No sound for any popups/Solved

[Tootsy]

RE: Vista Home Premium 32bit sp2 .
I am currently running Avast 7.0.1426 Internet Security free trial but this issue occured  before this installation FYI. When, I cannot be sure but probally within the last month or so. The sounds no longer work for when an update or scan finishes. The default sounds no longer work either. I've been using a custom theme pack from Avast.com for quite awhile now and I can't be sure what version of Avast it stopped working on. I submitted a ticket about this after the last version and was told to uninstall/reinstall and use the removal tool which I did, but this had no effect. I found the 1033 and the custom folder with the 6 files in each for the various sound events and when clicked on they all play fine but no sound when the popups show themselves. Are there any known problems with sounds in any recent versions of Avast? I wasn't able to find much in your forum and none that were of any help so far. I would like my sounds back if possible and I'm totally stumped at this point on what else to try. Here's a pic of my settings menu. Let me say that Avast is working great on my system and I have no issue with the program at all. But I did like the custom sound prompts and would sure appreciate any help or advice you can offer. Please let me know if any more system info might be needed. Thanks.



I'm updating my original post because I found out how to get Avast sounds working again. I hope this is the correct way of doing this as I didn't see any other way to put this information out to anyone who may be having the same or similar issues.
RE: Vista Home Premium 32bit w/sp2. Avast 7.0.1426 free version.
Here is the link you'll need-http://www.free-codecs.com/mpeg_layer_3_codec_download.htm.
If that link doesn't work, do a browser search for MPEG 3. To be exact (Fraunhofer MPEG Layer-3 Audio Decoder). Download the .exe or .zip file, either one worked just fine. This file has to be installed not just copied to the SYSTEM32 folder but when you click the .exe file it just asks for permission and then installs for you so don't worry. It comes with instructions. Its a clean file but be sure to check it if your concerned before opening it. Avast gave it a clean bill of health and also MalwareBytes Pro. You now have your sounds back !!!
I have no idea why this codec/decoder file was corrupted or deleted as on almost all systems it is installed automatically and you never know it until it's needed. Some sound files absolutely will not play in your system events without it but will play just fine on your computer.
You should ask some more knowledgeable people in this forum if my solution is not as clearly stated as could be and also keep in mind the operating system I'm using. The files are free to use and more importantly they work. I hope this helps you get your sounds back. Here's a couple of pictures that may be helpful also.

[Lisandro]

I suppose all other Windows sounds are working.
Any issue with audio drivers?

[DavidR]

I can't recall the topic but someone showed an image of certain sound cards or windows media/sounds interface (don't know if that is the same in Vista), which show avast as a separate media input which can be muted.

[Tootsy]

Thanks for the replies. As far as any issues with other sounds, there are none. I have personalized sound schemes for everything on my computer and all are working fine. Only Avast is silent at this time. Could it possibly be a file association problem?? It wouldn't surprise me if vista scrambled the associated program with the sound files. Just a thought. Its to strange that the Avast sounds have been working perfectly for a long time and all of the sudden nothing. Please holler back if something comes to mind. I'll keep checking back to the forum.

[iroc9555]

I can't recall the topic but someone showed an image of certain sound cards or windows media/sounds interface (don't know if that is the same in Vista), which show avast as a separate media input which can be muted.

Deja vu... DavidR. That was NON about Realtek setup in my topic.

[bob3160]

Can you select any of the sounds that don't work manually, and play them through WMP

[iroc9555]

Can you select any of the sounds that don't work manually, and play them through WMP

I found the 1033 and the custom folder with the 6 files in each for the various sound events and when clicked on they all play fine but no sound when the popups show themselves.

@ Bob3160

It is ashamed that Tootsy has not come back to answer, but this is similar to my post here

[Tootsy]

 Yes the sounds play fine inside their respective folders, both the default and the custom sound pack. The sounds are not applied when the popups come up though. I thought that they may have been corrupted somehow so I deleted and downloaded again but the same result. They install normally but will not play in Avast. The files will play through any player I associate them with including WMP. Thanks for getting back. Any suggestions appreciated.

[bob3160]

I've reported this thread so hopefully someone from Avast will look into the problem.

[Tootsy]

bob3160, Thanks very much for your help. I sure would like to get it working again. As you probally read, the ticket I submitted to support was of no help. They just kept telling me to uninstall/reinstall and it should work. Well this is not the case. In the meantime I'll keep checking back here and thanks again.

[adotd]

Hello my name is Anthony.

On the taskbar you should see a volume icon click on it.

then click on mixer

a page like this will load



if you see avast has a red line on it, click on it and it should unmute.

Hope this works

[adotd]

Did this fix the problem

[Tootsy]

Thanks Anthony, I tried to see if maybe sound was muted in the volume mixer from an old post in this forum but avast is not listed there and nothing that is listed is muted.

[lukas.hasik]

could you try to install some other language to see if the "newly" installed language sounds would work? e.g. Pirate talk?

thx

[Tootsy]

I installed "pirate talk" in settings to change the language. The menu listings all changed to that pirate talk styled text and it  first only played Avast's default sounds when I ran a quick scan and it finished. I then downloaded the pirate talk custom theme from the website, installed it and checked the appropriate boxes in settings and sound. All sounds are working fine with pirate talk. I just had to adjust the settings to use the voiceover sounds.
There's one thing I had to do when I first downloaded "pirate talk" because it wouldn't open and install. I went to the folder where I saved it and had to right click the file, selected properties and checked the unblock box there. Vista blocked the file because it said it came from another computer. You may or may not have to do this but keep it in mind if you have any problem. Here are some pictures that might help. Hope this is what you needed. If you need any other info I'd be happy to oblige.