Problem with WindowsXP Update

[Heraclitus]

I tried to update to the following device driver using WindowsXP Update: Via Technologies, Inc. Media Driver Version 5.10.0.3621; Released on August 30 2001.

My MB is an EPoX 8K7A+. I am using the onboard sound: no sound card.

Prior to this update, I was using only the drivers that came on my WinXP disk: no other drivers from any source (with the exception of my nVidia video card drivers).

My computer crashed in the midst of installing that update. Upon reboot, I now have no sound!

In the Windows Update history, it tells me that the update Failed. However, it doesn't give me the option to try to install it again, and when I search for updates that update no longer appears in device driver list.

I do not have System Rollback, Remote Assistance, etc. activated.

I'd like to either revert back to the old driver, or re-install the new one, but I don't know how to do either.

Thanks in advance for any helpful reply!

 

[c0rv1d43]

Sorry, don't know of any direct way to help you in the present situation. Why did you turn off system restore? It allows a system to recover from situations like this.

I guess I'd try to boot to Safe Mode and uninstall the update -- if it shows up in Add / Remove Programs. (So many updates don't.)

- Collin

 

[HexVector]

Roll Back drive from Device Manager? I believe it works regardless of whether you turned of system restore.

 

[c0rv1d43]

Hi, HexVector.

Now that would be interesting. I've always assumed that driver rollback wouldn't be available if System Restore had been turned off -- or at least that no interim drivers (between the time System Restore was turned off and the present) would be available. I've never looked at a system that wasn't running System Restore. I like the feature so much I haven't botherred to disable it anywhere. If it is available, I wonder where the data is stored? Now you've got me curious. I guess I'll have to spend some time trying to find out.

Or maybe Heraclitus will let us know so I don't have to exercise my poor old gray cells to find out.

- Collin

 

[Heraclitus]

No, I tried driver rollback with no success.

I ended up downloading audio drivers from VIA, which corrected the problem.

However this solution did nothing to fix my real problem: an anal-retentive nature that can't stand to see that "Failed Update" in the list.

 

[HexVector]

Heraclitus, just curious, did it not roll back to a previous driver?

I have noticed that System Restore eats a lot of HD space. I disabled just as a test and got back a little over 1GB of space. I think its a good feature to have especially if it prevents driver rollback from working.

 

[c0rv1d43]

<< I have noticed that System Restore eats a lot of HD space. I disabled just as a test and got back a little over 1GB of space. I think its a good feature to have especially if it prevents driver rollback from working. >>



Yes, System Restore uses 12% (max.) of the boot partition, though that can be reduced by the user in the System Restore settings dialog. Since it's really the only straightforward method of recovering from problem installs, I leave it running on all of my systems. In my estimation it's really a great improvement for end users over the old NT4 and Win2K use of the ERD and previous registry copies. Covers a lot more territory, and is much easier to use. And, with hard drives as cheap as they are, the cost in drive space seems a tiny price to pay for the convenience and safety.

I'm not certain, though, that Heraclitus actually said that Driver Rollback wasn't available. I'm not clear on whether it just provided a rollback that didn't work out or whether the feature wasn't available when our friend tried to use it. I'm curious, especially about whether disabling System Restore simply eliminates all of the previous configuration data or makes only future backups of configuration data impossible. I was inclined to believe that latter, but your observation that disabling it freed a gigabyte makes it seem that all previous configuration backups would be eliminated. Inquiring minds want to know!

- Collin