Help with Audio!

Hello,

As you can see I am new here. I just had a battle with “Ultimate Cleaner” malware and finally managed to get rid of it (I think). I’m pretty sure I got this malware at a website where I was prompted to download and install a video codec. From what I’ve read, it was probably “Video Access Codec v.1.4.”.

I have searched and read other threads with the same or similar problems as mine and it would appear that the “Ultimate Cleaner” malware has somehow disabled the audio in my computer and others’.

Here’s my new problem. My audio drivers are not working. I’m pretty sure they were working before I encountered the Ultimate Cleaner malware.

Anyway, here’s some info:

My sound card is integrated on the motherboard.

Drivers are Legacy audio drivers.

The computer is an HP Pavilion a1512x. I went to HP’s website and downloaded what I thought were the proper drivers but when I installed them things got worse. At least the symptoms look worse. Now I have these in my device manager which I didn’t have before and neither one is working:
1) Microsoft Kernel Acoustic Echo Canceller
2) Microsoft Kernel Audio Splitter
Both have yellow exclamation marks (as in “not working”).

When I try to open the master volume control in Windows, I get this message: “There are no active mixer devices available. To install mixer devices, go to Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and the click Add Hardware. This program will now close.”.Just what are “active mixer devices”?

I have tried to “Add Hardware” with several different options and the end result is always the same. This HP Pavilion has the volume control on the keyboard. When it’s working properly, green marks come up on the monitor and display the volume (or mute). Now the green marks come up but no volume and the mute button does nothing.

OS is Windows XP Media Center Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600). RAM is 1 gig and hard drive is 200 gig.

I have checked the BIOS and the audio is enabled.

I also came across RUN “services.msc” while googling and Windows audio is “started” and “automatic”.

Any help greatly appreciated!

Also, I'm attaching a short version of an Everest report. At least I'm attempting to attach it.

dalan

PS. If I get a new sound card, like a PCI card, do ya' think it will work and all these audio problems will disappear?

 

Always Set a Restore Point before installing new drivers.
Start by installing the chipset driver for your motherboard:
(HP does have them on site for that model so here is the driver from Intel)
INF Update Utility - Primarily for Intel® 3, 900 Series Chipsets

Here is the audio driver for your HP:
Original Realtek High Definition Audio Drivers

I'm not really familiar with these, so best to leave them alone for now.

 

I wasn't awake yet in my first post. HP has the Recovery Manager, which should be listed in your Start menu, possibly under PC Help and Tools. Run the Manager, tell it "No" until you reach Driver recovery, and then point it to your audio. If that doesn't work or you can't find it, you can do it manually. (As in my first post)

Looking around, I found this info.
Microsoft Kernel Acoustic Echo Canceller
The Microsoft Kernel Acoustic Echo Canceller component provides the Acoustic Echo Cancellation system driver in the aec.sys file. This driver implements acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) and algorithms for noise suppression.

This component also includes the wdmaudio.inf file, which provides for the installation of core audio components.

Microsoft Kernel Audio Splitter
The Microsoft Kernel Audio Splitter component provides the splitter system driver in the splitter.sys file. The splitter system driver is a kernel-streaming filter that copies a single input capture stream to create two output streams. This component also includes the wdmaudio.inf file, which provides for the installation of core audio components.

I haven't dealt with these two before. It's possible that if you do a Windows update, you can get them fixed. The ! in Device Manager means that an attempt to update them failed.

If that doesn't work, run the SFC. (I'm guessing that you have the Recovery Partition intact)
Goto Start>Run and type cmd.exe
Press Enter.
In the command window, type sfc /SCANNOW
Press Enter.
This will fix or replace any missing Windows files, without changing your personal data, pictures, music, or apps.

 

musksnipe,

Thanks for all your efforts.

First, the link you gave me for my drivers is where I got the drivers I installed. They are obviously the wrong ones even though HP thinks otherwise. Is there a way to contact HP and let them know? I mean a way to contact them that will make a difference?

Second, I ran the sfc /scannow and it scanned almost everything and then I was prompted for "Windows disk 2" which I don't have and I never had. This HP has its recovery on partitioned drive D.

Third, I'm not sure about the chipset drivers you posted. I didn't get around to that.

Fourth, I also tried the Recovery Manager. It might have worked if I didn't install the wrong audio drivers from HP first.

After several hours of total frustration, I discovered I had a restore point on February 18th. Once I discovered this, I went this route and everything works now. This is a "piss-poor" way to get my audio working, but hey, whatever it takes when it comes to Windows, right?!

After the restore was done, I wrote down the files that were renamed and saved. Thought this might help for others with the same or similar problem as mine so here they are:

In the C:\WINDOWS folder:
RTHDCPL.EXE ---- RTHCPL(2).EXE
SoundMan.exe ---- SoundMan(2).exe
RTHDCPL.EXE ---- RTHDCPL(3).EXE

In the C:\WINDOWS\System32 folder:
Ksuser.dll ---- Ksuser(2).dll
Ksproxy.ax ---- Ksproxy(2).ax
Ksuser.dll ---- Ksuser(3).dll
Ksproxy.ax ----Ksproxy(3).ax

I'm not sure which one(s) are audio drivers except for Soundman.exe. Obviously it's involved in the audio.

Once again musksnipe I really appreciate your time and effort. If I would have realized I had a restore point on Feb 18th it would have saved both of us a lot of time and effort!

BTW, I still think my problems were a result of this "Ultimate Cleaner" malware going around. I also think we haven't seen the last of this one. Whoever is responsible for this malware is good - he, she, or they are constantly changing this malware so it shows up with several different file names, in different directories, etc. It's also distributed in the most unlikely places. I was looking for some plumbing information and came across a video about plumbing. When I was asked to install the video codec for this video I didn't think twice and was totally caught off guard.

Thanks again and best regards,
dalan

 

That is the Realtek HD driver .exe.

soundman.exe is installed with Realtek. It places an icon on the system tray for access to diagnostic features.

That shouldn't have happened with a Recovery partition in use.
Are all you Windows Updates up to date?

Installing the chipset driver first, enables your motherboard hardware to be recognized and aids in the install of drivers.

 

musksnip,

Yes, all my Windows Updates are up to date. As I recall, Windows was asking to access my "Drivers Cache" on disk 2. The "Drivers Cache" is located on drive C in the Windows folder and probably also on Drive D. I have no idea why Windows was asking for disk 2 but it wouldn't accept anything else for an answer!

If I have trouble again with my audio I will install the chipset driver(s) first.

To be honest I'm very disappointed with this HP and HP's customer support. I will never buy another HP or Compaq computer. It seems to me that HP really went down hill after they merged with Compaq. Just my .02 cents.

dalan