Solved How open realtek update cab file & kaspersky disabling sound

[averagePCuser]

Hi & happy holidays everyone

About a week ago, whenever I started my computer, the volume sound would have a little red x over it. When I clicked it, the trouble shooter would start and fix the problem of "audio service isn't running". I could only use sound after running the trouble shooter each time I restarted the computer.

I needed to disable Kaspersky for an unrelated task and found that my sound worked perfectly when I started the computer with Kapersky disabled. I added the realtek driver to Kaspersky exclusions and trusted program and so far, the sound works perfectly.

However, I noticed my Realtek driver is woefully out of date version 6.0.1.5992 from 11/30/2009.

I tried to follow the directions on this forum to update the driver and I used 7-zip to open the cab file I had downloaded to a desktop folder. The files extracted were numerous (.dlls, .dats, .infs). I had expected one .exe file to click on that would uninstall the old & install the new update.

I found a file from all the cab extractions called RtlUpd64.exe. I clicked on it and it flickered but absolutely nothing happened. I checked, the realtek driver was still out of date.

Am I extracting the cab file incorrectly? I did not see an option to download a zip file when I went to the recommended link Microsoft Update Catalog.

1) How do I open the cab file?

2) Once the files are extracted, exactly which one do I click on? Or is there another simpler way to do this that I have missed?

3) Am I at virus attack risk if I do not update the Realtek driver? The sound only works now that Kaspersky does not scan it & from what I understand out of date drivers are a security risk.

Or should I just leave well enough alone & be happy that the sound works lol?

My System Specs are below

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Sony Vaio model VGN-FE660G
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU M 430 @ 2.27GHz
Motherboard
Sony Corporation VAIO
Memory
4.0 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) HD Graphics
Sound Card
(1) Intel(R) Display Audio (2) Realtek High Definition Aud
Monitor(s) Displays
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 59 Hz
Hard Drives
(1) WDC WD5000BEVT-26A0RT0 (2) Ricoh Memory Stick Disk Device (3) Ricoh SD/MMC Disk Device (4) Seagate Expansion USB Device

 

[derekimo]

Happy Holidays to you as well.

I don't see any problem leaving the driver alone, where did you hear out of date drivers are a security risk?

I looked up your computer and Sony doesn't even show win 7 drivers for it, just XP and Vista, I don't even see a Realtek.

Drivers only need to be updated if they fix a problem or enable something previously unavailable.

Kaspersky is your culprit, you don't need to update that driver just because it's old.

Well enough left alone is a good approach here.

 

[averagePCuser]

Thank you so much for replying

Just to be sure, I restarted again & sound still A ok.
Errmm, well, I should rephrase "while I was randomly googling a youtuber said that out of date drivers cause a security risk"

Here is the link to the youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypx-dpz1zSc

at the 0:44 mark, he states updated drivers help prevent spyware & viruses. However, he could have been just promoting his Update Driver software, so I figured it best to ask a help forum first.

Your suggestion sounds good to me tho! More than happy to enjoy December with no computer failure stress lol

In all this time (since 2009) never had a problem with it. And Kaspersky seems always to be overzealous, so I'm probably ok.

Thanks again

 

[derekimo]

You're welcome

Look at the source of that video, a driver update software. I think you can see that pretty much is an exaggerated sales pitch.

You can ask anyone not trying sell something, and they will say you don't need to update drivers just to update.

You're fine just leaving it working like it should.

 

[erpster4]

derekimo, the VGN-FE660G notebook PC that averagePCuser is using was manufactured in 2006, about 3 years before Windows 7 came out. that's why Sony didn't provide any Windows 7 specific drivers but should function with Vista based drivers listed on the sony support site.