Weird audio driver problem with Dell

mindgackt · May 6, 2007, 12:19 PM

I recently bought a Dell E521 that came preinstalled with vista home edition and integrated 7.1 audio . I didnt like vista so i installed xp pro edition. Only problem is that all the drivers got uninstalled so i had to reinstall all of them. They installed without a hitch except for the audio driver, Sigmetal STAC 92XX c-major HD audio driver. Whenever i try to install it, i get an error saying that the driver doesnt support my system. I talked to 5 different Dell customer service guys and they all gave me the same driver to install. I even reinstalled windows once but it still doesnt seem to recognize my integrated audio. I went in the bios and the onboard audio is on. Does anybody know what's up? And the audio was working before i uninstalled vista.

jiiteepee · May 6, 2007, 04:04 PM

Maybe Dell has proper drivers for XP installation?

Here are some listed if you can't find from Dell.

jiitee

Tipstaff · May 6, 2007, 08:08 PM

Are you sure it's not the Creative X-Fi? That particular desktop was at one time sold with a Creative X-Fi Xtreme. However, if it is the Sigmatel chip there are a couple other things to try first.

1) It's quite possible that Microsoft UAA driver isn't being installed properly, so you may want to try installing it yourself first. To do so, go into the C:\dell\drivers\R132395 fold that the driver off their site expands into. In there you will see a folder called "HDAQFE", and go into the folder that says "win2k_xp/us". Now, here's where it gets tricky. There are 2 files in there: kb835221.exe, and qfe.exe. If this was a Realtek chip I'd say run the kb835221.exe file, however Sigmatel may require the qfe.exe file to be run first or last. Give each install options a try. After that's done, try installing the driver from the root of that folder (by running the setup.exe file).

2) Since Intel uses the very same chip on most of their boards you could try installing their driver from HERE (the one I've linked to is the standard, non-Intel control panel version).

mindgackt · May 7, 2007, 09:15 AM

The sigmetal driver on the Dell page says it supports XP so i dont think thats the problem. I tried every audio driver on the driver page for the e521 and none of them work. I'll try the first thing u mentioned. And the link u provided on the 2nd is for non-Intel boards right? Cause my board uses an AMD Chip, 3400+ 2X 64 bit.

Tipstaff · May 8, 2007, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mindgackt

The sigmetal driver on the Dell page says it supports XP so i dont think thats the problem. I tried every audio driver on the driver page for the e521 and none of them work. I'll try the first thing u mentioned. And the link u provided on the 2nd is for non-Intel boards right? Cause my board uses an AMD Chip, 3400+ 2X 64 bit.

Since Sigmatel don't directly supply drivers they rely on manufacturers to alter, and supply them, however the chips used are the same, and should work whether it's in an Intel chipset board, or an AMD one. Mind you, the only time it may not work is if Intel, or whomever, has written the installer so that it doesn't work on any other chipset or board but their own.

Worth a shot though.

Robert McClelland · May 8, 2007, 11:03 PM

worst case you always can get new sound card.

mindgackt · May 9, 2007, 07:25 AM

It turned out i needed to install Service pack 1 or 2. But thanks to TipStaff since i wouldnt have had figured this out if i hadnt tried to install the Microsoft UAA driver that you mentioned.

zafar2002 · Jun 22, 2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tipstaff

Are you sure it's not the Creative X-Fi? That particular desktop was at one time sold with a Creative X-Fi Xtreme. However, if it is the Sigmatel chip there are a couple other things to try first.

1) It's quite possible that Microsoft UAA driver isn't being installed properly, so you may want to try installing it yourself first. To do so, go into the C:\dell\drivers\R132395 fold that the driver off their site expands into. In there you will see a folder called "HDAQFE", and go into the folder that says "win2k_xp/us". Now, here's where it gets tricky. There are 2 files in there: kb835221.exe, and qfe.exe. If this was a Realtek chip I'd say run the kb835221.exe file, however Sigmatel may require the qfe.exe file to be run first or last. Give each install options a try. After that's done, try installing the driver from the root of that folder (by running the setup.exe file).

2) Since Intel uses the very same chip on most of their boards you could try installing their driver from HERE (the one I've linked to is the standard, non-Intel control panel version).

Thanks so much mate, I just joined driverheaven today and your solution worked perfectly for me for Dell inspiron 1525, I was struggling since yesterday after installing Win xp sp3 from windows vista. Thanks so much. God bless you.

nuahs · Sep 1, 2008, 06:49 PM

Just wanted to say that I had the same error as mindgackt, and your solution #1 worked for me on an E521.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tipstaff

Are you sure it's not the Creative X-Fi? That particular desktop was at one time sold with a Creative X-Fi Xtreme. However, if it is the Sigmatel chip there are a couple other things to try first.

1) It's quite possible that Microsoft UAA driver isn't being installed properly, so you may want to try installing it yourself first. To do so, go into the C:\dell\drivers\R132395 fold that the driver off their site expands into. In there you will see a folder called "HDAQFE", and go into the folder that says "win2k_xp/us". Now, here's where it gets tricky. There are 2 files in there: kb835221.exe, and qfe.exe. If this was a Realtek chip I'd say run the kb835221.exe file, however Sigmatel may require the qfe.exe file to be run first or last. Give each install options a try. After that's done, try installing the driver from the root of that folder (by running the setup.exe file).

2) Since Intel uses the very same chip on most of their boards you could try installing their driver from HERE (the one I've linked to is the standard, non-Intel control panel version).