How to Install and Use the PC Speaker Driver with Windows (138857)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q138857
If this article does not describe your hardware-related issue, please see the following Microsoft Web site to view more articles about hardware:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/w98?sid=460

SUMMARY

Speak.exe contains a Microsoft Windows sound driver that allows most .wav files to be played on the PC speaker on most computers not equipped with a sound card. This article describes how to obtain, install, and use the PC speaker driver with Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me.

MORE INFORMATION

NOTE: The PC speaker driver may not produce high-quality sound on all computer systems. The performance of the PC speaker driver is largely dependent upon the hardware itself. Microsoft does not guarantee that the speaker driver will work with all computer systems. Although Microsoft may assist in the installation of the PC speaker driver, its functionality is not supported.

To Download the PC Speaker Driver

Download the Speak.exe file to an empty folder, and then double-click the Speak.exe file to extract its contents.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download Speak.exe now

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

To Install the PC Speaker Driver

To install the PC Speaker Driver, use the appropriate method:

Windows 95:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, double-click Add New Hardware.
  2. Click Next, click No, and then click Next.
  3. In the Hardware Types box, click Sound, Video, And Game Controllers, and then click Next.
  4. Click Have Disk.
  5. In the Copy Manufacturer's Files From box, enter the full path for the folder containing the Speak.exe file and its contents. Click OK.
  6. Click Sound Driver For PC Speaker, and then click OK.
  7. Click Finish.
  8. When you are prompted to restart your computer, do so.
Windows 98:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click Add New Hardware.
  2. Click Next, click Next, click No, click Next, click No, and then click Next.
  3. In the Hardware Types box, click Sound, Video, and Game Controllers, and then click Next.
  4. Click Have Disk.
  5. In the Copy Manufacturer's Files From box, enter the full path for the folder containing the Speak.exe file and its contents. Click OK.
  6. Click Sound Driver For PC Speaker, and then click OK.
  7. Click Finish.
  8. When you are prompted to restart your computer, do so.

To Configure the PC Speaker Driver

To configure the PC Speaker Driver, use the appropriate method:

Windows 95:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click Multimedia.
  2. On the Devices tab, double-click the Audio Devices branch, and then click "Audio for Sound Driver for PC Speaker".
  3. Click Settings.
  4. For information about adjusting the settings, please refer to the Speak.txt file contained in the Speak.exe file.
  5. Click OK until you return to Control Panel.
Windows 98 and Windows Me:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click Multimedia.
  2. On the Advanced tab, double-click the Audio Devices branch, and then double-click "Audio for Sound Driver for PC Speaker".
  3. Click Settings.
  4. For information about adjusting the settings, please refer to the Speak.txt file contained in the Speak.exe file.
  5. Click OK until you return to Control Panel.

Notes


  • The PC speaker driver plays only .wav files. It does not play .mid, .rmi, or .avi files.
  • The version of Media Player included with Windows does not play .wav files with the PC speaker driver. To play .wav files, use Sound Recorder.
  • Windows includes default codecs. Other multimedia programs may install proprietary or additional codecs that do not function with the PC speaker driver.
  • The built-in Windows Volume and Mixer tools will not control the PC speaker driver.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/8/2006
Keywords:kbdownload kbFAQ kbfile kbgraphxlinkcritical kbhowto kbmm KB138857
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