KB236396:Windows Media Player Cannot Play Back the Audio Stream

KB236396

MAIN PROBLEM

When you try to play a video file which requires an audio stream to accompany it, you may recieve these error messages.

'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 OF PROBLEM
Your PC's sound card isn't working, or there is no sound card in the computer.
Another program may be using the sound card, this will mean it is not available for Windows Media Player to use to do the audio stream
The setting of the hardware acceleration is too high.
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
NO SOUND CARD IN YOUR COMPUTER
If you do not have a sound card installed, get one and put it in and install.
SOUND CARD IS NOT WORKING
Test your sound card in another program which produces sounds and test an audio stream, go to the driver section and check that all the drivers for your sound card are installed, also make sure to check for updated drivers for your sound card.

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