MSB Dinosaurs: Err Msg: PCM Audio Codec is Not Installed (162428)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Scholastic's Magic School Bus series: Explores in the Age of Dinosaurs for Windows
This article was previously published under Q162428

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install or run The Magic School Bus Explores in the Age of Dinosaurs, you may receive the following error message:
The program detected that:
-PCM Audio Codec is not installed or is not active The program will now install the missing components. <OK>
You will receive this message if the Microsoft ADPCM CODEC (audio compression codec) is missing, damaged, or disabled.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, install the Microsoft ADPCM CODEC by clicking OK on this message. This will start the Windows setup. Follow the on screen instructions, and after Windows Setup is complete, the program will install and run properly.

If you are running MSB Dinosaurs on Microsoft Windows 2000, reinstall the Microsoft ADPCM CODEC:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Hardware.
  2. Click Next, click Add/Troubleshoot a Device, and then click Next.
  3. Click Add a new device, and then click Next.
  4. Click No, I want to select the hardware from a list, and then click Next.
  5. Click Sound, video, and game controllers, and then click Next.
  6. Click Have Disk. In the Copy manufacturer's files from box, point to %SystemRoot%\System32\Mmdriver.inf (where %SystemRoot% is the folder in which Windows 2000 is installed).
  7. Click OK, and then click Microsoft ADPCM CODEC in the list.
  8. Click Next, and then click Finish.
  9. Restart your computer.

MORE INFORMATION

Running Windows Setup to install the ADPCM codec will correct the problem if the codec was missing. However, if the Microsoft ADPCM CODEC has been disabled in the Multimedia Properties Advanced settings, it will remain disabled. If this is the case, you will receive this error message again and Windows Setup will install the codec every time you run the program. This will happen until the codec is enabled in the Windows Control Panel.

For information about how to permanently enable the Microsoft ADPCM CODEC, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

141801 Troubleshooting Audio Codecs in Windows 95

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/17/2005
Keywords:kbmm KB162428
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