Realtek AC'97 and Sound related drivers are listen as Unknown in Device Manager

  • Thread starter Thread starter ewolfman
  • Start date Start date
E

ewolfman

Hi,

I have partial sound (read on!) on my machine, using Realtek AC'97.
I have had this issue a long time ago, and I think that reinstalling
the WDM drivers solved it. However, it doesn't solve the problem now.

Uninstalling and installing the latest WDM (3.99) doesn't fix this.

As a result, I have the following (odd) behavior:

1. mp3 files play well (!).
2. when opening the "Sounds and Audio Devices", under Control Panel,
under the "Audio" tab, Realtek is listed and selected; under Voice
tab, the "Voice Playback" lists Realtek, but it is not selected.
Selecting it, applying, closing the window and reopening - the Realtek
is still not selected.
3. "Sounds and Audio Devices", Sounds tab, lists the usual "Program
events", but selecting one does not enable the "play" button.
4. Sound in IE is not playing.
5. The "Play volume icon in the taskbar" - does not display the volume
icon in the taskbar.
6. Realtek AC'97 and the rest of the Sound related drivers are listen
under the node "Unknown" in Device Manager. No "Sounds, video and game
controllers" node exists.

I'm certain that this is a device driver issue. But at the moment, I
have no idea how to solve it.

Any ideas? (Please, do not suggest "reinstall XP", or "repair XP").
Thanks.
 
ewolfman said:
Hi,

I have partial sound (read on!) on my machine, using Realtek AC'97.
I have had this issue a long time ago, and I think that reinstalling
the WDM drivers solved it. However, it doesn't solve the problem now.

Uninstalling and installing the latest WDM (3.99) doesn't fix this.

As a result, I have the following (odd) behavior:

1. mp3 files play well (!).
2. when opening the "Sounds and Audio Devices", under Control Panel,
under the "Audio" tab, Realtek is listed and selected; under Voice
tab, the "Voice Playback" lists Realtek, but it is not selected.
Selecting it, applying, closing the window and reopening - the Realtek
is still not selected.
3. "Sounds and Audio Devices", Sounds tab, lists the usual "Program
events", but selecting one does not enable the "play" button.
4. Sound in IE is not playing.
5. The "Play volume icon in the taskbar" - does not display the volume
icon in the taskbar.
6. Realtek AC'97 and the rest of the Sound related drivers are listen
under the node "Unknown" in Device Manager. No "Sounds, video and game
controllers" node exists.

I'm certain that this is a device driver issue. But at the moment, I
have no idea how to solve it.

Any ideas? (Please, do not suggest "reinstall XP", or "repair XP").
Thanks.
Click to expand...

OK, I won't suggest you "reinstall XP" or "repair XP" - not just because
you don't want to do that but because it would be the wrong advice
anyway. You may be using the wrong drivers or the sound chip (card) is
failing. I don't know anything about your computer (brand, laptop,
desktop, etc.) so I can only give you general advice. First, re the drivers:

Get them from:

1. The device mftr.'s website; OR
2. The motherboard mftr.'s website if hardware is onboard; OR
3. The OEM's website for your specific machine if you have an OEM
computer (HP, Dell, Sony, etc.).

Get the most recent ones from whichever source above is appropriate in
your case and see if that solves the issue. If it doesn't and you have a
desktop, disable the onboard sound and put in a PCI sound card. You can
buy a basic sound card for under $20 USD.


Malke
 
ewolfman said:
I have already tried the WDM 399.
Click to expand...

Fine, then since the problem has been going on for a long time you can't
narrow the cause down to anything you recently did. If the drivers
didn't fix the issue, there is a good chance the problem is hardware.
There is no way for people who can't see your machine to tell you
definitively. Putting in an inexpensive sound card is the practical answer.


Malke
 
Have you installed Chipset driver from the page you mentioned, that is
below Audio driver?

If not -- strangely enough, but that may be a cause.

--
Mikhail Zhilin
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
http://www.aha.ru/~mwz
Sorry, no technical support by e-mail.
Please reply to the newsgroups only.
======
 
Back
Top