled. (Also note that MIDI-only adapters cannot play wave files, for example, MPU-401 and LAPC1.)


3. Make sure the wave files assigned to system events are present in the WINDOWS directory. If a Custom installation of Windows was used, you may have decided not to install the wave files. Check the WINDOWS directory for the following wave files:
   • DING.WAV
   • CHORD.WAV
   • CHIMES.WAV
   • TADA.WAV
   
   

If these files are not present, they can be installed by running Windows Setup from the Main group. From the Options menu, choose Add/Remove Windows Components.
Only .WAV files can be used for system sounds.

Popular Sound Drivers:

• Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Drivers v5.12.2.252 Windows XP
• Creative Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 Drivers 5.12.1.3509 Windows 2000/XP
• Realtek AC97 Audio CODECs Driver v4.03
• VIA AC97 Audio codec Combo Sound Driver 3.90a