Several audio/video problems with Win 7

[lavEy]

Hi there
So about a week ago me and my dad both upgraded our computers to windows 7. His being a laptop and mine being a desktop computer. My desktop computer works perfectly fine with nothing really wrong except there is an occasional freeze/delay when typing or clicking on something. Although, thats not why I'm writing (but if anyone has a solution please feel free to give me tips)

My dad has a Sony Vaio with model #: VGN-SZ483N
With a inbuilt microphone and webcam, furthermore the graphics card is a Nvidia go 7400
The problems that consist on my dads laptop after formatting to windows 7 is the following:
1. When trying to play games we get a error message saying that hardware acceleration is turned off or not supported by my video card and to update drivers. However, I have checked the HW Accelerator and it is turned on, furthermore I went to download the latest driver from the NVIDIA website and when I run the installation it says something on the lines of there being no drivers on the computer so it cannot continue. I also went to the Sony website for the particular model number and could not find a suitable driver for my problem.
2. Now the microphone does not work and makes a buzzing noise, after installing windows 7 we tried using skype to contact family, and they could not hear us. So I went into control panel and turned up the volume and boost etc and fiddled around with the settings but nothing helped. Also, when clicked on "listen to microphone" it makes a very irritating buzzing noise. I have researched this but the only thing I have found is to turn off the "listen to microphone" check and that should solve it... well it keeps making the noise on skype!
3. ok, the webcam also does not work! in control panel it says it is not being detected or something on the lines of that and also in skype an error message is saying that there are problems with the webcam.

I have used google (my best friend) for everything and have come to no solutions that have helped me particularly!
I hope someone will be capable of helping me here.
If you need anymore information please ask!
Thank you

 

[kword88]

for your first question, go back to the nvidia website and use the auto detect tool instead of picking your driver from a list.

what is the make and model of your sound card?

what is the make and model of your webcam? is it built-in?

 

[Lemur]

Please fill out your System Specs more completely.

Also, from an elevated command prompt type:

sfc /scannow

 

[lavEy]

thanks for the replies.
Went back to Nvidia site and it has been scanning system for about 20 minutes now and nothing has come up... ill keep waiting

DirectX Diagnostic tool, aswell as device manage says that my sound device is "Speakers (High Definition Audio Device" ... doesn't sound right too me O.O

And about the webcam and microphone, like in the original post, it is built in. However, don't know how to find out what the exact model it is, if that is capable for built in's?

@ Lemur, currently running sfc/ scannow will reply when finished with its results.

Thanks

 

[lavEy]

@ Lemur

"Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations"

Hope this helps.

 

[stormy13]

The reference Nvidia drivers will not work as Sony will not allow it (they do the same thing with their laptops with AMD graphics as well), and you will have to use modded drivers or mod them yourself. You can find the pre-modded drivers here,

Drivers | drivers for mobile cards and laptops | laptopvideo2go.com

The mic/audio (which has the Sigmatel audio on it) you should be able to get away with the Vista update from here,

Audio Driver Update Program Version 6.10.5379.1 : Sony Asia Pacific

For the webcam if you have the original driver disk for the laptop you should be able to use the camera driver off of it. If you don't have the disk you can download it here,

Original Drivers for VGN-SZ4XX Series : Sony Asia Pacific

then locate the camera.exe file in it (I'm assuming that is the driver and not the application for it).

 

[lavEy]

Hi there stormy, thanks for the response.
Ok, I'm getting some progress here.
1. I downloaded and installed the Sigmatel driver you recommended and the microphone works. However, when the speakers are turned up on my other computer (When calling/speaking through skype) It makes a somewhat loud echo/humming type noise.

2. On the laptopvideo2go.com, I'm not exactly sure which driver to download? just the latest one on top of the list? there is so many to choose from.

Furthermore, the camera.exe does not work, it says that it is only compatible with windows vista bumma

Thank you

 

[Lemur]

Hi there stormy, thanks for the response.
Ok, I'm getting some progress here.
1. I downloaded and installed the Sigmatel driver you recommended and the microphone works. However, when the speakers are turned up on my other computer (When calling/speaking through skype) It makes a somewhat loud echo/humming type noise.

You might be receiving feedback from the speakers back to the mic. Try using a headset with mic.

 

[stormy13]

1. Open the Windows Playback properties, select the speakers and click on Properties. Then click on the levels tab and set all input options to mute, especially the Microphone.

2. With a GPU as old as the Go7400 I would probably go with something from the 18x.xxx or 19x.xx series of drivers (come on Nvidia guys, make a recommendation please). The latest should work, but they are more geared towards the newer GPU's.

3. If you didn't try installing the driver in compatibility mode,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html

 

[lavEy]

Sorta the mic problem, it works fine.

Will, download and attempt to install the driver when i get home.
Furthermore, with the compatibility mode, it says that I cannot change it (in the link provided it says its probably because its a 64-bit program).. are there solutions to this?

Thanks for the help so far as been great!