[How To] Obtain Voice Chat In Windows Vista

[Ven0m]

This is a tutorial on how to fix voice chat issues on Windows Vista with Yahoo! Messenger. By default, Windows Vista does not included the needed audio codec (the TrueSpeech codec), so you need to install the TrueSpeech codec for it to work correctly. This tutorial will hopefully fix a problem that happens as "This computer does not support the required compression format" when you try to start voice chat on Windows Vista.

This is the new and improved tutorial for obtaining voice chat with Windows Vista. This new version of the tutorial is important since the old tutorial was out of date and some changes have been made since the original was posted. This tutorial has been updated for Messenger only, and for 3rd party chat clients.

For Yahoo! Messenger ONLY

Messenger Solution #1 (For Yahoo! Messenger 9 final)

1) Exit Yahoo! Messenger completely (tray icon and all) and download Yahoo! Messenger v9.0.0.2152 final from here and save it to the desktop (this step is VERY important, or else it may not work correctly because of Vista's user account control feature, so do not hit the Run button when prompted). Save it to the desktop.

2) Right click on the downloaded ymsgr900_2152_us.exe, and select Run as Administrator and run it and install it until it is fully installed.

3) Right click on the Yahoo! Messenger desktop icon, and go to Properties > Compatibility tab, then check the box "Run this program as an administrator" then hit Apply, then Ok.

4) After the installing, start up Yahoo! Messenger, go to a chat room, and attempt to gain voice chat. If the Talk button turns green, SUCCESS!!!!


Messenger Solution #2 (For Yahoo! Messenger v8.1 and below)

1) Make sure you have the last Yahoo! Messenger v8.1 build installed (v8.1.0.421) from here. NOTE: Yahoo! Messenger v9.0.0.1389 beta and above now includes the codec with it, so installing it will solve the voice issues by default!

2) Exit Yahoo! Messenger completely (tray icon and all) and download the TrueSpeech codec from here and save it to the desktop (this step is VERY important, or else it may not work correctly because of Vista's user account control feature, so do not hit the Run button when prompted). Save it to the desktop.

3) Right click on the downloaded tsp_codec_install.exe, and select Run as Administrator and install it.

4) Right click on the Yahoo! Messenger desktop icon, and go to Properties > Compatibility tab, then check the box "Run this program as an administrator" then hit Apply, then Ok.

5) Reboot your computer to complete the installation and to make sure nothing's gone wrong.

6) After rebooting, start up Yahoo! Messenger, go to a chat room, and attempt to gain voice chat. If the Talk button turns green, SUCCESS!!!!

NOTE: If the second solution doesn't work, try Messenger Solution #3.


Messenger Solution #3 (For Yahoo! Messenger v8.1 and below)

NOTE: YCabby2 requires the .NET Framework v3.5, which can be found here. If you have Windows Vista, you probably already have the .NET Framework v3.5 installed.

1) Make sure you have the last Yahoo! Messenger v8.1 build installed (v8.1.0.421) from here. NOTE: Yahoo! Messenger v9.0.0.1389 beta and above now includes the codec with it, so installing it will solve the voice issues by default!

2) Exit Yahoo! Messenger completely (tray icon and all) and download YCabby2 from here and save it to the desktop (this step is VERY important, or else it may not work correctly because of Vista's user account control feature, so do not hit the Run button when prompted. Save it to the desktop. Then extract the .exe file from inside the .zip file.

3) Right click on the downloaded and extracted YCabby2.exe, and select Run as Administrator and run it, hit Ok at the administrator prompt, then when it loads press Start to install the needed files.

4) Right click on the Yahoo! Messenger desktop icon, and go to Properties > Compatibility tab, then check the box "Run this program as an administrator" then hit Apply, then Ok.

5) Reboot your computer to complete the installation and to make sure nothing's gone wrong.

6) After rebooting, start up Yahoo! Messenger, go to a chat room, and attempt to gain voice chat. If the Talk button turns green, SUCCESS!!!!

NOTE 1: You need Yahoo! Messenger v8.1.0.416 to v8.1.0.421 for this to work correctly!!!!!
NOTE 2: This may or may not work on Windows Vista Home Basic for reasons unknown!!!!!


For 3rd Party Chat Clients (YahELite, Yazak, Yahaven, Y!mLite, etc.)

