Integrated Audio Driver Installation Issue

[tomhanser]

I'm tinkering with an Alienware DHS2 low-profile multimedia machine, and I almost have everything configured running Windows 7. All Windows updates have been installed.

Mainboard is an Intel D915POM, CPU is 3.0GHz Pentium 4.

I still don't have audio. I installed the Realtek driver package obtained from Intel here:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/dow...10.0.5129_PV_UAA1.0.EXE&DwnldId=9406&lang=eng

I ran this Realtek installer as Administrator, compatibility mode for Windows XP SP3.

Still no audio after a restart.

However, Device Manager shows NO audio devices missing any drivers, indicated by the yellow alert icon. Why is this?

If you expand the Sound, Video and Game Controllers icon in Device Manager I have four entries for my Tuner Card (I installed the drivers myself):

AVerMedia Hardware MPEG Card (A169 NTSC)
AVerMedia Hardware MPEG Card (A169 NTSC)
AVerMedia Hardware MPEG TvTuner
AVerMedia Hardware MPEG TvTuner

But nothing is shown anywhere for an audio device. What gives?

I can see the Realtek installation in Control Panel\Programs, although nothing shows up in Start\All Programs.

How do I get Windows to recognize the Realtek drivers and enable the integrated onboard audio?

Thanks!

 

[C1]

Would appear that the OS isnt automatically recognizing the hardware. Ensure onboard audio is enabled in BIOS. Some possibilities then are:

- Check MB website for WIN Update (to allow recognize onboard audio)
- Try manually installing the audio hardware (from Add Hardware in Ctrl Panel)
- Try other drivers (generic, VISTA, Older version, etc.)

 

[mfenn]

Also, make sure that the integrated audio controller is enabled in the BIOS.

 

[tomhanser]

Great! Making progress. Onboard audio was disabled in the BIOS.

Windows detected this new hardware when it restarted after making changes to BIOS, but was unable to install a driver for it. I tried updating the driver in Device Manager but it was unable to locate a driver online or in any of the driver folders I've located for this machine.

In Device Manager I now have 38 entries for devices with no drivers installed:

HDAUDIO\FUNC_02&VEN_163C&DEV_3055&SUBSYS_163C3055&REV_0701
HDAUDIO\FUNC_02&VEN_163C&DEV_3055&SUBSYS_163C3055

Internal High Definition Audio Bus

What are these 38 devices and how can I determine which driver will work?

I have also installed a modem driver and now have a modem showing in Device Manager. Not sure what a full-duplex modem has to do with onboard audio.

What can I do next? Can anyone identify these 38 hardware devices I see that have no driver installed?

Thanks so much - I'm so close to having this machine running perfectly.

 

[mfenn]

Great! Making progress. Onboard audio was disabled in the BIOS.

Windows detected this new hardware when it restarted after making changes to BIOS, but was unable to install a driver for it. I tried updating the driver in Device Manager but it was unable to locate a driver online or in any of the driver folders I've located for this machine.

In Device Manager I now have 38 entries for devices with no drivers installed:

HDAUDIO\FUNC_02&VEN_163C&DEV_3055&SUBSYS_163C3055&REV_0701
HDAUDIO\FUNC_02&VEN_163C&DEV_3055&SUBSYS_163C3055

Internal High Definition Audio Bus

What are these 38 devices and how can I determine which driver will work?

I have also installed a modem driver and now have a modem showing in Device Manager. Not sure what a full-duplex modem has to do with onboard audio.

What can I do next? Can anyone identify these 38 hardware devices I see that have no driver installed?

Thanks so much - I'm so close to having this machine running perfectly.

Go to www.realtek.com.tw and download the Windows 7 driver package for High Definition Audio.

Note that you may need to do a System Restore or a reinstall since you've gotten the system mucked up with a bunch of drivers that don't belong (e.g. Intel only lists XP drivers for the mobo, installing those may lead to a conflict).

