I've got this occasional problem in that the sound keeps going from my game - it's so bloody annoying !
I'm playing away and then there's almost a pop as the balls make the usual clacking sound and all of a sudden I've got nothing. Everything else on my system's fine - if I'm playing music it still comes through ... any ideas ??

Is it a java thing or a Vista thing ?

It's driving me mad ...

Have you noticed if it happens after recieving an IM on MSN/Live messenger, yahoo etc?

Those apps used to occasionally "steal" the focus of java sounds from the game applet. Not heard of it in a while though.

No mate, I never use them ... it's always the only Java app I'm ever using and usually the only window I have open too.

I can only suggest some kind of a java>sound drivers issue.

So, try the good old java reinstall routine to begin with :

- Go to control panel
- Add remove programs
- Remove all the java versions you see (there may be more than one).
- Clear browser histories including downloaded program files.
- Reboot (even if you're not told to)
- Then visit http://www.java.com for a new, clean, install.

It would also do no harm to ensure you have the latest sound drivers.

nice one - I'll give it a go - thank you