On Board Sound Grief

Hi all.
Every now and again, usually after a game crash, my sound goes pear shaped.
I sometimes get 'Error loading cmicnfg.cpl' The specified module could not be found.
I have googled it and it seems that Windows update is maybe responsible.
I have disabled auto update so i can stop the driver being installed yet it is still happening.
Sometimes all i have to do is uninstall the sound card and scan for new hardware and it sorts it.
Other times it is a huge mess about, uninstalling drivers from add remove, cleaning the registry a couple of times, making sure that start up has no mention of the drivers.........
I have tried all that today but still have no sound.
Does anyone know of an easy route for this??
If not would buying a pci sound card stop this problem??
Thanks

 

First, do you have C-Media sound?
Is the Windows Audio service running?
Go to Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Services
Scroll down the list of services until you find Windows Audio
Open up Windows Audio by double clicking
Make sure it is running, if not, click on Start
Try using the delete key on the drivers while in Device Manager (do not delete Codecs or Legacy) and then rebooting.
Use Everest to get a report of your system’s hardware, OS, and drivers. Upload the report as an attachment
Everest: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

 

Thanks for the reply.
Yes, i have c-media AC97.
Yes, the service is running.
No matter what i do to delete drivers, when i reboot, the C-Media WDM Audio Driver reinstalls itself.
I have gone to each account on the computer and tried to stop it via 'startup' but it still comes back.
Not sure how much of a report you want, i select report and it gives me a write up that includes my shoe size
I am now getting a code 10 on my card, this device cannot start.
It's ridiculous.
Below is a link to a forum thread that tries to help and explains my situation better.
http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread25517.html

 

Did you try the fix described in the link you posted?

Have you seen this article at MS?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943104/

Where are you getting your driver to install from? C-Media is your best bet.

What does your Device manager say? Are there any problems with audio drivers shown there?

To upload your Everest report:
Click "Report" at the top, click next to get to "Report Profile", select "Hardware-related Pages", click next, select "Plain Text", click "Finish". Then when it is done processing, click "Save To File". Save it where you want to. (I would use Desktop.) Then attach it to a post.

 

I shall read the MS link in a bit, i have skipped through it and it looks interesting. What they seem to be saying is that it is a hardware/software conflict. That is probably true, this is what people are saying, the MS update drivers are conflicting with some hardware.
The problem is getting rid of the damn drivers.
As you can see by the link i provided, there are bits of it embedded all over the place.
Yes i have attempted to follow the fix but after an hour my registry was STILL finding 'C-Media and CMAudio' strings. I have deleted loads.
The driver i last used was 'C-Media XP 2K ME 98 (UDA046 Build 11)'
Yes, that is where i got the code 10 from, in device manager.
Here is the report (i hope) Cheers.
If i can't find a fix would my original idea work ie a PCi sound card??

 

I'm not sure if swapping sound cards would solve the problem. I have a suggestion for cleaning your register though.
Download RegSeeker:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/RegSeeker_d2579.html
Run it and then choose ''find in the registry'', make sure all HKey boxes including HKey_Users and HKey_Current_Config is checked. Run your two search terms (one at a time. Then select all and delete. It will make a back-up. I have never seen this scanner take more then 5 minutes to run through the register.
And it is always wise to make sure you have a restore point set first.

 

Good call.
Like the way it finds stuff.
Only problem is, do i delete the string or the whole key, sod it, i'll delete the lot.
Next thing, the little util link is no longer working so i can't do that bit.
Also, when he says
Delete everything you can readily delete in C:\Temp, C:\WINDOWS\prefetch (XP only), C:\WINDOWS\Temp, and C:\Documents and Settings\%YourName%\Local Settings\Temp (2000 and XP only), so that there will not be any files left for it to try to recover the driver from. You will likely have to leave things that start with hsperfdata_ and Perflib_Perfdata_***.dat files if you find them, but should be able to delete most others without changing attributes
Thats a bit vague, what exactly CAN'T you delete??
Thanks thus far.

 

I would delete anything related to C-Media. If you use that 'find in registry tool in RegSeeker it will be safe to delete all that it finds. Just had a look at your report. I saw nothing about C-Media there.
Give me a bit and I will be back and take a better look and maybe some ideas. I'm about to install some new RAM.

 

Ok cool.
I am off to the pit anyway.
I have just tried all that i could from the fix including using the reg fix prog.
I used the mobo CD to try to install the original drivers.
The files copied across and i thought 'bingo'.
Then it told me 'Error code 10, could not start the device'
It's never taken this long before to get it working again.
Headbanger!!! :confused
Good luck with yer RAM.

 

At this point, I think the best thing is to goto Add / Remove Programs and see if C-Media is there. If it is un-install it. If it isn't, go into your program files and delete the folder, if there is one.
Then run, RegSeeker looking for C-Media.

Download CCleaner if you don't already have it. Go to the Options>Advanced and un-check the top box. (Only delete ..... files older than 48 hours)
Run the Cleaner and Register tools.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/CCleaner_Slim_No_Yahoo_Toolbar_English_d4191.html

Then goto your motherboard site.
http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.asp?Model=K7NF2-RAID&s=
Download and install your chipset driver: nForce driver package ver: 5.10
Download and install your audio driver: C-Media audio driver ver:2.052(UDA046 Build11)
Re-start your PC and tell me what's going on.

 

Chances are very good a PCI sound card would get your sound working again. If you decide to go this route, you may need to access your CMOS Setup utility and disable onboard sound in the BIOS.