 

[tomhanser]

Thanks for this suggestion. I still don't have the onboard audio working after following these steps:

I downloaded and installed the latest driver installer for High Definition Audio from Realtek, found here:

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads...4&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false#1

I ran this installer as Administrator and it appears in Control Panel\Programs.

Before running this installer I nuked the drive and re-installed Win 7 and ran all updates to avoid any previous driver conflicts as you suggested. No other drivers were installed before I ran this Realtek driver installer.

The file name is Vista_Win7_R243.exe - this is driver version 2.43.

I haven't tried to install the Intel mobo chipset drivers, since they're not available for Win 7. Is this the reason I can't audio drivers installed for this machine? Any tricks to getting pre-Win 7 chipset drivers installed and working?

I have yet to install the other drivers for TV Tuner and onboard modem - I held off until I could get the audio drivers working.

It's ironic - I can install every other driver for many other devices on this machine, even older pre-Win 7 drivers, and they install and work fine. All but the HD audio drivers.

Any other suggestions? Yes, I know I can use an external sound card, but it's not the same! I was hoping to get this onboard audio working. The Alienware DHS2 has many sound inputs and outputs I'd like to take advantage of.

Thanks again.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for this suggestion. I still don't have the onboard audio working after following these steps:

I downloaded and installed the latest driver installer for High Definition Audio from Realtek, found here:

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads...4&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false#1

I ran this installer as Administrator and it appears in Control Panel\Programs.

Before running this installer I nuked the drive and re-installed Win 7 and ran all updates to avoid any previous driver conflicts as you suggested. No other drivers were installed before I ran this Realtek driver installer.

The file name is Vista_Win7_R243.exe - this is driver version 2.43.

I haven't tried to install the Intel mobo chipset drivers, since they're not available for Win 7. Is this the reason I can't audio drivers installed for this machine? Any tricks to getting pre-Win 7 chipset drivers installed and working?

I have yet to install the other drivers for TV Tuner and onboard modem - I held off until I could get the audio drivers working.

It's ironic - I can install every other driver for many other devices on this machine, even older pre-Win 7 drivers, and they install and work fine. All but the HD audio drivers.

Any other suggestions? Yes, I know I can use an external sound card, but it's not the same! I was hoping to get this onboard audio working. The Alienware DHS2 has many sound inputs and outputs I'd like to take advantage of.

Thanks again.

What exactly appears in the task manager? A screenshot of it with all of the relevant trees expanded would be great.

 

[tomhanser]

Thanks for your continued support.

Screenshots are located here:

http://www.tomhanser.com/1.png

http://www.tomhanser.com/2.png

There are 39 items listed as Unknown Device. The two listed as Multimedia Device are undoubtedly the AverMedia Tuner card. I have drivers for these and have successfully installed them in the past.

Some or all of these 39 are the internal modem. I have a driver for this as well, but what does it have to do with the onboard audio?

I'm still wondering if NOT installing chipset drivers for Windows 7 is preventing me from getting onboard audio to work. What else could it be?

Thanks again.

 

[corkyg]

Doesn't your Alienware machine come with a CD for that? My Asus does.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for your continued support.

Screenshots are located here:

http://www.tomhanser.com/1.png

http://www.tomhanser.com/2.png

There are 39 items listed as Unknown Device. The two listed as Multimedia Device are undoubtedly the AverMedia Tuner card. I have drivers for these and have successfully installed them in the past.

Some or all of these 39 are the internal modem. I have a driver for this as well, but what does it have to do with the onboard audio?

I'm still wondering if NOT installing chipset drivers for Windows 7 is preventing me from getting onboard audio to work. What else could it be?

Thanks again.

Potentially. Have you tried running Windows Update to see if it finds any drivers? The "High Definition Audio Bus" driver is included in Windows 7, but it they may have dropped support for your board.

The thing is, Intel doesn't provide ANY Windows 7 drivers for that board, so you would need to rely on Microsoft for the chipset drivers. However, since the board and chipset are fairly old, Microsoft may not include those drivers with Windows 7. Windows XP drivers will not work, because the OSes are too different.

