XP sound driver

[Len Dolby]

Big P L E A S E - is there anyone out there who can help me ? This problem
is
driving me NUTS !! (no pun intended) I apologise in advance for the length.

The Belarc report of my system may be relevant - starts after "#####"
below..

I could use Sound Recorder. Then I downloaded the driver update advised by
MS
Windows Update.
PROBLEM - Right now, Sound Recorder is dysfunctional - it will not
record mike input at all, distorts and loses substantial volume on other
recordings
(and yes I ticked the correct inputs in "record" mode).

This started 2 weeks ago. Included in the download was a new "mixer.exe" -
easily
identifiable for 2 reasons - 1/ it was a 3D mixer (like miniaturised WinAmp)
and 2/ it
had a "Mike Boost" box to tick. And, it worked beautifully - I've the
"talky" sound
file, to prove it.
Unfortunately, it only worked once. Next time I booted up - back to the old
2D
"mixer", no mike boost. Searched my C:\ for "mixer.exe" - none of the
several I
found were the "3D" one. Been back and forth to both MS Download site, and
to
the CMedia site - could I get this mixer? No.

Result of my various downloads and attempts to load correct driver is that I
now
have driver files all over the place. I've uninstalled so many times it's
untrue - all XP
does is "Detect New Hardware", loads up the old driver files.

SECONDARY PROBLEM - I'm a "one-man" owner - no network. When I
go to some downloads, I get an error message saying the "download" path (set
by
XP, not me) is >256 characters ...path never stated in full so I can't
repeat it. This
seems to be related to XP installing itself as a network (and it's a pain in
the butt to
keep clicking on "load DAD personal settings" when I am the only user). Is
this,
by any chance, related to the "sound driver update" problem ? I did note, in
Update History, that it failed several times before a "successful" install.

If some-one could hold my hand I'd appreciate it ! Alternatively, a simpler
solution - just give me a "mixer.exe" file (including a "mike boost") and
I'll
replace mine with it - or is that solution too simple ?

####### Belarc report
Operating System
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 1 (build 2600)
System Model No details available (IS in fact a "TARGA" system -
German mfr)
Processor a 1533 megahertz AMD Athlon XP
128 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Main Circuit Board b
Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. A7V266-E REV 1.xx
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: Award Software, Inc. ASUS A7V266-E ACPI BIOS Rev 1006 01/23/2002
Drives
40.00 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
25.69 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

ASUS CRW-3212A [CD-ROM drive]
SAMSUNG DVD-ROM SD-616T [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

ST340810A (40.02 GB) [Hard drive] -- drive 0 768 Megabytes Installed
Memory Modules -
Memory
Slot 'DIMM 1' has 512 MB
Slot 'DIMM 2' has 256 MB
Slot 'DIMM 3' is Empty
Local Drive Volumes
c: (on drive 0) 39.60 GB 25.63 GB free
d: (on drive 0) 395 MB 58 MB free

Logins Network Drives - (NB - THIS I DON'T UNDERSTAND EITHER - Len)
NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
ENIGMA\Owner

Installed Microsoft Hotfixes
Q318202 (details...) on 09/09/03
Q318203 (details...) on 12/02/03
Q823718 (details...) on 09/08/03
Q832483 (details...) on 01/15/04
DirectX
DX819696 (DirectX Update 819696)
Internet Explorer
Q324929 (details...)
Q330994 (details...)
Q810847 (details...)
Q813489 (details...)
Q813951 (details...)
Q818529 (details...)
Q822925 (details...)
Q824145 (details...)
Q828750 (details...)
Q832894 (details...)
SP1 (SP1)
Windows Media Player
WM320920 (details...)
WM320920.1 (details...)
WM819639 (details...)
WM828026 (details...)
SP0
Q828026 (details...) on 10/04/03
Windows XP
SP1
Q324720 (details...) on 01/28/03
SP2
KB282010 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB282010) on 08/07/03
KB810217 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB810217) on 11/12/03
KB817778 (Advanced Networking Pack for Windows XP) on
08/07/03
KB820291 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB820291) on 08/07/03
KB821253 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB821253) on 08/07/03
KB821557 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB821557) on 07/18/03
KB822603 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB822603) on 10/01/03
KB823182 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB823182) on 10/17/03
KB823559 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB823559) on 07/12/03
KB823980 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB823980) on 07/18/03
KB824105 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB824105) on 09/06/03
KB824141 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB824141) on 10/17/03
KB824146 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB824146) on 09/11/03
KB825119 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB825119) on 10/17/03
KB826942 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB826942) on 01/08/04
KB828028 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB828028) on 02/11/04
KB828035 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB828035) on 10/17/03
KB829558 (Windows XP Hotfix - KB829558) on 12/02/03
KB833330 (Windows Blaster Worm Removal Tool (KB833330))
on 01/15/04
Q322011 (details...) on 01/28/03
Q323255 (details...) on 01/28/03
Q327979 (details...) on 01/28/03
Q328310 (details...) on 01/28/03
Q329048 (details...) on 01/28/03
Q329115 (details...) on 01/28/03
Q329170 (details...) on 01/28/03
Q329390 (details...) on 01/28/03
Q329441 (details...) on 02/28/03
Q329834 (details...) on 01/28/03
Q331953 (details...) on 03/27/03
Q810243 (details...) on 01/28/03
Q810565 (details...) on 01/28/03
Q810577 (details...) on 02/08/03
Q810833 (details...) on 01/28/03
Q811493 (details...) on 04/19/03
Q811630 (details...) on 02/08/03
Q814033 (details...) on 03/21/03
Q814995 (details...) on 05/03/03
Q815021 (details...) on 05/29/03
Q815485 (details...) on 05/03/03
Q817287 (details...) on 04/18/03
Q817606 (details...) on 07/12/03
Printers
Canon Bubble-Jet BJC-1000 on LPT1:
Epson Stylus COLOR 600 ESC/P 2 on LPT1:
Epson Stylus COLOR 670 ESC/P 2 on USB001
Lexmark i3 on USB004

