System info: Celeron 1.8ghz, 1gb RAM, GEForce 5500FX, running WinXP. Game installed to default /Program Files/ path.

Every time I try to start Morrowind GOTY (Tribunal and Bloodmoon both installed), it begins loading, then stops and throws out the following error message:

"Music error: can not play file. Data Files/music/special/morrowind title.mp3"

I checked the Bethesda support page, found a topic with that title, followed the steps. No go. I should note that it plays fine when clicked on outside of the game, so it's the game not playing it correctly.

Any advice here, please?

I just got the game after playing Oblivion and Skyrim on Xbox, wanted to see what Morrowind was like.

Edit: steps I've tried:

1. Disabled sound via morrowind.ini. No dice.
2. Thought maybe it was a codec issue, but I'm not sure how to go about fixing those.

This error is usually caused by one of two things:
1. Your sound card needs updating. This software is usually available for free download on the manufacturer's website, or you can do it directly from your Device Manager (or Windows Update)

2. You need to make sure that your computer uses Windows Media Player as the default player for mp3 files. (not something else like iTunes)
Open Windows media player, find the Options->File Types. Make sure mp3 audio has a check mark. Apply changes.

If you don't have WMP (some version of Win7 don't) you can get it here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=16546

If you are on Vista or Win7... you do not want Morrowind installed at the default location.
Change it, like this....
default location C:/Program Files/Bethesda
new location C:/Bethesda
You can just copy/paste it there. That might not fix this problem, but will prevent many other problems from appearing.