Cannot open MP3 or WAV files

Haole9 · June 2, 2019, 2:23am

Still having problems opening non-aup files with Audacity (versions 2.3.2 AND 2.3.1) after Win 10 Home update to 1809 Build 17763.529. Worked perfectly before update.

Audacity just gives “Not Responding” message and requires Task Manager to close it when I try to open MP3 or WAV files using the Audacity File>Open or by rightclicking on the MP3 and selecting “Open with>”. Screenshot below.

Previously created aup projects work fine.

Things that did NOT work
Uninstall / Reinstall (post reboot) Audacity (either 2.3.1 or 2.3.2 versions)
Removal of prior Audacity version 2.3.1
Cleaned Registry after Audacity removal
Compatibility trouble shooting and revert to prior Win version.
(Have not done a roll-back of Win 10)

System Info:
HP Pavilion Desktop with 4 GB memory
AMD Phenom II X4 820 Processor, 2800 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s).
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 5.38, 3/20/2009

I would appreciate any other options to get this program functioning.

Audacity log file below:
16:40:26: Audacity 2.3.1
16:40:26: Trying to load FFmpeg libraries…
16:40:26: Trying to load FFmpeg libraries from system paths. File name is ‘avformat-55.dll’.
16:40:26: Looking up PATH environment variable…
16:40:26: PATH = ‘C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0;C:\WINDOWS\System32\OpenSSH;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Shared;C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;’
16:40:26: Checking that ‘’ is in PATH…
16:40:26: FFmpeg directory is in PATH.
16:40:26: Checking for monolithic avformat from ‘avformat-55.dll’.
16:40:26: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-55.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:40:26: Loading avutil from ‘’.
16:40:26: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:40:26: Loading avcodec from ‘’.
16:40:26: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:40:26: Loading avformat from ‘avformat-55.dll’.
16:40:26: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-55.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:40:26: Error: Failed to load FFmpeg libraries.
16:40:26: Error: Failed to find compatible FFmpeg libraries.
16:40:39: Attempting to load LAME from system search paths
16:40:39: Loading LAME from lame_enc.dll
16:40:39: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘lame_enc.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:40:39: load failed
16:40:39: Attempting to load LAME from builtin path
16:40:39: LAME registry key exists.
16:40:39: Library path is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Lame For Audacity
16:40:39: Loading LAME from C:\Program Files (x86)\Lame For Audacity\lame_enc.dll
16:40:39: Actual LAME path C:\Program Files (x86)\Lame For Audacity\lame_enc.dll
16:40:39: LAME library successfully loaded
16:43:39: LAME registry key exists.
16:43:39: Library path is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Lame For Audacity
16:43:45: Attempting to load LAME from previously defined path
16:43:45: Loading LAME from C:\Program Files (x86)\Lame For Audacity\lame_enc.dll
16:43:45: Actual LAME path C:\Program Files (x86)\Lame For Audacity\lame_enc.dll
16:43:45: LAME library successfully loaded
16:43:47: Help button pressed: PageName FAQ:Installing_the_LAME_MP3_Encoder, releasePageName faq_installing_the_lame_mp3_encoder.html
16:43:47: webHelpPage https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/faq_installing_the_lame_mp3_encoder.html, localHelpPage C:\Program Files (x86)\audacity\help\manual\man\faq_installing_the_lame_mp3_encoder.html
16:43:53: Trying to load FFmpeg libraries…
16:43:53: Trying to load FFmpeg libraries from system paths. File name is ‘avformat-55.dll’.
16:43:53: Looking up PATH environment variable…
16:43:53: PATH = ‘C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0;C:\WINDOWS\System32\OpenSSH;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Shared;C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;’
16:43:53: Checking that ‘’ is in PATH…
16:43:53: FFmpeg directory is in PATH.
16:43:53: Checking for monolithic avformat from ‘avformat-55.dll’.
16:43:53: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-55.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:43:53: Loading avutil from ‘’.
16:43:53: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:43:53: Loading avcodec from ‘’.
16:43:53: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:43:53: Loading avformat from ‘avformat-55.dll’.
16:43:53: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-55.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:43:53: Error: Failed to load FFmpeg libraries.
16:43:53: Error: Failed to find compatible FFmpeg libraries.
16:43:53: Looking for FFmpeg libraries…
16:43:53: mLibAVFormatPath is empty, starting with path ‘’, name ‘avformat-55.dll’.
16:44:20: User canceled the dialog. Failed to find FFmpeg libraries.
16:44:20: Trying to load FFmpeg libraries…
16:44:20: Trying to load FFmpeg libraries from system paths. File name is ‘avformat-55.dll’.
16:44:20: Looking up PATH environment variable…
16:44:20: PATH = ‘C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0;C:\WINDOWS\System32\OpenSSH;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Shared;C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;’
16:44:20: Checking that ‘’ is in PATH…
16:44:20: FFmpeg directory is in PATH.
16:44:20: Checking for monolithic avformat from ‘avformat-55.dll’.
16:44:20: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-55.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:44:20: Loading avutil from ‘’.
16:44:20: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:44:20: Loading avcodec from ‘’.
16:44:20: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:44:20: Loading avformat from ‘avformat-55.dll’.
16:44:20: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-55.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
16:44:20: Error: Failed to load FFmpeg libraries.
16:44:20: Error: Failed to find compatible FFmpeg libraries.
Audacity.xml (17.6 KB)
audiodev.txt.txt (2.77 KB)
audacity.cfg (2.25 KB)
Audacity screenshot.jpg

