Realtek Driver causing system to crash on boot up

[Guest]

I am running Windows XP SP2 on a an AOpen MX4SG-N Motherboard with onboard
RealtekAC'97.

On Wednesday last week the machine 'hung' on startup just between the point
where the XP logo disappears and the list of users comes up.

I rebooted into safe mode and followed the MS help instructions to determine
which driver was causing my problem. I have isolated it to the AC'97 driver.
If I disable this driver (in safe mode) I am able to boot normally (though
obviously with no sound or video).

Re-enabling the driver in normal mode hangs the machine, and in safe mode
causes me the same problems on re-boot.

I have downloaded the latest driver from the Realtek site but can't install
it in normal windows mode and if I install it in safe mode I again have the
same problem on re-booting.

At this point I have updated the BIOS, uninstalled SP2, re-installed XP and
SP2, played around with the IRQ addresses in the BIOS, used a driver cleaner,
used a registry fixer and rebooted in all modes numerous times all to no
avail.

Unless the Realtek Driver is disabled I can't get into the machine.

Any suggestions from anyone?

 

[Richard Urban]

Download the driver from AOpen. Then you know you are getting one that is
compatible with your M/B.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

Richard,

Should have mentioned that I tried to install driver from the AOpen disk
that came with my machine, again with no luck.

The latest version of the driver on the AOpen site is the same as on my disk
(September 2003!)

Thanks for your interest

 

[frodo]

realtek driver 3.62 was the last STABLE driver for the AC97 w/ the ALC-650
chip (common, 6-channel audio). Drivers after that had trouble w/ this
chip, and worked ok only w/ the newer 8xx series chips. Their latest
driver is 3.70, here:

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dlac97-2.aspx?lineid=5&famid=12&series=8&Software=True

it's worth a try, maybe they've fixed it by now (3.68 was still No Good
for me).

You can get 3.62 still, one place is here:

http://www.abit-usa.com/downloads/d...ownload/drivers/ac97/alc650/v362/wdm_a362.exe


Also, do you have DirectX 9.0c from Microsoft; note the "c". If not you
may need it to get things working right, install it and reboot, then run
dxdiag.exe and perform all the tests. running the tests is important,
it'll fine-tune some reg settings if the tests uncover any discrepancies.

 

[Bob I]

You don't suppose the hardware has partial failure? With driver
installed, the system accesses it and hangs, disabled it ignores it and
boots.

 

[Guest]

Begiining to believe you are right Bob

You don't suppose the hardware has partial failure? With driver
installed, the system accesses it and hangs, disabled it ignores it and
boots.

 

[Guest]

Frodo,

Tried loading the driver. Got to 80% and things froze, Had to go back in
through Safe mode to disable Realtek AC'97 before I could get in through
'most recent successful configuration"

I am now starting to believe that the Realtek chip has gone.

I have tried to install a Sound Blaster Live 24 bit card but the system does
not seem to want to identify it as my default audio device. Interestingly
DirectX (I have 9.0c) seems to think it is but says when I go to test it:

DirectSound test results: Failure at step 3 (DirectSoundCreate): HRESULT =
0x88780078 (No driver)

Needless to say the installation of the Creative software completed
successfully! Having said that when I try to run the Creative diagnostics
the hardware passes but all the drivers fail.

In sound and audio in Control Panel there is no default device and no
opportunity to install one. When I look at devices in there it states that
the Creative SB has been enabled but not started.

Oh for a bit of music while trying to sort this one out!

 

[Malke]

Begiining to believe you are right Bob

When you switch to the SoundBlaster pci card, don't forget to disable
the onboard sound (AC'97) in the BIOS.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks Malke, but I had that one covered ....

When you switch to the SoundBlaster pci card, don't forget to disable
the onboard sound (AC'97) in the BIOS.

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
www.elephantboycomputers.com
In Memoriam - MVP Alex Nichol
The world is diminished without him.