Unable to get a Realtek AC'97 Audio Driver to work in Windows7

[TecknoGuy]

I am unable to find a suitable driver for my computer. I have a Compaq Presario R3000AP 3.2 GHz 2.5GB Ram and have upgraded to windows 7 with SP1.
I did a clean install and all the windows 7 drivers were installed and are compatible except for the Realtek AC'97 audio driver.


I downloaded and installed the Realtek AC'97 Codecs from the Realtek website, but unfortunately this was unsuccessful . Then I downloaded and installed the SP29586 Realtek AC'97 Driver version 6.0.1.6305 from the HP website and this was also unsuccessful. Finally I downloaded from the Microsoft website the same Audio Driver version 6.0.1.6305 and installed it but unfortunately again this was unsuccessful.


In the Device manager under Sound, video and game controllers it show below "Realtek AC'97 Audio device", version 6.0.1.6305 but in properties is shows "This device cannot start. (Code 10)"

Windows 7 does recognize the sound device, but is unable to completely install it, even though under the "driver file details tab" it show drivers installed in the windows directory.


I understand that Microsoft does not support the Realtek driver, but there must be some kind of fix or even someone out there that is able to rewrite the driver somehow.

Seems a shame to have to get a new computer because of this, as it is very fast with windows 7 even though it is only a Pentium 4.

I have no more options and I am asking for help. PLEASE!
Danny

 

[Kaktussoft]

Did you get any error message when installing driver, or did it just complete succesfully?

 

[Kaktussoft]

How To Fix Error Code 10 (This device cannot start)

 

[TecknoGuy]

Hi, thanks for replying,
No errors when the driver installed, only in device manager it shows up with an exclamation mark!

 

[Kaktussoft]

Is it a laptop?

 

[TecknoGuy]

yes it is, as in my original post, compaq presario r3000ap

 

[Kaktussoft]

I did a clean install and all the windows 7 drivers were installed and are compatible except for the Realtek AC'97 audio driver.

Was the driver not automatically installed? Or did it install after clean install and just give you errror 10 in device manager?

 

[TecknoGuy]

Hi,
Yes windows 7 did automatically install it after clean install of windows, but it showed up a an errror 10 in device manager. And did the same with all the other driver install attemps.

 

[fireberd]

If you can't find a driver that will work with the old hardware, you will have to use a USB connected sound "card".

I used to do a lot of support on the Dell forums and users that upgraded systems to Windows 7 that were not supported by Dell (or other drivers) were faced with this problem and those that wanted sound either installed a Win 7 compatible sound card in desktops or went the USB device route with laptops.

In a few (very few) cases I've seen some sound functions if the sound driver was installed in a Windows XP compatibility mode. Vista/Win 7 handles some sound functions differently than XP and the reason Vista/Win 7 drivers are needed for full functionality. It probably won't work but worth a try.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Try this one for 32bits win7 (first uninstall it!)

PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4341&SUBSYS_006B103C Driver Download

I saw you posted same question on another forum and you told it was PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4341&SUBSYS_006B103C

 

[Kaktussoft]

Since win7 installed the driver by itself the driver is most likely a good driver. Uninstalling it and install driver again doesn't fix anything (one try is enough). Can't help you.

But you did a clean install of win7 32bits. Maybe doing a clean install of win7 64BITS fixes the problem(?)

 

[TecknoGuy]

If you can't find a driver that will work with the old hardware, you will have to use a USB connected sound "card".

I used to do a lot of support on the Dell forums and users that upgraded systems to Windows 7 that were not supported by Dell (or other drivers) were faced with this problem and those that wanted sound either installed a Win 7 compatible sound card in desktops or went the USB device route with laptops.

In a few (very few) cases I've seen some sound functions if the sound driver was installed in a Windows XP compatibility mode. Vista/Win 7 handles some sound functions differently than XP and the reason Vista/Win 7 drivers are needed for full functionality. It probably won't work but worth a try.

Thank you for your input and advice. I might just try the Windows XP compatibility mode, but the USB connected sound card sounds like a great way to go, I will have to find out more about that and search the net for a USB sound card.
Cheers

 

[TecknoGuy]

Try this one for 32bits win7 (first uninstall it!)

PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4341&SUBSYS_006B103C Driver Download

I saw you posted same question on another forum and you told it was PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4341&SUBSYS_006B103C

Thanks I will give it a try