Windows 7 Installed, Lost All Audio

Unfortunately, Alcxau6.inf didn't work. After choosing "Alcxau6.inf" from the browse, it attempted to install. I got the message:

"Windows encountered a problem installing the driver software for your device

Windows found driver software for your device but encountered an error while attempting to install it.

Realtek AC97 Audio

Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)"


I'm rather clueless in this scenario. Would it be worth attempting any of the other inf's in the folder? I noticed there were quite a few...
I hope you enjoy this type of thing, because I feel pretty awful coming back to the thread with bad news.

Thanks for all the help!

And you did click on the .inf itself, right? If so, I can maybe try another driver to edit in a little. Microsoft gave that driver to me when I search for your basic hardware id without the subsys - usually works well.

Yep, I clicked on the inf itself. I can see that it was modified just a little while ago whereas the others haven't been touched since Sept. 2008. So I definitely chose the right one.

I appreciate all the help, a lot. Thank you.

Try again to install it the same way in safe mode. Then reboot to normal mode.

You'll be able to make better sense of what happened than I can.

I booted in safe mode, chose the Alcxau6.inf, and it completed successfully. I noticed the speaker icon in the bottom right quick launch bar still had the "x" symbol stating "No Audio Device is installed," but the Realtek AC97 Audio within my Device Manager no longer had the cautionary "!" symbol. So I figured all I needed was a restart.

So I restarted into normal mode and I still have the same issue. The speaker icon in my quick launch bar still says "No Audio Device is installed" and now in the device manager, Realtek AC97 Audio is back to having the cautionary "!" symbol.

Drats! (Thanks for the help, though.)

One last thing you can try right now with that driver.

In device manager, right click on it then uninstall. Do not check the box to delete the driver. Then go to action | scan for hardware changes. See if that helps.

No luck. "Unsuccessful."

I hate to be a bother, torrentg, but I was curious to see if you were ever able to put together that driver you thought might work for me. I appreciate all the effort and help you've given me, regardless. Not having sound is pretty awful. =\

Try this. Should be good.

ftp://ftp.dell.com/audio/R99254.EXE

As always, much appreciated, but I've found that driver on multiple websites with no luck. Thinking you may have altered it somehow, I tried it again anyway...but again no luck. I received the same error about Windows encountering a problem installing the driver software.

It looks as if I may have to buy a new sound card. Knowing nothing about hardware, is all that I have to be sure of is that whatever sound card I purchase is compatible with my laptop and Windows 7?

Thanks a ton!