Client Solution #1

NOTE: YCabby2 requires the .NET Framework v3.5, which can be found here. If you have Windows Vista, you probably already have the .NET Framework v3.5 installed.

1) Exit out of the chat client(s) you're currently using completely.

2) Download YCabby2 from here and select Save and save to the desktop when it prompts, then extract the .exe file from inside the .zip file.

3) Right click on the downloaded and extracted YCabby2.exe, and select Run as Administrator and run it, hit Ok at the administrator prompt, then when it loads press Start to install the needed files.

4) Reboot your computer to complete the installation and to make sure nothing's gone wrong.

5) After rebooting, start up your chat client(s), go to a chat room, and attempt to gain voice chat. If you appear connected, SUCCESS!!!!

NOTE: If the technique above doesn't work, try Client Solution #2.


Client Solution #2

1) Exit out of the chat client(s) you're currently using completely.

2) Download GCabby from here and select Save and save to the desktop when it prompts, then extract the .exe file from inside the .zip file.

3) Download the TrueSpeech codec from here and save it to the desktop (this step is VERY important, or else it may not work correctly because of Vista's user account control feature, so do not hit the Run button when prompted). Save it to the desktop. NOTE: If you already have the TrueSpeech codec installed previously, SKIP THIS STEP!

4) Right click on the downloaded tsp_codec_install.exe, and select Run as Administrator and install it. NOTE: If you already have the TrueSpeech codec installed previously, SKIP THIS STEP!

5) After installing the TrueSpeech codec, right click on the downloaded and extracted gcab.exe, and select Run as Administrator and run it, hit Ok at the administrator prompt, then when it loads, proceed to install GCabby (it will install the needed files).

4) Reboot your computer to complete the installation and to make sure nothing's gone wrong.

5) After rebooting, start up your chat client(s), go to a chat room, and attempt to gain voice chat. If you appear connected, SUCCESS!!!!

NOTE: If the technique above doesn't work, try Client Solution #3.


Client Solution #3
Depending on if you already have the TrueSpeech codec installed or not, do one of the following:

1) Exit out of the chat client(s) you're currently using completely.

2a) If you don't have the TrueSpeech codec installed, download this file and save it to the desktop when it prompts.

2b) If you already have the TrueSpeech codec installed, download the this file and save it to the desktop when it prompts. If you're unsure if you have the codec or not, do 2a.

3) Right click on the downloaded VistaVoiceFix.exe file (or the VistaVoice_dll.exe file if you already had the TrueSpeech codec installed), and select Run as Administrator and install it (follow the instructions and select Yes or Ok for everything it prompts).

4) Reboot your computer to complete the installation and to make sure nothing's gone wrong.

5) After rebooting, start up your chat client(s), go to a chat room, and attempt to gain voice chat. If you appear connected, SUCCESS!!!!

[tiswingpower]

I just got a new Dell notebook with Vista Home Premium installed. I installed Yahoo messenger, and used Call Setup to setup my Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks. The setup was successful, the microphone was detected. but when I start a voice chat, the microphone doesn't seem to work.

Do I need this codec for Yahoo Voice Chat to work? Is this codec for Yahoo Messenger or for Vista?

THANKS!

[Dermot]

You can download a fix for Yahoo! voice in vista i built in C# HERE

Works in all 32 bit versions of Vista including Ultimate.

[Ven0m]

Also, it may or may not work in Vista Ultimate. I'm not sure why this is, and am looking into it. It should work with Vista Home (and Home Premium).

[tiswingpower]

I installed the codec, verified in control panel that it's installed, but Yahoo voice chat still won't work.

Any other ideas? :-(

And why does a popup always appear on the lower right hand corner of the screen when YM starts: "A USB Phone is connected to Yahoo Messenger"....

[Ven0m]

Are you running Windows Vista Ultimate Edition? If so, the updated codec doesn't work for it for some unknown reason.

[tiswingpower]

Nope, just Home Premium...

I hope I dont have to wait for Yahoo Vista in order to use voice chat

[Ven0m]

I hope not either. You can blame Microsoft for not licensing the TrueSpeech codec for Vista. :| Try running the Call Setup Assistant (Yahoo Preferences > Calling & Audio > 'Open the Call Setup Assistant...' button).

[tiswingpower]

I ran that already, and it works during setup.

voice chats in windows live msgr work though...

[coded]

I'm using Vista Ultimate so it does not work. If you find a fix be sure to make mention of it in the initial post. I'll be checking back