Intermittent Clicks and Pops When You Play a CD in Windows Media Player (264202)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows XP
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 7.1
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 7
This article was previously published under Q264202

SYMPTOMS

When you play a CD in Microsoft Windows Media Player, you may hear sound distortions in the form of intermittent clicks and pops.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the CD-ROM does not support digital playback.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, configure Windows Media Player to use Error Correction.

To configure Windows Media Player 7 or 7.1 to use Error Correction during CD-ROM playback, follow these steps:
  1. Start Windows Media Player 7 or 7.1.
  2. In Full mode, on the Tools menu, click Options.
  3. Click the CD Audio tab.
  4. In the Playback Settings section, click Use error correction.
To configure Windows Media Player for Windows XP and Windows Media Player 9 Series to use Error Correction during CD-ROM playback, follow these steps:
  1. Start Windows Media Player.
  2. In Full mode, on the Tools menu, click Options.
  3. Click the Devices tab, and then click Properties for the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive you are using for playback.
  4. In the Playback Settings section, click Use error correction.
If the sound distortion behavior continues after you configure Windows Media Player to use Error Correction, configure Windows Media Player to use analog playback.

To do so in Windows Media Player 7 or 7.1, use the following steps:
  1. Start Windows Media Player.
  2. In Full mode, on the Tools menu, click Options.
  3. Click the CD Audio tab.
  4. Click to clear the Digital Playback check box.
To do so in Windows Media Player for Windows XP and Windows Media Player 9 Series, use the following steps:
  1. Start Windows Media Player.
  2. In Full mode, on the Tools menu, click Options.
  3. Click the Devices tab, and then click Properties for the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive you are using for playback.
  4. In the Playback Settings section, click Analog.

MORE INFORMATION

Media Player 7 and 7.1 conduct a quick test of the CD-ROM drive every time you insert a CD. This test verifies that the drive can perform a minimum 1X digital read. However, this test does not check for sustained digital reads over a period of time. A drive may pass the first test, but not be able to support digital reads for a sustained period of use.

If you disable digital playback for compact disks you also disable the Visualization, SRS stereo, and Equalizer features. However, these features are accessible when using other functions other than CD playback.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/15/2006
Keywords:kbenv kbprb KB264202
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