kozikowski · June 2, 2019, 3:11am

I think you’re building a terrific case that what you think are WAV and MP3 files are not. Your displays are clear that FFMpeg is not running and will not load. That usually peels off exotic sound formats other than WAV and MP3. Audacity will cheerfully open both of those with no outside help.

This is where the convenience of Windows “hiding” part of the filename gets in the way.

Dig in Google or your Windows info and find out how to prevent Windows from hiding extensions—temporarily or permanently, it’s up to you. Possible Google search: “Make Windows reveal filename extensions.”

You may easily find that your MyMusic “wav” file is really MyMusic.mp4 (real filename and extension) and not a wav file at all.

Koz

kozikowski · June 2, 2019, 3:17am

Screen Shot 2019-06-01 at 20.15.43.png
Koz

Haole9 · June 2, 2019, 5:30pm

Thanks for the comments.

The solution was a bit complicated, but there was a rogue Permission to the SessionData subfolder created by DuplicateCleaner (in C:\Users{user}\AppData\Local\Audacity\SessionData).

I found this when I got an error message (“C:\Users{user}\AppData\Local\Audacity\SessionData\canicreate is not writable”).

I couldn’t change the permissions to the folder so just renamed it and created a new SessionData subfolder. Everything works well now.

This solution probably is not universal, but might indicate that the FREE DuplicateCleaner is doing more than cleaning duplicates from your computer.

kozikowski · June 2, 2019, 5:43pm

might indicate that the FREE DuplicateCleaner is doing more than cleaning duplicates

Right. So you have a celebrity machine.

Koz

Haole9 · June 2, 2019, 6:35pm

Can u explain your comment? “Celebrity machines”?

kozikowski · June 2, 2019, 7:43pm

The forum works best when we have experience with how current Audacity versions are used on common machines for relatively simple jobs. It works less well on celebrity machines or machines whose configuration is only shared by a handful of other machines.

Two problems occur immediately: None of the forum elves are likely to have seen problems caused by the odd configuration and none of the other people with this configuration are likely to post knowing what the solution is.

I’m glad you got it working.

Koz

Haole9 · June 2, 2019, 8:06pm

Thanks again. I didn’t think my “off the shelf” HP Pavilion desktop rated the moniker of “celebrity”.

I followed up the post for two reasons:

Even if it is a rather unique solution, others might have the same issue and looking at that file is an easy fix.
It never hurts to share solutions.

Thanks

kozikowski · June 2, 2019, 8:22pm

“off the shelf” HP Pavilion desktop

I was referring to FREE DuplicateCleaner.

That’s what failed, right?

Koz