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No Sound in READS Test

Applicable Versions and Operating Systems
This Article applies to the following Program Versions and Operating Systems.
Versions
READS/Online Test (Free, School)
Operating Systems
Windows Millennium, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
Symptoms
When you click on the yellow speaker in the phonics test, no sound plays.
Causes
WAV output muted
Sound problems can be caused by Windows being told not to play certain sound files.

Wrong default WAV player
A program may have taken control of playing WAV files and cannot play them in web pages.

Resolution
WAV output muted
For Windows XP:
  1. Click on Start and select Control Panels.
  2. Click on "Adjust the system volume".
  3. Click on the Advanced button.
  4. Look in the "Wave" or "Wave Out" section. Make sure the volume slidebar is near the top. Also, make sure the Mute box is not checked.
  5. Close the windows.
  6. Click on OK.
Earlier Windows versions:
  1. Double-click on My Computer.
  2. Double-click on Control Panels.
  3. Double-click on Multimedia.
  4. Under the section called "Playback", click on the button with the yellow speaker.
  5. A Volume Control window should appear. In the first box, make sure "Mute All" is not checked.
  6. There should be a box labeled "Wave Out". Make sure the slide bar for that is at or near the top.
  7. Close any open windows.

Wrong default WAV player
Try going to the following page:

http://www.test4free.com/demosound.html

You should get a blank page and the sound "mib" should play. (Note it may take a few seconds for the sound to load.)

If no sound plays, then possibly something has taken default control of .WAV sound files that is not playing the sound in the web browser.

Depending on the version of Windows Media Player installed, you can try the following:
  1. Bring up Windows Media Player. (If it's not directly in the Start menu, it should be somewhere in the "Programs" listing.)
  2. Select Tools and Options.
  3. Click on the "Formats"/"File Types" tab.
  4. Make sure the "Audio file" box is checked. If it is checked, but sort of grayed out, then click on that box until it has a normal check in the box.
  5. Click on OK/Close.
  6. Try taking the test again.
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