No Audio Device Installed . . . and Video.

[ragu]

What a mess! Windows Vista automatic updates kicked in 3 days ago on my
Gateway. Since then, I have no audio and my video works at 1/4 pace. I've
tried reinstalling the audio and video drivers (Sigma Tel, ATI, ADI High Def,
etc.) multiple times from both Microsoft and Gateway using all the trouble
shooting information I can find. Properties states the audio is working
properly, but the volume mixer states the device is not installed. As for
the video . . . Properties reconizes the device, but states the driver needs
to be reinstalled. When I reinstall the driver (ATI) it states there is no
device and therefore can't install!? When I have Window search for current
updates or solution, it directs me to a Dell driver stating the problem is
caused by this Dell driver (which I don't have and never had) and to download
the same Dell driver for a fix?

Does anyone know of a fix short of ripping out and replacing my video and
audio cards I've already tried the roll-back, device unistall/restart,
and restore (safe mode) with no luck.

This seems to be just one of my many problems with Vista and these automatic
updates; once a month I loose the use of a different program or have to jump
through hoops to duck tape these things back together . . . Lesson learned;
no more updates.

Any help is appreciated; thanks,

 

[warallied]

I have the exact same problem, why is there no answer?,this is a problem
that is left un-answered that was caused by windows because of windows and im
not even sure if they are aware of this. can someone answer this question
please if there is any knowledge of it?

 

[Nonny]

I have the exact same problem, why is there no answer?,this is a problem
that is left un-answered that was caused by windows because of windows and im
not even sure if they are aware of this. can someone answer this question
please if there is any knowledge of it

What updates do you think caused the problem?

Have you tried uninstalling them??

 

[warallied]

well of course,i have tried exactly all of what regu said, more importantly,
everything now fails, the activation of windows, uninstalling, re-installing,
system restore dont fix it etc... the funny part is that my DEvice Manager
doesnt even show anything driver in my computer,its just a blank page.

 

[Nonny]

well of course,i have tried exactly all of what regu said, more importantly,
everything now fails, the activation of windows, uninstalling, re-installing,
system restore dont fix it etc... the funny part is that my DEvice Manager
doesnt even show anything driver in my computer,its just a blank page.

Don't know what to tell you. Maybe it's time to start over by
re-installing or using recovery discs - whichever applies.

I've never had a problem after any update and I've got every update
installed including SP1.

Any problem I have had at other times were because I was screwing
around and messed something up. System Restore immediately fixed it
for me.

 

[warallied]

i mean you are right,but i hate this waste of time and money wasting because
like i said,this is a microsoft problem because of microsoft.
If there is anyway to resolve this tho,i am all ears!

i suspect that only a specific combination of drivers makes this mistake.

ATI driver card + RealTek Sigma Tel audio device.
everyone i know that has this combination ran into troubles.
everyone formatted,but i think thats juyst giving up. I dont want to hve to
do something cause of someone elses fault, and i have all the evidence.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

i mean you are right,but i hate this waste of time and money wasting
because
like i said,this is a microsoft problem because of microsoft.
If there is anyway to resolve this tho,i am all ears!

i suspect that only a specific combination of drivers makes this mistake.

ATI driver card + RealTek Sigma Tel audio device.
everyone i know that has this combination ran into troubles.
everyone formatted,but i think thats juyst giving up. I dont want to hve
to
do something cause of someone elses fault, and i have all the evidence.

Neither of these drivers is made by Microsoft. So how is this a "microsoft
problem because of microsoft"?

 

[warallied]

thats a straw argument, i know they are not, i know that softwares can be a
major problem to hardwares, the power of softwares over hardware is simply
too large too big to be ignored.

so the reason that i am saying that is, microsoft is the coding part of
everything that happens,what goes in, what does not, i mean they have a
country sized help and troubleshooting cause the understanding of those
problems that can occur.
So what i was saying is that; A microsoft Update whatever the reason was for
that update caused a problem to a coding that was already there, that was
meant to be there and that happened because it was a windows operating system
( and not all operating systems like XP or Linux)

i am not trying to bash Microsoft in anyway since I use Vista, and use their
system with the help of my own wallet. Its just that when things like this
happens AFTER a late update for X reasons with X coding inside creating a
sudden shut down of those system with no way out but formatting. It just make
me wonder why i would have to pay Tech support even tho its understandable to
a certain extent. It is not to say that they meant a problem like this, but
they KNOW how and what can go wrong with coding so I am wondering if they
thought that update thru.

In the end i just want a solution cause im broke and i cant afford any
alternative,not even booting.

 

[warallied]

and im thinking about poor ragu that said: lesson learned, no more
update.......im sure no business would like to hear this.

 

[woollybug]

I had the same problem when I installed Vista Home Premium on my laptop. The
little red "x" on the speaker icon in the system tray was there and nothing I
did fixed it. Vista told me that everything was A-OK but still the little red
"x" and no sound. After visiting Realtek's website for about the 1000th time
in a couple of weeks I noticed a new driver for the HD audio codec and tried
that. IT WORKED!

So my take on your problem is that it IS a driver problem and you just need
to find the correct driver from the manufacturers of your cards and get them
installed. I tried about 20 different drivers before I finally found the one
that would work with the Vista version that I am using.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Wandering]

I had the same problem when I installed Vista Home Premium on my laptop.
The
little red "x" on the speaker icon in the system tray was there and
nothing I
did fixed it. Vista told me that everything was A-OK but still the little
red
"x" and no sound. After visiting Realtek's website for about the 1000th
time
in a couple of weeks I noticed a new driver for the HD audio codec and
tried
that. IT WORKED!

So my take on your problem is that it IS a driver problem and you just
need
to find the correct driver from the manufacturers of your cards and get
them
installed. I tried about 20 different drivers before I finally found the
one
that would work with the Vista version that I am using.

Good luck with your search.

First do not let Vista update automatically. Just advise you of the updates,
and you pick the ones you want to use. This group is quite consistent in
discouraging hardware drivers from Vista Update. Uncheck them, and go to the
website for the device and download the drivers there yourself. They are
often problematic when obtained from the Vista Updater.

Second, you can roll back any update you believe is causing the problem.
Just don't wait too long or the roll back won't be available.

Good luck.