Windows Dancer Not Detecting Audio

Question

I'm using a Dell 9100 with the onboard audio and Windows Dancer (mce2005) is not detecting audio. I have applied the Microsoft KB fix for MCE2005 and it didn't fix the problem. I have tried every combination using both the Record and Playback audio control panels.   Anyone have any ideas to make this work? The work around to manually start/stop and change the dancers is not very appealing to me!   Thanks! Diane~

MattDuffy · Answer

I have the same problem.  My computer is an XPS M140 laptop with a SigmaTel Audio card.

Desert Policema · Answer

I'm having the same problem with my XPS -140.  Does any DELL user know how to get the Windows Dancer Program to start when the music starts? Thanks.

joe53 · Answer

1) Activate the Windows Dancer program (an icon will appear in your systray): Start>Programs>Windows Digital Media Enhancements>Windows Dancer   2) Right click on the systray icon, and make sure that 'Dance only when music plays' is selected. Then, in that same menu, select 'Options...'.   3) In the 'Program options' section, select 'Keep dancer on top of other windows', and 'Automatically detect sound when this program starts'.   This should enable the Dancers in both WMP and in MCE. If not, repeat step 2 while music is playing, and click the 'Detect Sound Now' button.

MattDuffy · Answer

That doesn't work.  Hence the post.

joe53 · Answer

@MattDuffy wrote:

That doesn't work. Hence the post.

In that case the best advice I can offer is to uninstall/reinstall Windows Dancers. You may need your MCE Reinstallation DVD to do this.

Start>Settings>Control Panel>Add or Remove Programs, and in the left hand column click on Add/Remove Windows Components. In the Windows Components Wizard, scroll down to, and hi-lite Windows Digital Media Enhancements, then click 'Details'. Uncheck the box next to Windows dancers, and OK your way out.

Repeat the above sequence, and recheck the Windows Dancers option>OK, then follow any prompts to reinstall.

MattDuffy · Answer

Still doesn't work.  Also, for future reference, on the XPS M140, MCE = OEM = No reinstall CD.

joe53 · Answer

@MattDuffy wrote:

Still doesn't work. Also, for future reference, on the XPS M140, MCE = OEM = No reinstall CD.

MCE was OEM with no reinstall disk (actually a DVD) on my Dimension 9100 also. Dell stopped automatically shipping OS reinstallation media some time back on all their systems. But you are going to want that reinstallation disk sooner or later, for purposes somewhat more important than reinstalling Windows Dancers. (Such as when your HD crashes). Also the reinstallation disks for many of your other software apps.

Since you obviously didn't order the disks at point of purchase, I strongly recommend you contact Dell (use the 'Contact Us' link at the bottom of this page) and request they send you these disks. If you are still under warranty, they will likely send them to you without charge.

And for future reference- you're welcome.

MattDuffy · Answer

For past reference--thanks for the reliable tip-off.  I thought it seemed a little strange that a brand new computer would arrive without any reinstall discs...   Still waiting for somebody who has an XPS M140 that has ever been able to get Windows Dancer to detect audio.   Kind of a silly program anyway...I wonder who decides whether this particular bug justifies writing a patch.  Of course, if it was worth writing the Dancer program in the first place...but, honestly, aren't there more important things for programmers to do?  Like finding the end of pi or something?

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