 

[tomhanser]

Thanks for your continued support!

Windows is up to date - I've checked repeatedly.

>The thing is, Intel doesn't provide ANY Windows 7 drivers for that board...

As I see it, this download should install chipset drivers for my board for Windows 7:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18494&ProdId=1765&lang=eng

I just downloaded and ran this Intel .exe file. Nothing's changed - still no audio.

Windows doesn't indicate any chipset drivers have been installed - nothing is indicated in Control Panel\Programs and nothing new shows up in Device Manager.

This isn't a showstopper or anything, I just like this machine and it's capabilities. Just tinkering! I don't have the original CD, no, and those drivers would be for Windows XP Media Center 2005 anyway.

I've located drivers for this machine online but they're typically for earlier Windows versions.

Sure, I could use an external sound card, but I thought I was pretty close to getting everything working. I can get all these onboard devices to work except audio! Can you believe it?

Thanks, as always.

 

[sandorski]

Time to get a Cheap Sound Card....verify Win7 Drivers first.

 

[vailr]

Intel Chipset Software Version 9.1.1.1027 WHQL
http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20chipset.htm
Note: must be run from a DOS prompt as Administrator:
"setup.exe -overall"
Otherwise, the chipset drivers won't get updated.

I'd recommend removing the TV tuner card and modem, then do a complete fresh install of Windows 7.
Run the above-mentioned Intel chipset driver installer. Then Windows Update.
Check the owner's manual for confirmation that the audio is Realtek before attempting to install Realtek drivers. Or: Windows Update may figure that out.
But get the audio working before re-installing the TV card & the modem.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for your continued support!

Windows is up to date - I've checked repeatedly.

>The thing is, Intel doesn't provide ANY Windows 7 drivers for that board...

As I see it, this download should install chipset drivers for my board for Windows 7:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18494&ProdId=1765&lang=eng

I just downloaded and ran this Intel .exe file. Nothing's changed - still no audio.

Windows doesn't indicate any chipset drivers have been installed - nothing is indicated in Control Panel\Programs and nothing new shows up in Device Manager.

This isn't a showstopper or anything, I just like this machine and it's capabilities. Just tinkering! I don't have the original CD, no, and those drivers would be for Windows XP Media Center 2005 anyway.

I've located drivers for this machine online but they're typically for earlier Windows versions.

Sure, I could use an external sound card, but I thought I was pretty close to getting everything working. I can get all these onboard devices to work except audio! Can you believe it?

Thanks, as always.

It's likely that the Windows 7 drivers included by MS are newer than the 915 drivers included in that package. Even though the package is new, the 915 drivers are probably quite old. Try what vailr suggested.

 

[tomhanser]

Thanks, as always.

I'll try this method now (running the chipset installer file from a DOS command, Admin privileges) but the modem is integrated, as I understand it. I may be able to remove the Tuner card, but it's buried pretty well in this low-profile case.

I have no owners manual for this machine but how do I determine if the onboard audio requires Realtek drivers? I found older Realtek drivers in a folder for this machine online:

ftp://ftp.higrade.com/Drivers/Media%20Centre/DMS_2 Rev 2/

Thanks again.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks, as always.

I'll try this method now (running the chipset installer file from a DOS command, Admin privileges) but the modem is integrated, as I understand it. I may be able to remove the Tuner card, but it's buried pretty well in this low-profile case.

I have no owners manual for this machine but how do I determine if the onboard audio requires Realtek drivers? I found older Realtek drivers in a folder for this machine online:

ftp://ftp.higrade.com/Drivers/Media Centre/DMS_2 Rev 2/

Thanks again.

I wasn't able to find the manual, but I did find the Motherboard Logo Program (MLP) report that indicates that the board does in fact come with a Realtek chipset. The MLP report doesn't specify which exact chipset is present, so it may be worth trying the Realtek AC'97 drivers.