[Writer]

I have a laptop running Windows XP Service Pack 3. Recently I lost all sound. I installed and ran RegTool, which identified out of date drivers. I downloaded the drivers. One of them is RealTek AC' 97 audio driver, but when I run it, my computer shuts down. I tried uninstalling this driver but that causes the same problem. I have disabled this driver, which solved the shutting down problem but not the lack of sound problem. I have run a malicious software detector from Microsoft. There is no malicious software on my computer. I have plenty of space and regularly defrag and clean up. I am puzzled and don't know what else to do. I have other audio drivers listed in Device Manager. All are working properly, but I have no sound. I have tried adjusting the sound volume via Contral Panel but get a message "There are no active mixer devices. Go to Control Panel, click printers and other hardware and then click add hardware." I have done this, but it does not work. If anyone knows of any solution I would be glad to hear it.

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Hiya, aside from trying sys-restore to where it did work, might wanna try to look here--> http://www.softwarep...ities/ac97.html , if you haven't already. It didn't stop working after you installed SP3? I'm guessing the other sound settings are not muted at all eh?

[THANATOZ]

Hiya, aside from trying sys-restore to where it did work, might wanna try to look here--> http://www.softwarep...ities/ac97.html , if you haven't already. It didn't stop working after you installed SP3? I'm guessing the other sound settings are not muted at all eh?

[edge2022]

I downloaded the drivers. One of them is RealTek AC' 97 audio driver, but when I run it, my computer shuts down

Can you give me the make and model of your computer.
Also provide me with an Everest Report; click on Everest Instructions in my sig, and follow the directions to post a log.

[Writer]

Thanks for your reply. Here is the info:

Gateway M305CRV Rev 1

I've uploaded part of the Everest Report. It's rather long. If you need additional pages from that report, just let me know and I'll send them along.

 EVEREST_REPORT_PART_1.doc   47.5KB   38 downloads
 EVEREST_REPORT_2.doc   52KB   26 downloads
 EVEREST_REPORT_3.doc   45.5KB   21 downloads
 EVEREST_REPORT_4.doc   72.5KB   300 downloads
 EVEREST_REPORT_5.doc   51KB   36 downloads

[edge2022]

Go here: http://support.gatew...p;param=1008192
Download the motherboard (chipset) and sound drivers, and install them. Reboot, and let us know if you have your sound back.

[edge2022]

Go here: http://support.gatew...p;param=1008192
Download the motherboard (chipset) and sound drivers, and install them. Reboot, and let us know if you have your sound back.

[Writer]

I downloaded and successfully installed the motherboard chipset drivers. After reboot, I downloaded the sound driver, but have not been able to install. Here's what happened. The files downloaded with these instructions for install: In Device Manager, click the plus sign next to Other Devices, then double-click Multi Media Audio Controller, click Properties, click Update Driver. There are further instructions, but I don't see either Other Devices or Multi Media Audio Controller in the list of devices in Device Manager so could not carry those out. I then used the "Run" command to install the files. That worked. The files installed to C:\cabs. But there is no exe file and I don't know how to proceed.

Thanks by the way for your continued interest and efforts.

[edge2022]

Just download the audio driver file and execute it.
Go to Device Manager and expand Sound, Video, and Game Controllers.
Tell me what is listed under there.

[Writer]

Sound is back! Here is what I did. I got a message from Microsoft in response to an error report after Realtek shut down my machine again. The message was not helpful. It stated this was an "unresolved issue" and provided a link to Realtek Semiconductor. But the link was broken. Fed up with Realtek, I used Add/Remove programs to get rid of it. I thought back to the most recent software installation I did -- it was AdAware. Figuring it could not hurt to try, I removed AdAware too. The computer rebooted and I went to lunch. When I got back I saw a balloon above the system tray saying "Found New Hardware Multimedia Audio." I went to Control Panel > Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices > Audio. Before, everything to do with speakers was greyed out and the default device was listed as Modem #1 Line Playback with no other choices available. Now, the default device reads Sigma Tel Audio, the speakers are no longer greyed out. I have system sounds and music from the Internet. I use Driver Dectective to update drivers and had no problems till this one. I know that Driver Detective will continue to prompt me to update Sigma Tel Audio, but I won't, knowing that that will start the whole Realtek mess over again. This driver works fine and I'm happy. Thank you again for helping me think through the steps needed to get sound restored. Your patience and help are most appreciated. Don't think I know enough about computers to help others but am glad to know of this site and will return.

[edge2022]

Good to see that this problem has been resolved... Good Job!
Thank you for coming to Geeks To Go, and hope to see you around again sometime soon!