How to enable audio in safe mode

Solution 1:

This is how to do it in Windows XP:

1. Run (⊞Win+R) regedit
2. Press Ctrl+F
3. Make sure Keys, Values, and Data are all selected
4. Type in Sound, video and game controllers
5. Click [Find Next]
6. Take note of the branch address in the status bar at the bottom (it will be something like HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-09002BE10318})
7. Copy the device-driver GUID (the long numeric part between braces) and paste it somewhere like Notepad
8. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Network
9. Create a new key (right-click, select New → Key)
10. Copy the GUID you saved and paste it into the key name
11. Edit the (Default) value and type Sound, video and game controllers
12. Create several new keys (under Network) called AudioEndpointBuilder, MMCSS and Audiosrv
13. Edit the (Default) values of each of the new keys and type Service
14. Reboot (you’ll boot into safe-mode)
15. Open the Services snap-in (⊞Win+R → services.msc)
16. Start the Multimedia Class Scheduler, Windows Audio Endpoint Builder, and Windows Audio Service services

Solution 2:

bookingtohosting.blogspot.com writes you could not only enable sound in safe mode but also printer by starting the print spooler service or it could be any service just by adding the service to safe service list.

How to start Audio Service in safe mode

To Start Audio service in safe mode you also need to start all of its dependent services first.Windows Audio service depends on these three services so add them to safe service list and then start these service from command prompt.

1. Windows Audio Endpoint Builder (AudioEndpointBuilder)
2. Multimedia Class Scheduler (MMCSS)
3. Windows Audio (Audiosrv)

You could start these services in safe mode using command line by typing the following commands.

REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\AudioEndpointBuilder" /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D "Service"

net start AudioEndpointBuilder

REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\MMCSS" /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D "Service"

net start MMCSS

REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\Audiosrv" /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D "Service"

net start Audiosrv.

Now after this you would be able to start audio.

Note :- Similarly to start Print Spooler service in safe mode add Spooler to safe service list and start it.