Controllers Display
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]
VIA Bus Master IDE Controller
NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 400 [Display adapter]

Bus Adapters None detected

Multimedia
CMI8738/C3DX PCI Audio Device
(NB - This chip is on the motherboard - not a separate card - Len)

Communications

LNE100TX Fast Ethernet Adapter Version 1.0
LNE100TX Fast Ethernet Adapter Version 1.0 - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Network Card MAC Address: 00:A0:CC:2E:40:1F
Network IP Address: 81.99.84.169

Other Devices

USB Human Interface Device [Joystick]
USB Human Interface Device [Joystick]
USB Human Interface Device [Joystick]
USB Human Interface Device [Joystick]
USB Composite Device
USB Composite Device
USB Composite Device
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller

 

[Len Dolby]

Having done this already, done it again, and (no surprise) DXDiag reports
"everything working properly" - this despite the "sound recording meter" on
first test not barely moving (had to shout to get a flicker) - the second
test (where it shows and plays back simultaneously) worked though voice
input had to be above "conversation" level.

Bear in mind that the "mixer.exe" file I had (just once) had a "mike boost"
box to tick (and this worked to perfection). It's clearly this "boost" that
is needed - that my card supports it has already been proved.

The final screen of DXDiag says (with problem not solved) - Go to Windows
Help Forum - which is where I am now ! (Catch 22 or what? ) H E L P !!
Sincerely, Len.

Try going into the diagnostics and running some tests. go>start\run and

type in dxdiag and then click your way around the sound and other tabs to
see if you can track down whether your settings are not optimized or if in
fact you have the improper drivers. Good luck.

 

[Sharon F]

CMI8738/C3DX PCI Audio Device

Have you tried the drivers for this CMedia chip found here yet:
http://www.cmedia.com.tw/

Or checked the download pages of your motherboard mfr?

 

[Len Dolby]

Sharon, YES to both ... note Cmedia limit their support when the chip is on
the motherboard (as mine is) I'd like to send Asus (mb mfr) an e_mail but
unfortunately have been unable to locate them on e_mail. Been trying quite
exhaustively for many man-hours/days to sort this !

Sincerely, Len

 

[Sharon F]

Sharon, YES to both ... note Cmedia limit their support when the chip is on
the motherboard (as mine is) I'd like to send Asus (mb mfr) an e_mail but
unfortunately have been unable to locate them on e_mail. Been trying quite
exhaustively for many man-hours/days to sort this !

Sincerely, Len

Len, the drivers that show up at Windows update... I regard them as a
courtesy item. Often by the time a driver appears there (must be WHLQ
certified and that takes time), there are newer and often better drivers
available at the manufacturer's website.

That still leaves you without a mic boost item. Question: Does your mic
have controls on the cord? Mine is not an expensive model (~$20) but has a
physical volume control and mute button on it. If you know someone with one
of these, perhaps they would let you try it so that you can see if those
added controls help to achieve the desired results?

Only other suggestions I have...

--Look for drivers at the Asus site that are WHLQ marked since that's what
would have turned up at the Update site. You may have to page back through
the manufacturer's archived drivers to find that version.

--Visit one of usenet's motherboard discussion groups. If your ISP does not
provide news servers that carry those newsgroups, you could use Google
Groups. Asus is a popular brand and someone out there has to know what
sound drivers work best with a microphone.

 

[Len Dolby]

Bless you, Sharon, for your continued perseverence.
My mike has no physical controls. With the "right" mixer, software mike
boost is all that's needed to add commentary into a PPT slideshow - in my
dulcet Yorkshire dialect, not karaoke! Unfortunately I don't know anyone
with such a mike, either.
I'll try (yet again) the sites ... and try to find an Asus ng (good tip,
that !)
Thanks again. Len

 

[Sharon F]

Bless you, Sharon, for your continued perseverence.
My mike has no physical controls. With the "right" mixer, software mike
boost is all that's needed to add commentary into a PPT slideshow - in my
dulcet Yorkshire dialect, not karaoke! Unfortunately I don't know anyone
with such a mike, either.
I'll try (yet again) the sites ... and try to find an Asus ng (good tip,
that !)
Thanks again. Len

Good luck to you, Len. I hope that you find what you need.