Object Is Not Displayed in the Multimedia Tool in Control Panel (220963)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
This article was previously published under Q220963
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

Under certain circumstances, all objects in the Multimedia tool in Control Panel may not be displayed. This may cause problems if you need to configure an object using the Multimedia tool.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the size of the following registry key becomes larger than 512 bytes:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32

The Multimedia tool reads this key to obtain a display of objects. If the size of this key is larger than 512 bytes, the Multimedia tool cannot read the entire list of values (512 bytes are approximately 50 objects).

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.


To work around this problem, use one of the following methods:
  • Remove any unused audio or video codecs, sound card drivers, or video capture devices from the Multimedia tool. After the size of the registry key is less than 512 bytes, objects are properly displayed in the Multimedia tool.
  • Change the order of objects in the registry so that the objects that you want displayed are configured to be at the top of the registry key:
    1. Click Start, click Run, and then type regedit.
    2. Find the following registry key:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT \CurrentVersion\Drivers32

    3. Click the Drivers32 data value, click the Registry menu, and then click Export Registry File.
    4. Name the file Mm.reg, and then save it to the hard disk.
    5. Right-click the Mm.reg file, and then click Edit. This opens the file in Notepad so you can edit the registry keys.
    6. Cut and paste the entries that you want displayed in the Multimedia tool to the bottom of the file, leaving no blank lines.
    7. Save the changes to the file, and then quit Notepad.
    8. Double-click the Mm.reg file. A message appears, confirming that the registry is updated.
    9. Restart the computer.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0.

MORE INFORMATION

The fact that an object is not displayed does not affect most programs; the driver for a device still loads and is available.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/11/2002
Keywords:kbbug kbsound KB220963
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.