Audacity Forum

My computer is running Windows XP with SP3 and all current updates: my sound card is Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 (no doubt old like me, but perfectly serviceable for my requirements).
I have been using Audacity 1.2.6 successfully for some considerable time, however I decided to try version 1.3.5
It loads OK but immediately I press the "record" button the computer shuts down.
Any ideas please anyone ?

If you go to the Edit menu and select "Preferences" you will see a tab called "Audio I/O". On this tab there are two drop down menus, one for the recording device, and one for the playback device.

What options are listed, and which do you have selected?

Also, in the "Quality" tab - what do you have selected for the default bit depth and sample rate?

Thank you stevethefiddlefor your prompt reply.
The options available for the recording device are:
1. "MME:Microsoft Sound Mapper - Input"
2. "MME: SBLive! Wave Device"
3. "MME:C - Media Wave Device"
4. "MME: Logitech Mic (Communicate STX)"
I have selected item 2

The options available for the playback device are:
1. "MME:Microsoft Sound Mapper - Output"
2. "MME: SBLive! Wave Device"
3. "MME:C - Media Wave Device"
I have again selected item 2

I have set the Sample Rate at 44100Hz and the bit depth to 16 bit

These are the same settings that I have been using in version 1.2.6

Incidentally I wrote in my original inquiry that the computer shuts down; to be more precise, the screen blacks out and the computer re-boots.

I hope the above throws a little more light on the situation!

First off, If you use Firefox, then try running Audacity with Firefox closed (there appear to be some Firefox plug-ins that can interfere with Audacity). Actually, close all other applications before you open Audacity and give it a whirl.

If you have installed the VST Bridge in Audacity, remove it.

In the Windows Control Panel, under Sound and Audio Devices, you can select the Windows default recording and playback devices. Check that these are set for your SB card, then open Windows Sound Recorder (Start > All Programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Sound Recorder) and try recording something (you will probably need to go into the Windows Mixer to select the appropriate recording input (Microphone / Line / Stereo Mix / CD ...)

When you have got the Sound Recorder to work, reset the preferences in Audacity by doing the following:
1. Exit Audacity
2. Open audacity.cfg in a text editor and remove all the content except the line "NewPrefsInitialized=1"
3. Restart Audacity
(the audacity.cfg file can be found in Documents and Settings<user name>Application DataAudacity )

Now go into the Audacity preferences and select "Microsoft Sound Mapper" for both input and output.

Thank you very much for your very comprehensive advice; unfortunately it did not work!
The effect of pressing the "record" button was the same.
However when the computer re-started I reported the problem to Microsoft through the usual channels.
Their reply suggested that the problem was with my sound card.
I remembered up-dating the sound card drivers some time ago so I decided to revert back to the original drivers,
and wonder of wonders, Audacity is now working fine!
In case anyone has a similar problem, the driver I am now using is 5.1.2535.0 and if you are tempted to update
your driver, my advice would be - DON'T

Again. many thanks!

Octogenarian wrote:I remembered up-dating the sound card drivers some time ago ...

Now you tell me