As you can probably tell by now, I'm a guy who seems compelled to make a long story longer. So here's the latest (all of it). I was gonna start this by typing "BINGO!" but that might have looked like the problem was fixed, it's not but I think you are spot on about the "codec" thing. By clicking on the Window Media Audio files and getting the error plus the fact that I can't get neither Windows Movie Maker nor Windows Media Player to work anymore whittles the problem down a lot. Prior to your suggestion, I tried uninstalling the Media Player but can't (I was gonna uninstall then reinstall), I also tried to delete the folder itself but couldn't and can't even download another version of it as it crashes right away.

I forgot where I read it but the problem MIGHT be with the "quarts.dll". I found this:

"When a program uses a DLL, an issue that is called dependency may cause the program not to run. When a program uses a DLL, a dependency is created. If another program overwrites and breaks this dependency, the original program may not successfully run."

Which lead to this:

http://forums.anandtech.com/archive/index.php/t-1987304.html

I did a search for "codec quarts.dll class not registered" and found this:

http://www.free-codecs.com/guides/How_to_fix_Class_not_registered_or_80040154_error.htm

I tried that and got this:

Quote:

DllRegisterServerin quarts/dll failed.
Return code was: 0x800401254


I'll get my kid to try to install it manually as I won't want to mess with that stuff myself.

Now for your recent post:

Quote:

When you play wav and mp3 files, does this happen via Windows Media Player?


WMP is hopeless. I tired two different files and got two different error messages leading to here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows...inalid=80040218

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows...inalid=80040154

Quote:

The fact that you can play wav and mp3 but not wma suggests that either the virus or the antivirus removal software might have disrupted the codecs.


Yeah. While being clueless about codecs and .dlls, I searched for "Is quarts.dll a codec" and got this:

http://www.moviecodec.com/general/class-...ia-player-2746/

That "class not registered" error is a big pain! but things seem to be pointing towards that "quarts.dll". (Losing hope!)

Quote:

One way to put codecs back on to your machine (if this is the problem), is to download VLC Player and install the program. It's an alternative to Windows Media Player and my personal preference for playing video and audio media. I know that a number of the guys on these forums use this program.

You can get VLC player from the below link.

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html


When you install this program, it will become the default media player so that when you double-click on a file, VLC Player will open instead of Windows Media Player. When VLC Player is installed, reboot your machine and then see if wma files play. I suspect that when we get those to play, BIAB will be back to normal.


I have installed on my computer the following: Windows Media Player, VLC, iTunes, RealPlayer, QuickTime Player and RealPlyer and they all worked except WMP. I thought, for the heck of it, to just go ahead and delete VLC and then reinstall it. Of course after I deleted it I feared I would, as usual, not be able to download/install it without getting an error before it finished but the download completed and was able to install it properly. I rebooted. Yes, all the files in BIAB are now showing VLC as the default player for the files and YES they worked individually with VLC however, BIAB still doesn't work properly and I still can't here the RealTracks demos either.

Quote:

If it's getting to the stage where a re-install of XP is looking attractive, there is nothing to lose by downloading and trying VLC Player. Just make sure you choose not to install the free 'goodies' that so many freeware programs come with these days. These 'goodies' just clog up the system.


So the big question NOW is why doesn't the new default player work properly with BIAB but they do individually??

Quote:

With XP, I dare say a re-install would require you to download and re-install the Service Packs. It's too long ago for me to remember the intricacies of XP so I'm of limited help.


Yea, but I still have one or two things to mess with before that.

Wondering, could this be a DirectX issue? "Besides providing the essential service of passing audio data to the sound card..." I wanted to download/install it again for the heck of it but can't because the installation "encounters a problem".

Thanks again Noel!

P.S. I think I gotta start looking on the BRIGHT SIDE of a reinstall.

P.P.S. Is it possible support could help or have you/we done all that is possible?