Optional Hardware Update C-Media AC97 Audio Device

After downloading and, apparently, unsuccessfully installing the optional
hardware update C-Media AC97 Audio Device and rebooting the computer, the
Sound Properties icon in the taskbar disappears and there is no longer any
sound. In the Device Manager, the device appears but it has a yellow icon
with an exclamation point in the center. And, under Properties for this
device, it says: "This device cannot start. (Code 10). It doesn't appear
there's any conflicts since, under the Resources tab, it says the device
isn't "using any resources because it has a problem." The drivers appear to
be installed but when I run the Add Hardware wizard, it won't automatically
detect the device and I cannot find the device when trying to manually
install it. The sound device that was previously installed, of which worked
properly, was Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller.

The system is running Windows XP Home Edition, version 2002 with Service
Pack 2.

If anyone can assist in this problem it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time and attention.

The same thing happened to me. What I did was use System Restore to go back
to before the update installation. This happened to me maybe a year or so ago
and I can't remember what the update was. I am running XP Home with SP2 also.

Get the drivers directly from the hardware manufacturer.
In the future do not get hardware updates from Microsoft/Windows Update.
Also see my response to you in the other thread.

Thank you, makes sense.

To attempt to fix the problem, Right click on My Computer, left click on
Manage, left click on Device Manager. Scroll down to the Sound, video and
game controllers area. You will probably see a yellow exclamation mark on
the Sound device. Right click on it and then left click on Properties and
then the driver tab. Click on Roll Back Driver. This should put your old
driver back in place. Once that is done and the "yellow exclamation" goes
away, go to Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices Properties, click on
Volume (if not already the default page) and click on Place volume icon in
the taskbar. Click Apply then click again to turn the item back on and
click apply again. This should solve your problems.

Don't download device drivers from Microsoft in the future. This is one
area where they really fall short in providing proper support.

Thank you for the reply. I had no trouble going back to my previous driver
and all is well. My sound is working well so likely I don't even need another
driver. If it ain't broke don't fix it and so on............

Great news. Just to see if the driver MS update wanted to install on my
"server" computer would work, I tried the same update you used. It also
trashed the sound on the computer by creating a bad device name. Put my
sound back in service exactly the same way I said below.

Glad I could help.

I have the very same problem, but i cannot roll back the driver, because i
re-installed my windows XP. Is it possible to get the name of the driver u're
using? even better if u can telll me where to get it?

The driver would be supplied by your mobo manu, or maybe PC manu if large
OEM, eg Dell, or a Laptop.

My audio device is down and I have tried everything and its not working. I
also tried your suggestion of rollback driver, i clicked on that and it said
that "no drivers have been backed up for this device." Ive tried uninstalling
then reinstalling and everything, what would you suggest I try next?

I am having the very same problem. Can anyone please help. All my drivers say
they are working properly.

#1 - start your own thread.
#2 - never download and install drivers from Windows Update unless they're
for a product made by Microsoft.
#3 - go to http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/ and download and install the
drivers that belong on your system.

I tried that and it still doesn't work. Either I lost this sound device while
deleting programs or from an update. How can I get it back? Will I get it
back if I found the CD and re-install it? Please help. Thanks

The system CD will have very old drivers that have been updated many times.
Can you do a system restore to a point before you installed the update?
In device manager is there a caution icon beside the sound device?
Downloading and installing the correct drivers should've fixed this.
Why are you only running SP2????????

How do I know when I installed the update and where do I go to do a system
update? Also, went into device manager and there is no caution icon there
now, but I'm sure I seen one previously, thats where I got C-Mdia AC 97
Audion Device Properties - the drive cannot start (code 10). Also when I go
into Volume is says no audio advice. Don't know what SP2 is and not sure I'm
running it. How do I know?

Update: I find my system restore and went back to the date before I removed
the AC97 Audio Device (Jan. 20) and said there was no changes from that
date??? What else can I do?