Windows 7 Installed, Lost All Audio

[Zolland]

Greetings!

I've recently installed Windows 7 Professional on my Dell Latitude D810. After the install, I lost all audio capabilities. My volume controller in the quick launch bar states, "No Audio Output Device is installed." I ran the "Detecting Problems" to try and fix the drivers, but it wasn't able to fix it.

My next step was to check the Dell Drivers and Downloads website and they don't have an audio driver for my computer with Windows 7; however, I've read on other websites that people have had no audio issues with installing Windows 7 on their Latitude D810s. Others have claimed to have had issues, but to have been able to find drivers to fix their audio problems.

Through various websites and downloading, I've tried the following driver executables: D810_A05.exe, R99254.exe, and S1wua01i.exe.

Does anyone else have any other driver recommendations? Or links to other drivers I can at least try?

At this point, anything would be helpful! Much appreciation and thanks in advance....

 

[torrentg]

Install the Vista or XP driver for it using the device manager. Right click it. Update driver software. Browse my computer. Let me pick. Have disk. Browse. Double click on the .inf. Hit ok. Hit next. Reboot if necessary, but shouldn't be.

 

[fireberd]

Just looked at the Dell downloads and Dell does not support Vista or Win 7 on this "older" model PC. Not sure where or if you can get it working since Win 7 requires at a minimum Vista drivers. XP drivers are incompatible as the way some sound functions are handled were changed in Vista. There were major issues posted on the Dell users forum when Vista came out and users wanted to upgrade to Vista but Dell did not support (have drivers) for some models.

Post your question on the Dell users forum, Laptop Audio section of the forum and maybe someone there will have something that will help. DELL COMMUNITY

 

[torrentg]

XP drivers are incompatible as the way some sound functions are handled were changed in Vista.http://en.community.dell.com/

Vista itself was completely changed for how audio works. However, I have gotten XP drivers to work for many people across all types of machines. It's worth a shot to try my above method to install XP driver.

 

[Zolland]

Install the Vista or XP driver for it using the device manager. Right click it. Update driver software. Browse my computer. Let me pick. Have disk. Browse. Double click on the .inf. Hit ok. Hit next. Reboot if necessary, but shouldn't be.

Thanks for the idea! I'll be trying that as soon as I get home from work today. 1 hour and counting...

Just looked at the Dell downloads and Dell does not support Vista or Win 7 on this "older" model PC. Not sure where or if you can get it working since Win 7 requires at a minimum Vista drivers. XP drivers are incompatible as the way some sound functions are handled were changed in Vista. There were major issues posted on the Dell users forum when Vista came out and users wanted to upgrade to Vista but Dell did not support (have drivers) for some models.

Post your question on the Dell users forum, Laptop Audio section of the forum and maybe someone there will have something that will help. DELL COMMUNITY

I appreciate the help. I've come across users in other forums who have the same Dell model as me and they've had no problems with sound (or managed to fix it) so I'm sure it can be done somehow.

I'll take your advice about posting in the Dell forums. Thank you.

 

[torrentg]

Thanks for the idea! I'll be trying that as soon as I get home from work today. 1 hour and counting...

If it doesn't work out, right click on it in device manager. Properties. Details tab. Change dropdown to hardware ids. Copy and paste results to a post. I'll make a driver edit so one will install for you.

 

[Zolland]

Have disk. Browse. Double click on the .inf. Hit ok.

The only .inf on the entire disc is in the folder path R85457 > A02 (I don't know if this information is relevant or not). The .inf itself is called DEL5422K.INF.

When I choose that inf, it gives me the message, "The folder you specified doesn't contain a compatible software driver for your device. If the folder contains a driver, make sure it is designed to work with Windows for 32-bit systems."

I am running a 32-bit Windows, always have, and it seems to me it should have worked, but didn't.

If it doesn't work out, right click on it in device manager. Properties. Details tab. Change dropdown to hardware ids. Copy and paste results to a post. I'll make a driver edit so one will install for you.

I sincerely appreciate your efforts. I certainly don't get this kind of help from Dell. =)
The hardware IDS:
PC\VEN_8086&DEV_266E&SUBSYS_01861028&REV_03
PC\VEN_8086&DEV_266E&SUBSYS_01861028
PC\VEN_8086&DEV_266E&CC_040100
PC\VEN_8086&DEV_266E&cc_0401
Again, thank you. If any other information is needed, please let me know!

 

[Zolland]

According to the disc with the drivers, it detected that I require the Sigmatel STAC 975x AC97 WDM Audio Driver.

I'm not sure if this helps or if it's accurate now that I'm running Windows 7 (as this was the suggested driver for Windows XP).

Thanks again.

 

[torrentg]

That's because Dell wants to sell you a new PC instead.

Extract this download to a folder.

Right click on the audio device in device manager. Update driver software. Browse my computer. Let me pick. Have disk. Browse. Now navigate to where you extracted to and double click on Alcxau6.inf.

Hit ok. Hit next and let it install. Reboot if necessary but it shouldn't be.

Enjoy - and keep this rar file in a safe place so you don't lose it. It's a one of a kind I just made for you. Make a backup someplace too, like to cd, dvd or usb key.

 

[Zolland]

I feel like this might be a stupid question, but where's the download? I don't see a link and I have no private messages...?

Edit: nevermind, it just appeared! Trying now...

 

[Zolland]

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!

 

[torrentg]

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.

 

[Zolland]

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.

 

[torrentg]

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

 

[Zolland]

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.)

 

[torrentg]

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.

 

[Zolland]

No luck. "Unsuccessful."

 

[Zolland]

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. =\

 

[torrentg]

Try this. Should be good.

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

 

[Zolland]

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!