sound plays on laptop, not on desktop

[JClark]

Hello Group:

(PPT 2003)
I have an mp3 file in my PPT presentation, which I created on my
desktop. I used Powerlink Plus 2.1 to gather all the files into one
folder, including the mp3 file, so there wouldn't be any problem with
broken links when I transferred it to the laptop, which I would use
for the presentation.
I was surprised to find that the music doesn't play on the desktop
(never did) but plays fine on the laptop where I transferred the ppt
file. The desktop plays everything else fine, including the mp3 file
within the ppt folder when I click on it directely. It just won't come
on within the ppt presentation. I've tried making WMP the default mp3
player on the desktop (it wasn't originally), but that didn't fix it.

This is not a real problem, since the presentation is given from the
laptop. I'm just curious about what might be wrong.
Many thanks for any suggestions.

Jack

 

[Echo S]

I'm going to guess it's a path length issue. The path to your desktop is
something like C:\Documents and Settings\Echo\Desktop and then you add the
file folder and the name of the MP3. If all that is too long (128+
characters?), the MCI Media Player (which is what PPT uses to play media
files) won't play it.

 

[JClark]

I'm going to guess it's a path length issue. The path to your desktop is
something like C:\Documents and Settings\Echo\Desktop and then you add the
file folder and the name of the MP3. If all that is too long (128+
characters?), the MCI Media Player (which is what PPT uses to play media
files) won't play it.

Good thought, but I don't think that's it. I moved the folder to
c:\pptfile. Plays fine but still no sound. On the laptop, the path is
c:\blair-natalie-dec31.ppt. Sound comes through fine there. Again,
it's peculiar because I can play the mp3 file within the folder just
fine in any of a number of players (windows media player, wmp classic,
foobar, etc) Again, it's of no practical importance, but I'm very
curious.
I really appreciate your advice, Echo, as I have in the past with my
very first powerpoint effort!

Jack

 

[Echo S]

Good thought, but I don't think that's it. I moved the folder to
c:\pptfile. Plays fine but still no sound. On the laptop, the path is
c:\blair-natalie-dec31.ppt. Sound comes through fine there. Again,
it's peculiar because I can play the mp3 file within the folder just
fine in any of a number of players (windows media player, wmp classic,
foobar, etc) Again, it's of no practical importance, but I'm very
curious.
I really appreciate your advice, Echo, as I have in the past with my
very first powerpoint effort!

Hm. Not a path length issue, then.

Are you using different versions of PPT on the laptop and the desktop
systems?

What happens if you open PPT on the desktop system and right-click the sound
file icon and choose Play Sound? Does it play? If you right-click and choose
"edit sound object," what path does it show (at the bottom of the dialog) --
you may only be able to see a bit of it, but it may give you a clue.

 

[JClark]

Hm. Not a path length issue, then.

Are you using different versions of PPT on the laptop and the desktop
systems?

What happens if you open PPT on the desktop system and right-click the sound
file icon and choose Play Sound? Does it play? If you right-click and choose
"edit sound object," what path does it show (at the bottom of the dialog) --
you may only be able to see a bit of it, but it may give you a clue.

Same PPT version (2003 SP2) on both machines.
When I right click the sound icon (in the center of the first slide)
and choose "play sound" I get four little round dots around the icon,
but no sound. I tried "edit sound object" also, and the volume is up
and not muted.
I'm beginning to think it's a problem with my system. I know PPT uses
the MCI for multimedia, and perhaps my system has gotten those files
or registry entries messed up, perhaps by installing varioius players,
codecs, etc. It that's the problem, then it's not PPT's fault and I
need to look elsewhere for help. I wonder if I should uninstall then
reinstall PPT? Certainly would be a lot easier than reinstalling
Windows! I tried some "repair MCI" things through "add new hardware"
but that didn't help.
Again, I'll probably never play a PPT presentation on the desktop. I'm
just frustrated not to understand what's going on.
Again, thanks for suggestions.

Jack

 

[Echo S]

I'm beginning to think it's a problem with my system. I know PPT uses
the MCI for multimedia, and perhaps my system has gotten those files
or registry entries messed up, perhaps by installing varioius players,
codecs, etc. It that's the problem, then it's not PPT's fault and I
need to look elsewhere for help. I wonder if I should uninstall then
reinstall PPT? Certainly would be a lot easier than reinstalling
Windows! I tried some "repair MCI" things through "add new hardware"
but that didn't help.
Again, I'll probably never play a PPT presentation on the desktop. I'm
just frustrated not to understand what's going on.
Again, thanks for suggestions.

I can understand being frustrated with it. Multimedia in PPT can be
maddening, to say the least!

It sounds as if you're on the right track with the MCI settings. Maybe try
using the information in Austin's tutorial about multimedia and PPT (see the
screenshots in section 3, especially) to set things back.
http://www.soniacoleman.com/Tutorials/PowerPoint/multimedia.htm

 

[JClark]

I can understand being frustrated with it. Multimedia in PPT can be
maddening, to say the least!

It sounds as if you're on the right track with the MCI settings. Maybe try
using the information in Austin's tutorial about multimedia and PPT (see the
screenshots in section 3, especially) to set things back.
http://www.soniacoleman.com/Tutorials/PowerPoint/multimedia.htm

Good site. I tried with mplayer as a test and it didn't play. So we're
on the right track. I'll try to find out how to restore. The advice in
that very nice discussion didn't work.
Thanks again.

Jack

 

[JClark]

Good site. I tried with mplayer as a test and it didn't play. So we're
on the right track. I'll try to find out how to restore. The advice in
that very nice discussion didn't work.
Thanks again.

Jack

Problem solved! I'm not sure what exactly the problem was, but is was
cured by installation of the K-lite codec basic package
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm
I suspect that my installation of various multimedia programs blitzed
some of the MCI files. But now it works fine!
Thanks again for the help and support.

Jack