Member Avatar for Smith555

Help! - volume controls are gone, obnoxios tones resound where audio should be heard and "There are no active mixer devices available." is the message when attempting to open the volume control on Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Entertainment. I have re-installed the Crystal Audio drivers on this Dell laptop many many times (sometimes that fixes it for a little while). Have also re-intalled Win 2K a couple of times. Decided that it was a hardware issue but it always recovers on a Win 2K re-install. I am starting to think that it has something to do with a conflict that occurs with Norton SystemWorks 2004. I think that maybe one of the Live Updates causes the problem. It seems as though that is when it starts to occur each time that I re-build my software after a Win 2K re-install. I have tried to find a reference at the Symantec site but to no avail. Symantec seems to be known for denying fault (from other threads that I've read). Does the Symantec / Vol. Control correlate with anyone else's experience? Any other ideas? Also, I did previously have some "bad-ware" i.e. adware, viruses, trojan horses, junkie puddings... what-have-you but these have always seemed to have been cleared out by a Win 2k re-install.

Thanks
Smith555

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This thread documents ’s recurring Windows 2000 symptom: the volume control disappears and “There are no active mixer devices available” appears, with normal audio returning only after a full OS reinstall. Reinstalling drivers temporarily helps and Norton SystemWorks updates were suspected. The replies so far are useful but miss a few practical isolation steps that make diagnosis repeatable without constant reformatting.

Try this focused, reproducible workflow:

  1. Check Device Manager (Sound, video and game controllers) for disabled/unknown devices or duplicate entries; uninstall the audio device, reboot, then reinstall the vendor driver.
  2. Inspect Event Viewer (Administrative Tools → Event Viewer → System) for audio/driver errors at the time the fault appears; save the exact event IDs/messages.
  3. Perform a clean boot (msconfig): disable non‑Microsoft services/startup items, reboot and test. If audio returns, re-enable services in halves to find the conflict.
  4. Update motherboard/chipset drivers first, then audio drivers from the hardware vendor; avoid mixing generic drivers with OEM driver packages.
  5. Test hardware outside Windows (boot a Linux Live CD/USB) to determine whether the fault is driver/software or hardware.
  6. Given past malware, run up‑to‑date offline scanners before trusting driver reinstallation.
  7. If the onboard audio is unreliable, a small USB audio adapter is an inexpensive, immediate workaround.

Notes: ’s suggestion to check for conflicts with Norton is reasonable — use a clean‑boot to confirm before permanent removal, and if confirmed use the vendor’s removal utility. ’s point about missing mixer components highlights that the visible symptom can come from either a missing user‑mode component or an underlying driver/service registration problem; preserving Event Viewer logs before a reinstall greatly improves the chance of a targeted fix.

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Member Avatar for Catweazle

You've mentioned reinstalling Windows. Is that a format/install? If so, are you sure the appropriate motherboard chipset drivers are loaded?

Member Avatar for Smith555

Yes mother board chipset installation is part of the Dell Win 2k re-installation process, from the Dell drivers CD. I have reinstalled Win 2k in the past when bad-ware invaded and never had a problem with the audio. The audio problem seemed to begin when I was not having bad-ware problems.
Thanks
Smith555

Member Avatar for Catweazle

Try searching the knowledge base at www.symantec.com for manual uninstall instructions for your Norton product. Remove it (keep the system disconnected from the net afterwards of course, and uninstall/reinstall your soundcard. If it works correctly you'll know that it was the Norton product causing the problem, and you'll know you need to find a more suitable alternative.

Member Avatar for Smith555

Wall I guess that's just good old fashion horse-sense. (cat sense ;). Being away from the net is not an option for me for very long but I guess that I'll have to do this some night soon. I was hoping for a quicker fix

Thanks very much for your help - will let the thread know how it comes out
-- Smith555

Member Avatar for cdt1983

Help! - volume controls are gone, obnoxios tones resound where audio should be heard and "There are no active mixer devices available." is the message when attempting to open the volume control on Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Entertainment. I have re-installed the Crystal Audio drivers on this Dell laptop many many times (sometimes that fixes it for a little while). Have also re-intalled Win 2K a couple of times. Decided that it was a hardware issue but it always recovers on a Win 2K re-install. I am starting to think that it has something to do with a conflict that occurs with Norton SystemWorks 2004. I think that maybe one of the Live Updates causes the problem. It seems as though that is when it starts to occur each time that I re-build my software after a Win 2K re-install. I have tried to find a reference at the Symantec site but to no avail. Symantec seems to be known for denying fault (from other threads that I've read). Does the Symantec / Vol. Control correlate with anyone else's experience? Any other ideas? Also, I did previously have some "bad-ware" i.e. adware, viruses, trojan horses, junkie puddings... what-have-you but these have always seemed to have been cleared out by a Win 2k re-install.

Verify that the sndvol32.exe file is located in the system32 folder under C:\\windows\. If not install it there from your CD or download it online. Then go to the control panel and click on "Sounds & Auido Devices" put a check beside "Place volume Icon on task bar."
Hope this helps.

Member Avatar for AFbusta17

when i try to listen to music it wont work. It was working fine yesterday and I come on my computer today and SUDDENLY my sound doesnt work. I dont understand how this coul dhave happened? There are no active mixers available and I cant install them cuz it wont work I have no idea what to do. It says all my drivers are working properly. I dont have a certain "make" of a computer. It was built and so I cant like go to a website to download their drivers because it was custom built. What do i do ? PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME

Member Avatar for AFbusta17

when i try to listen to music it wont work. It was working fine yesterday and I come on my computer today and SUDDENLY my sound doesnt work. I dont understand how this coul dhave happened? There are no active mixers available and I cant install them cuz it wont work I have no idea what to do. It says all my drivers are working properly. I dont have a certain "make" of a computer. It was built and so I cant like go to a website to download their drivers because it was custom built. What do i do ? PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME

WHY IS NO ONE HELPING ME

Member Avatar for AFbusta17

This Website Sucks All Of U Fucking Suck

commented: Using obscenity is not the way to get your question answered. -2
Member Avatar for Catweazle

Oh dear!

You've 'piggy-backed' a question onto a long-dead discussion, then got angry because nobody was logged in over the weekend to address your problem! You became impatient after only an hour it seems!

Please start a new topic for your problem, and exercise a bit of patience. Help forums are frequented by people who freely give their time to help others when they can. They're not a 'free service' where people are sitting waiting round the clock anxious to serve you!

Topic closed, because it needs to rest in peace.

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