Cannot embed Sounds in Word 2003 since Windows XP SP2

[Oldies Guru]

We used to be able to embed a sound clip (.mid file) into a Word document and
it would play automatically when the document. If you used Word for an
Outlook editor, the tune would play as soon as you open the email. However,
since XP SP2, you can no longer embed sounds. To see what I mean, click
View, Toolbars, Web Tools, then click the Sound Icon on the lower left of the
dialog box. You'll get some gibberish message:

"This message was created in HTMLInLineSoundCtl. this application is not
available to open this object. Make sure the application is properly
installed...."

You will get this same message if you try to use the Video Icon. Nobody at
Microsoft can give me any (a) reason, (b) solution to fix it or (c) when it
ever will be fixed. This has been going on for one year now.

Can somebody give me a clue as to how I can make it work like it did prior
to SP2? It worked fine in SP1. Thanks.

Stu

 

[garfield-n-odie]

Service Pack 2 for Windows XP breaks several of Word's web tools.
The only way to make them work again is to uninstall SP2 for
WinXP. See http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=886299
"'Application is not available' error messages when you try to
insert some Web Tools in Word 2002 and Word 2003" for more
information.

 

[Oldies Guru]

Many thanks. Not what I wanted to hear, of course, but what I expected. My
only other solution is to create a blank "Web page" in MS Publisher, embed
the MID file using the Web Tools, and then send it as an email. That
actually works well but involves using Publisher plus Outlook to get around a
perfectly simple fix in Word. Progress, I suppose....