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C: failed to initialize sound, MSS reported: Broken waveOut driver - 'buffer done' flag never set.

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This error message is a low-level audio failure: the game's audio layer is waiting for the Windows waveOut subsystem to report that a buffer finished playing, and that signal never arrives. That generally points to a problematic audio driver or an audio stack conflict rather than a graphics issue. Given the diagnoses already posted by , and , the troubleshooting focus should be the sound stack and any middleware the game uses.

Try this focused checklist (quick -> deeper):

  • Verify basic waveOut playback with a simple WAV file or the system sound player to confirm the OS can finish a buffer outside the game.
  • Disable or unplug secondary audio devices (digital/SPDIF, HDMI audio, USB headsets) so the system has a single, simple default playback device.
  • Force the device to a conservative audio format (CD-quality 16-bit/44.1 kHz) using the sound driver controls or the device's properties dialog. Differences in format or multichannel modes can break older waveOut clients.
  • Remove any third-party audio utilities or audio-effect shells temporarily (audio enhancers, virtual mixers, ASIO wrappers) that hook into waveOut.
  • Reinstall the manufacturer audio driver (prefer the vendor package over the generic OS driver) and update the motherboard chipset drivers; if possible, test the game with a simple USB audio dongle or a different PCI sound card to rule out hardware.

If the problem persists, it is reasonable to suspect the game’s middleware (Miles or similar) interacting badly with the installed driver. Preserve a restore point, then try the vendor runtime update for the middleware or a driver roll-back. As observed, changing audio acceleration/settings in the system can alter behavior, so apply changes one at a time and test. These steps isolate whether the issue is driver/software or hardware so the next fix can be chosen safely.

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Member Avatar for TallCool1

C: failed to initialize sound, MSS reported: Broken waveOut driver - 'buffer done' flag never set.

It sounds like a mismatch between the version of the DirectX driver required by the game and the one on your system. Go to the Run box in the Start menu and type in dxdiag to find your version, then check the version that your game requires. Make sure that your version is equal to or better than the one required.

It never hurts to go to Control Panel -> Multimedia and check your settings there, as well...

Member Avatar for eyeamdaman1

I appreciate your assistance but that doesn't seem to help. I am running dirextX 9.0 and the game requires 8.1 or higher. My OS is Windows XP - Home Edition(Service Pack 1) if that helps. Also, my daughter has the same OS but the game (Gothic 2) loads and runs fine on hers.

There is a different video card in the two operation systems. I have an ATI Radeon 9100, which was installed at purchase, and she has a NVIDIA Geforce4 MX 420.

In the readme file from Gothic 2, it does say it has a problem with the FSAA on the Radeon 9700. But for all other Radeon's it says no problems.

Any help will be appreciated.

Member Avatar for sa_shadow

Does this happen with any other games? If so, see if there are updated drivers for your sound and video cards. If not, see if you can find a patch or fix for your game from it's website.

Member Avatar for TallCool1

I appreciate your assistance but that doesn't seem to help. I am running dirextX 9.0 and the game requires 8.1 or higher. My OS is Windows XP - Home Edition(Service Pack 1) if that helps. Also, my daughter has the same OS but the game (Gothic 2) loads and runs fine on hers.

I doubt that it is the video card. It could be the sound driver -- which sound card are you using? I'm in Linux, not Windows, right now so I can't step you through checking your sound settings in the Control Panel (as I suggested earlier), But I will the next time I'm there.

Member Avatar for A Monkeys Uncle

Miles Sound System Initialization, he's using Miles Sound System apparently the system I want to get for my Xbox.

Mandrake 9.2 with CVS checkout of wine from dec 2003.
ECS K7VZA mobo with onboard sound using i810_audio module is what fixes this very problem for users running Linux Operating Systems.

For Windows try an Update here

Member Avatar for dace69

The same thing happened to me. Go to the Run box in the Start menu and type in dxdiag; under sound, under direct x features, set your harware acceleration to standard. When I set mine to full it stuttered the game. I'd previously set it to off so I could play Freelancer. How silly I was to expect a microsoft game to play on a microsoft OS without needing to make changes that wouldn't affect anything not microsoft.
I swear, my next computer is going to be a MAC :)

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