c-media ac97 audio device -- begging for help here

My computer use windows xp pro. with audio device on-board. here's my problem.

i just reformat my pc. i used to have juzt-reboot card but i take it out coz problem to reformat hdd.
after reformat i have problem with audio device. in device manager, it says there's a problem with multimedia audio controller (there's a ! sign), so i uninstall. when i want to install back, system detect that device, it says, multimedia audio controller, and then C-Media AC97 Audio Device and it ask for C-Media WDM Audio Driver.

what should i do? i've tried everything, nothing works. i used this board cd when i installed, computer restart itself and system said that driver have problem with signing whatever. i've tried download a few drivers for c-media ac97. none works. my motherboard is intel but i'm not really sure. do i have to know what my motherboard is first?

somebody please help me, i've tried work on this problem for few days, now i'm really lost.

Your post is a bit unclear. After reformatting you would have to re-install the drivers for the audio. The more info you have about your board and chipset the better your chance of getting the right drivers. Post all your info.

actually i don't really know much of the info myself. the only info i have is that's intel desktop board. but nevermind, after struggling with drivers and all i came to the solution, i used soundmax driver with ac97 codec for intel chipset. and IT WORKS! woohoohh.

Glad you got it fixed

Hey,

I started my pc yesterday morning and my speaker system doesn't work anymore.
I re-installed the audio driver for a few times but there is always a yellow point with a -!- in the middle. The problem that windows showed me is code10?
I tried download this driver from the web, but I cannot find it nowhere.

What OS? Be sure you are trying to install the driver correctly, and it is the correct driver for your system. You should be able to download the right driver from the manufacturer's web site

I have the same problem Code 10. I don't know what Driver I have, it was custom built and I can't contact the maker. any other suggestions?
Thanks

if it's an on-board audio device....open up the side panel....you should see somewhere where it will have a manufactuer and the type of mobo. (epox, abit, asus, biostar, etc.)

go the manufacturer's website and go to your board and download the appropriate drivers.

C-MEDIA are JUNK!!!

What was the point of that? Don't make unsubstantiated claims. Either way, that is where the problem is, the user isn't going to go buy a new mobo or something.

Theres many places to get drivers, especially for something so common as a c-media audio device, but the best place to get that is the c-media website.. www.c-media.com.tw IT will ask you to install a language pack (taiwan, I guess) but the website will come up clearly if you cancel that. From there, you need to find the download tab, and know which c-media chipset you have. If you dont already know, you will need to open your cover and find the chip on the motherboard (or soundcard). It should say C-media on it, and have a number like 8738 or similar. it will be a small square chip, about an inch or so on each side. It may sound hard to find, but theres not that many "chips" on the motherboard, its mostly micro capacitors and resistors and stuff that is barely visible to the naked eye, only about 6-12 chips of various sizes, all with clear labels on them. When you find your chip number, download the driver for it. Usually the driver will have its own installation software and you can run that like a program, but if not (or if the program doesnt work as expected) then use the windows installer and tell the installer which directory the drivers are in. It should find it and load it properly. Hope that helps -- Audioguy

AS FOR AC97 BEING CRAP, it might not have "pro studio" sound capability, but for what its worth, it sounds much cleaner than my tascam cassette deck!

Hi there! i am experiencing the same problem with you. I am also using a C-Media card on ASUS board, XP Pro. The first time i re-formatted my computer, it worked normally without installing/re-installing the drivers but now, after i formatted it again, it can only play system sounds. i tried to reload the drivers from the board CD but it restarts everytime it reaches the file 3daudio.dll or whatever... sometimes it says the driver is not digitally signed. what will i do? you said you have solved your problem by installing the "soundmax driver with ac97 codec for intel". how do i do that? did you just download it from somewhere?
thank you, i hope for you help...

white shark

go to windows update.click on custom install...and then on the right side..go to "select optional hardware updates."

i have an asus board, and i always go there and download the updated drivers and it works perfect.

i have exactly the same problem with my audio i get a code 10 error and i have no sound if ladiy could come back and post where she got this driver im sure many people will be gratefull for it

yea i dont understand aswell, happens to me