Re: 80040256 error? can anybody help me correct this

From: Gurjot Brar [MSFT] (gbrar_at_online.microsoft.com)
Date: 04/30/04 

Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 18:14:13 -0700

Hello Bob,

Check out http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q236396

Windows Media Player Cannot Play Back the Audio Stream
View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q236396
SYMPTOMS
When you try to play a video file that contains audio in Windows Media
Player, you may receive one of the following error messages:
  a..

  Cannot play back the audio stream: no audio hardware is available
(Error=40258).
  -or-

  Cannot play back the audio stream: no audio hardware is available, or the
hardware is not responding (Error= 80040256)
CAUSE
This issue may occur if either of the following conditions is true:
  a.. Your computer does not have a sound card, or your sound card is not
working correctly.
  b.. Another program is currently using your sound card, so it is not
available for Windows Media Player to use.

  Note This cause is specific to Microsoft Windows NT-based or Microsoft
Windows 95-based computers.
  c.. The hardware acceleration is set to too high.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, use the appropriate method.
No Sound Card Installed
If you do not have a sound card in your computer, obtain and install one.
Sound Card Is Not Working Properly
Verify that your sound card works correctly by testing it in another
program. Double-check to make sure the drivers are installed properly and
check for updated drivers.
Another Program Is Using Your Sound Card
If you have a sound card in your Windows NT-based or Windows 95-based
computer, verify that no other programs that need your sound card are
running. If such programs are running, quit those programs.
Hardware Acceleration Slider Is Set too High
If the Hardware acceleration slider is not set to None, move the Hardware
acceleration slider to a notch closer to None.

To do this in Windows 98 and 98 Second Edition, follow these steps:
  1.. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then
double-click Multimedia.
  2.. Click the Audio tab, and then click the Advanced Properties button
under Playback.
  3.. Move the Hardware acceleration slider to a notch closer to None in the
Performance section.
  4.. Click OK, and then click OK again.
  5.. Click Yes if you are prompted to restart your computer.
To do this in Windows Millennium Edition and Windows 2000, follow these
steps:
  1.. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then
double-click Sounds and Multimedia.
  2.. Click the Audio tab, and then click the Advanced button under Sound
Playback.
  3.. Click the Performance tab, and then move the Hardware acceleration
slider to a notch closer to None.
  4.. Click OK, and then click OK again.
  5.. Click Yes if you are prompted to restart your computer.
To do this in Windows XP, follow these steps:
  1.. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, click Sounds,
Speech, and Audio Devices, and then click Sounds and Audio Devices (or just
Sound and Audio Devices in Classic View).
  2.. Click the Audio tab, and then click the Advanced button under Sound
Playback.
  3.. Click the Performance tab, and then move the Hardware acceleration
slider to a notch closer to None.
  4.. Click OK, and then click OK again.
  5.. Click Yes if you are prompted to restart your computer.

Gurjot 

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"bob" <deblaze34@msn.com> wrote in message
news:B7B70B02-D1C4-4E78-8AA0-4C8F01E536AB@microsoft.com...
> wmp wont work error 80040256 need help 2 get the wmp working again. if
anybody have an answer deblaze34@msn.com