Windows XP "Themes" Woes

[zombiebeat]

Against my better judgement (the devil makes work for idle hands) I downloaded and tried some of those XP Theme programs e.g bootskins, Style XP and Boot Editor.

I got over the novelty and uninstalled these programs. Today I thought I'd check out the latest releases on an online record store and all I got through my speakers was a high pitched brrrrrrrrrr, then when I clicked on anything a painful "blip" noise.

So I made sure all event noises were turned off, still there. made sure all the extra themes were gone again no luck.
So I think ah well just roll it back to the last restore point, that worked...until I rebooted and it was back. WTF?

I cannot play any sound files at all even my music creation software is afflicted aghhh!

Any ideas? :confused:

[Koslov]

i'm not sure if I understand correctly your problem.
In a nutshell you don't have any more sound on your system right?
Check in device manager -> under your soundcard if it has a Yellow ASterisk mark or a RED X.

I would try to reinstall your soundcard drivers.
type: dxdiag in the Run menu then go in Sound and then Music tab, run all the tests

[zombiebeat]

Thanks for the reply Koslov here's where I'm at.

I had done an AV scan earlier and nothing came up, just there I thought what the hell give housecall a whirl.
61 yes count 'em 61 suspicious java files detected, so I deleted them right away sound returned to normal .mp3's .wav's all programs played fine shut down and rebooted yep back to electronic buzzingnoises coming through the speakers.

Ran housecall again but while doing this fired up winamp and it played fine, logged off rebooted and back to square one brrrrrrrrrrrrzzzzzzzzzz.

Logged on to post this, fired up winamp and everything plays OK :rolleyes: , dollars to doughnuts I log-off reboot and it'll be noise only through the channels.

BTW tried directx only got the constant buzzing sound and checked my soundcard in device manager it's fine.

I'm begining to think I've got a virus that only lets me play music when I'm online :p

[N_Raged]

I've been using windows skinning tools by Stardock for years and I've been problem free. Just set the options so it doesn't change the sound themes of windows. But this case seems like a freak occurance caused by conflicts and stuff.

[zombiebeat]

I've been using windows skinning tools by Stardock for years and I've been problem free. Just set the options so it doesn't change the sound themes of windows. But this case seems like a freak occurance caused by conflicts and stuff.


Yeah I guess my souncard is kinda cranky.

I just un-installed/re-installed it's drivers and that appears to have worked (fingers crossed)

[MorfiusX]

I have used StyleXP since Windows XP came out with out one problem. I love the program. Don't knock the program when it's not the source of the problem.

If you have spyware, it can keep installing its self. Run "msconfig" check which files are starting up on the startup tab. If you don't know what the file is, do a google search on it.

You can disable things with out much effect on your system. If you disable something and relise you need it (norton for example) then just re-check the box and be on your way.

I have seen spyware that tries to reinstall its self every time the PC is booted. If you remove the spyware, and not the entry from the run key in the registry (or through msconfig) then it will reinstall every time you start the PC, hence the continued problem.

[zombiebeat]

MorfiusX I'm not blaming the program per se. I do, however, think there was somedogy content in one of the themes I downloaded (from themexp.org).

Spyware is one thing deliberately malicious files is a whole different ball-game.

Ah well lesson learned.