Realtek Audio Driver Won't Install on Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L

[raygundan]

I have a shiny new GA-P35-DS3L with an E6750. Everything is running smoothly except for the audio-- after attempting to install the RealTek audio driver, it quits at about 90% with the error message "Install Realtek HD Audio Driver Failure!!!"

I have tried rebooting with the Azalia audio disabled in the BIOS, and uninstalled anything it would allow. After another reboot (audio still disabled) it allowed the drivers to be installed-- but on the following reboot with the audio re-enabled, it asks for the drivers again. And, of course, once the audio system is enabled the drivers won't install.

This is driving me batty. Obviously, these are very finicky drivers-- I really don't want to start the whole XP install again, but I will if there's no alternative. Anybody run into a similar issue?

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Zero fill the HDD. Reset CMOS. DO NOT connect PCI/PCI-E cards to the MB. DO NOT connect USB devices to MB except for USB mouse/keyboard. Clean install windows. Load Intel chipset drivers. Reboot PC. Load audio driver. Reboot PC. Load LAN driver.

 

[Heidfirst]

look on Gigabyte's site for something to do with MS UAA HD audio bus

 

[SerpentRoyal]

I wasn't aware of the need to install the MS patch to load audio. Didn't have to do this with Abit IP35 series or Asus P5B Deluxe.

 

[Heidfirst]

there's a known problem across many mfrs mobos (it even happens on abits & Asus) with the Realtek HD drivers not installing properly & it's usually due to the MS UAA HD Audio Bus Driver.

"If you want to manually install the HD audio drivers then you will have to firstly download the Microsoft Bus driver and install it."
http://www.giga-byte.co.uk/Sup..._Model.aspx?FAQID=2501

 

[raygundan]

You definitely have to install the MS UAA Audio Bus Driver first. You also have to install both the MS UAA Audio Bus Driver *and* the Realtek audio driver after Service Pack 1.

For my situation, at least, this was not enough. Windows seems to be attempting to automatically detect and install a driver for the sound card just after install, which then permanently screws everything up. I finally succeeded by disabling the sound card (Azalia codec) in the BIOS and reinstalling windows. AFTER everything is installed and patched and the chipset drivers are installed, I rebooted and re-enabled the sound card in the BIOS. After cancelling out of the new hardware detection window, I installed the UAA driver, rebooted, and installed the Realtek driver. Now it all works.

To recap:

1. Disable sound card (Azalia codec) in BIOS
2. Install windows
3. Install all windows patches, reboot
4. Install chipset driver, reboot
5. Enable sound card in BIOS
6. Install UAA driver, reboot
7. Install Realtek driver, reboot

 

[postmortemIA]

1. Buy decent sound card?