WinXP SP3 AC'97 Audio Driver Problem

R

Ragner

New Member
I got a new pc a few weeks ago and it's working fine except for the sound. Every time I try to install a sound driver it crashes right before installation finishes. I tried installing in safe mode and it installed but it won't boot up, it starts loading windows then reboots endlessly.

Maybe I have the wrong driver, or something? I downloaded it off the realtek website, the file was WDM_A406.

Everest identifies the device as:
Analog Devices AD1981B(L) @ Intel 82801FB ICH6 - AC'97 Audio Controller [B-1] PCI

Also, this is the info I got from device manager:
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_266E&SUBSYS_01791028&REV_03\3&172E68DD&0&F2

Sorry if I don't know what info to post, but if you tell me I can get it. Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
deanj20

deanj20

New Member
What's the make/model of your computer? Custom-build? Is the sound on-board? Did you install Windows yourself or did it come factory installed or do you have any idea?

Windows usually detects the soundcard on its own w/out you having to install any drivers...

How do you know that you don't have any sound? Have you checked the volume in Start-->Control Panel-->Sounds and Audio Devices? Could be that it's muted? Or possibly your speakers or bad - have you tried headphones in the audio out?
 
R

Ragner

New Member
deanj20 said:
What's the make/model of your computer? Custom-build? Is the sound on-board? Did you install Windows yourself or did it come factory installed or do you have any idea?

Windows usually detects the soundcard on its own w/out you having to install any drivers...

How do you know that you don't have any sound? Have you checked the volume in Start-->Control Panel-->Sounds and Audio Devices? Could be that it's muted? Or possibly your speakers or bad - have you tried headphones in the audio out?
Click to expand...

I think the computer is custom built, no clue, I got it used.

I try to get the volume control to open and it says: "There are no active mixer devices available." I've tried headphones that I know are working fine with other things and I've tried them in both out audio ports.

I just had to reformat the hard drive because of read errors and fully reinstalled windows. It knows the device is there but it has a yellow exclamation point next to it. In properties it says it's not configured correctly and to reinstall the drivers.
 
R

Ragner

New Member
Just did, it did the same thing; crashed at the end of installation, rebooted and said the system has recovered from a critical error.

Maybe something wrong with the sound card? Would that make it do that?
 
deanj20

deanj20

New Member
Well, it says it's a PCI card in your post - is it? Does it not have on-board audio? If so, pull that PCI audio card out and use the on-board. See what happens there... It's been a while since I've seen a 'puter w/ no on-board audio... You have no idea what the make and model is?
 
R

Ragner

New Member
Thank you very, very much. The via driver worked, I've been messing with this thing for weeks now, since I got the pc, I had just about given up on it. I can program in half a dozen languages but a driver stumps me. Haha

Thanks.
 
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