Error Code 19 reboot headache - Please Help!

I recently had to format my hard drive and reinstall the XP SP2 operating system. I’ve done this before several times and everything has gone back on just fine, but this time I have a problem with my sound card – it’s a Sound Blaster Audigy LS that I have been using for about three years and it’s always worked very well – that is until I tried to reinstall it this time. It works perfectly immediately after the software installation and for the current session, but as soon as the PC is rebooted it displays a code 19 error in device manager: “Windows cannot start this device because it’s configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged (Code 19)”. I’m really not a ‘techy’ and I’ve tried everything I can think of to correct this: Registry cleaners & fixers by the score (well at least 4!), manually deleting the Sound Blaster entries in the registry, downloading a repair for Windows Installer (thought it may be damaged & not sending the information to the right place in the registry). All has failed – I am out of ideas and really would appreciate some help from the great brains at Major Geeks.
P.S. all of my other software/programs have reinstalled without any trouble.

 

What windows updates did you do after reinstallation?

Do you need a sound driver update as well?

 

Thank for your reply studiot. I have already reinstalled sevice pack 2 and all the latest windows updates plus the most recent drivers available on the Creative Sound Blaster site - any other thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

Have you tried working through these?

http://search.technet.microsoft.com...rand=technet&locale=&refinement=00&lang=en-us

 

I followed the link and checked out the threads but none of them relate to my problem - the code 19 error on reboot. What I can't understand is why it is that when I install the sound blaster software everything goes on fine, the soundcard performs exactly as it should - and has done for the past 3 years plus on this computer, with this operating system - but as soon as I reboot up comes error code 19 there's no sound & no playback devices recognised until I go through the whole process again of uninstall/reinstall to get my sound back - but it ONLY lasts for the rest of the current session?? - anyone with any ideas - please?

 

It is a corrupted instal, in your registry.
Uninstal - I believe this is the method for your system. Follow it through to delete all files, then reinstal.
http://kb.roxio.com/content/kb/Creator/000086CR

If you have sound working o.k again, just note that some sound drivers can be a real pain - the latest is not always the best - only update if you have problems with the drivers that you start with.

 

Thanks for your post baklogic - I did wonder if the problem might be to do with a registry entry, but I didn't know how to check it out, so the link you supplied was very helpful. I followed all the steps but unfortunately the problem remains - sound works perfectly immediately after installation and for the session, but its back to code 19 and no sound on reboot. Any other ideas?... failing that it looks as though I'm heading towards another wipeout and reinstallation of the operating system and I really don't want have to do that again unless I have to!

 

If you post the motherboard, and operating system, we can look deeper into it.

 

Sorry, I put operating system, out of habit.
I have only seen the message and error code (19) keep coming up as an upper and lower filter problem, with a CD drive/s, usually because of conflicting writing software.
Have you got more than one writing program installed, or have you uninstalled one, and installed another?
I find it difficult to see how this could, but it is possible that it is conflicting with your sound driver.
Have a look in device manager, and drivers, and check all for conflicts, or System information, to check for conflicting irq's.
Open up more information--
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304514

 

I wonder if your motherboard has its own onboard sound chip, as many do nowadays. Could it be that, even if you've turned it off, that somehow it gets turned on during the install of your Creative sound card, but only gets fully reactivated after a shutdown and reboot and then the dueling sound card/onboard chip aren't producing any sound? This probably isn't the case, but thought I'd suggest it as a possible long shot.

 

This is Microsofts rundown on error 19.
"For XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310123/en-us

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I am running Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 with all the latest updates, and the motherboard is an ASRock K7VM2. The only writing program I have installed is Nero 7 which I use for my DVD writer – I have never had a problem before with any of this gear. I followed through the Microsoft rundown on error code 19 (thanks baklogic) – their suggestion is to uninstall/restart in safe mode/select last known good config – this doesn’t help me since the trouble started immediately after I did the wipeout and reinstallation of the operating system, so there is no ‘last known good configuration’ to roll back to. Going through the System Information, ‘Conflicts (& Sharing) there are none flagged, and in the IRQ section everything shows as Status OK, including ‘IRQ 3 Sound Blaster Audigy’. In Device Manager the only ‘black mark’ (and thanks for your suggestion Eezak) is the exclamation mark on the yellow disc against Sound Blaster Audigy – and still… no sound….

 

Does Creative have a user's forum where people post problems and solutions for Creative sound cards? If so, I suggest looking there and/or contacting Creative via an email support link (if they have one) as that beats telephoning and waiting for help.

Sorry, wish I had a better suggestion, but sometimes you have to yank tech support's chain (and hope they don't yank yours).

 

Looking through your motherboard manual there are several integrated devices, designed to work with the on board audio. These are

MC97 modem
MIDI port
Gameport


And of couse the AC97 on board audio.

Post the settings for all of these.

You might also find the information in this link interesting

http://forums.dvdoctor.net/archive/index.php/t-33120.html

 

Sorry studiot, but you've lost me this time (and that's not hard to do!) - where can I find this info? is it in the BIOS or somewhere in Device Manager? I have Lavalays Everest installed that brings up all the system information - perhaps these settings would show up if I run that?

 

Great - thanks for the link Steve, looks like where I need to be.l didn't come across this site when I was looking round for a forum after Eezak's post.

 

dreamon9, I hope you didn't think I meant you weren't welcome here. In the first place, I'm not a spokesman for this website so I'd have no authority to make any such statement. I only meant that with a really difficult problem apparently tied to a specific piece of hardware we're often better off, after trying the first suggestions we get here, going to a forum dedicated to the particular hardware involved.

Please come back again. And, if you care to, we'd be interested if you'd post in this thread again if you are finally able to find a solution.

 

All the listed items are chips on your motherboard. As such they are controlled from the BIOS.
I am guessing that something is still enabled on your board that is calling the onboard audio and conflicting with the Audigy.
You never said why you reinstalled Windows or if you reset the Bios ( I know I didn't ask) so is it possible that the bios got reset during the process?

Other users have met this problem but Creative were less than helpful - see the link I gave. Hope you have more success using Steve's link.

 

...aah - I think I must have chosen my words badly in my last post. Truth is I am genuinely grateful to ALL of you who have taken the time to try and help, and although I haven't been able to resolve it yet I've certainly learnt a lot along the way!
- to studiot I had to format my C drive and reinstall Windows after files were corrupted by malware and the only way to rid myself of it seemed to be wipeout and start again. I didn't reset the BIOS (as far as I am aware) but I will look and check for possible conflicts - Thanks.

 

I've checked the BIOS and the settings are:

MC97 modem Auto
MIDI port Disabled
Gameport 200h
AC97 audio Auto

 

Now you can experiment with the settings,
Start with all disabled.

AC97 is a standard that several manufacturers make chips for. Audigy is a different standard.

 

I,m afraid the news isn't good! Disabling all, or a combination of the four integrated devices, then uninstal/reinstalling the creative software doesn't seem to have any effect at all - the outcome is the same - everything works as it should for the session but after reboot it's back to error code 19 and "no recording or playback device present". What I have found out from doing this is that I don't have to fully uninstal/reinstal the sound blaster software because there is a 'repair' option on the the software disc - but I'm not sure that this is progress?