Sound Crashes

Please Help;
In Outlook Express,if an attachement is a wmv or wvx(others possibly too),I open the attachment and the audio plays for about 5 seconds and cuts off.I have to reset the system in order to get the speakers back.If the attachment is a power point application with music,the sound works fine.Also playing CD's works ok.This is not a new system,it's Windows XP and this problem has just arisen in the last 2 weeks,after working fine for 3 years,with no appreciable updates.
I'm desperately in need of assistance--Any Ideas??

Welcome to Windrivers Charles

Do you use windows automatic updates? If so, your windows media player is likely to have been upgraded. Please have a look at the version by opening windows media playing, clicking on help then about.

It would also be useful to know your sound card make and model (or if a branded computer the make and model of computer).

Is Windows xp service pack 2 installed?

I have windows media player version 10.00.00.4036.Not sure if that's an update or not

yes it is, xp was originally supplied with version 9 - now what about service pack 2 and your sound card details?

:mult: Ok,my sound card was an integrated one on the motherboard,but I installed a new one
and everything works fine now.?????????????????????????????????


^Thanks for the advice

my pleasure.