Problem w/ Driver update for C-Media AC97 Audio Device

[obscene118]

I am currently running Windows 2000 Proffesional. I went onto windows update
and downloaded/installed the listed updates. After the install I apparently
lost my sound. The audio speaker (to adjust volume) dissapeared from my
bottom toolbar. I don't think win 2000 has a system recovery like xp to roll
back to a different time. I tried uninstalling the driver and rebooting to
see if the computer would recondize the missing driver and install the old
one but with no avail.

Any help would be appreciated and I will try to give as much info as I can
to help towards a solution.

[DL]

Winupdate is the last place you should source driver updates from, if you
must update use manu sites only.
In Hardware Devices, locate faulty device and remove. On reboot if hw wizard
pops up cancel it, then manually install using the option to view all
drivers.

[obscene118]

I deleted/uninstalled the C-Media AC97 Audio and restarted my computer.
After restart the wizard found the driver that was uninstalled and I went to
the option to install from a list. Problem is that there are only 2 drivers
to choose from and they are both the same Cmedia ac97 driver. It seems as
though I lost my old sound driver completly and have no idea what it was. I
went into the device manager and saw that it automaticly installed the cmedai
ac97 driver and there was the same "!" next to it. thanks for your post and
let me know if you have any other solutions to this very annoying problem.

[realcestmoi]

Hi there,
You should always check for driver updates at he manufacturers site never
from microsoft update: if it ain't broke dont't fix it.

Best regards,

[obscene118]

The automatic updates were on and this is what was installed. Your reply
didn't help at all for the situation. If anyone knows how to fix this please
respond.

[realcestmoi]

In other words: download the driver from your manufacturers website for
instance realtek if your hardware is realtek, remove your installed device
than search for new hardware and install the driver you just downloaded and
never use updated drivers from MS, only install updated drivers if your
device is not working or performing well: if it ain't broke don't fix it!

Best regards,

[DL]

Even with auto updates you can, and should, configure for critical updates
only.

[McMac]

ok, we get it only update from manufacture's web site. My problem is I did a
full reinstall of windows and these C-Media drivers were installed without
prompting to me. I have a sound card and want to run the software and driver
for it but I cannot because C-Media is like a virus... IT WILL NOT
UNINSTALL!! So, how do you uninstall C-Media pci audio drivers?!?!

[Shenan Stanley]

Please give the actuall verbatim message you get when you attempt to install
the proper drivers for your audio device.

Also - give the exact model of your audio device.