 

Uninstalled C-Media via Add Remove.
Re booted (it gives no other choice than to re boot).
Went back to Add Remove and C-Media was back!!
This is one of the problems.
C-Media wont stay uninstalled so i can run the clean ups.
Something is allowing it to reinstall itself??
I have stopped it in MSConfig>Start Up, but still no joy.
I do not see a folder in program files that suggests C-Media?
I shall try the other things you say but can the clean up work with the damn thing still installed?

Yes usafveteran, it is looking favourite before something nasty happens :
Would still like to know what goes on though, i don't like giving up!

Just tried all you said but the C-Media is back in Add Remove ??

 

I just don't get it.
I posted the last reply, turned off the computer and went to work.
It rained so i came home (roofer) to carry on with this mess.
I turned on the computer and saw a icon in the task bar (Xear 3D)
Clicked a music file and the sound is back.
Now this is all well and good but i have no clue why it should just suddenly return.
It isn't going to help when it happens again.
The driver that is now installed is;

Provider - C-Media inc
Date - 22/03/2005
Version - 5.12.1.46

I have no idea where it has come from or how it installed itself, i didn't manually do it and i saw no sign of the files copying across.
In 'Driver Details' there is a list of all the files and their locations, is it worth noting these so if it happens again i can delete them all?
I think the problem is the C-Media not deleting fully from Add REmove, it is leaving files SOMEWHERE. It would be nice to get rid of them for good and just use a 'safe' driver.
I may still get me a Sounblaster 7.1 card. They are only £15.71 ($8.00).

 

I used to tell every one to shut their PC off and then re-boot and while reading a bunch of different solutions, none said shut down and re-boot. All of them said re-start. I think that is the key. Hardware sometimes needs a shutdown to be recognized and maybe that is the case with audio devices, too.
I would still download CCleaner and run the cleaner and register tools, ASAP. If there are random files or register entries not being used and causing your problems, it should clean them up.

 

Hi Musksnipe.
Not this time.
My sound has since gone yet again.
The restart is just random.
Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.
Game crash again.
Sims 2.
I'm not 100% sure but it seems to be Sims 2 every time.
No, thats a lie, i have had it happen with MOHAA as well so i don't know.
I am going to the pit now, i will see if i have sound in the morning.
I doubt it but we shall see.

 

Did you do this yet?

 

No, i have downloaded the zip file but have not been able to clean the driver out.
As i said it keeps re loading the dodgy driver.
Did you mean to load my chipset once the offending article is gone or doesn't it matter?
When i uninstall the C-Media driver through Add Remove i have no choice but to re boot, by the time the computer restarts the C-Media is back in Add Remove.
I need to find all the components on all the accounts on this computer.
The last two crashes were on my two daughters accounts, not this one.
It is knowing what order to do it in, i get rid of lots of stuff, remove the driver re boot and everything is re loaded. Viscious circle

plodr, I want to get rid of this driver and all it's components.
The driver doesn't go missing as such, it just keeps conflicting.

 

I am in the process of yet another clear out.
I am going to delete all accounts except this one.
I am using RegSeeker. It keeps finding the same keys in the registry even though i have 'deleted' them??
They are; System\ControlSet003\Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0088&SUBSYS_00881849&REV_A2\3&267a616a&0&12\cmaudio
The same again but ending in C-Media
And; System\ControlSET003\Enum\STORAGE\C-Media
RegSeeker cleaned all other cmaudio and C-Media entries but these are still there??
Oh yes, and what exactly is 'Soundman' and does that need getting rid of??
Cheers

 

I have sound YET AGAIN!
I double clicked the set up icon in the driver folder and it installed.
I re booted, it still gave me a code 10, could not start the device.
I turned the computer off, left it a minute and restarted.
There was the Xear 3D icon and i had sound.
When i have the patience i will try Sims 2 again on the Guest account.
I hope it was a problem on the kids accounts.
If only i knew!!
Thanks for the help, any further ideas please let me know.

 

But, will it stick? That's the question. Keep us posted.

 

I think I need a sound card!!
After just over 2 months the sound has gone yet again.
No game playing this time, just a bit of a mains power surge, you know, a dimming of the lights for a second which caused the internet to out and need rebooting.
Came to use the comp, no sound!! :cry

 

Here is what MS says about those code 10 errors. You may find the answer to your problems there.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943104/

 

thanks for that musk, i will read through later, got to go to work :zzz
Got the sound back after disabling, rebooting etc.
If it only took 5 minutes each time then i could put up with it but sometimes it takes an age.

 

C-Media will keep coming back as long as the onboard sound is enabled in the bios. When the machine boots, the HAL data is checked against the existing hardware. By disabling the onboard sound, the drivers/dll's etc won't load. You can then attempt a "cleanup" of drivers etc so they "don't come back".

If the registry entries and the files themselves are removed (especially the C-Media driver .inf file which lists the filenames), you'll stand a better chance at getting things straightened out.

Don't forget to re-enable the onboard sound when you finish clearing things.

Another factor; Your Multimedia Audio is listed as;

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter nVIDIA MCP2-S - Audio Codec Interface
Audio Adapter nVIDIA MCP2-S - Audio Processing Unit (Dolby Digital)

Have you tried (re)loading your motherboard chipset drivers?

Under the chipset South Bridge the audio is listed;

AC'97 Audio Controller:
Audio Controller Type nVIDIA MCP2-S
Codec Name Unknown
Codec ID FFFFFFFFh


Latest drivers here;
http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_udp_winxp_2.45

 

Hi Dan.
Thanks for that.
Yep, tried all those things and did manage, eventually, to get rid of the driver after using msconfig to stop it from appearing at start up, and, as you say, actually disabling the sound card.
On the first page of this thread you will see a link on one of my posts that takes you to a 'fix' for my problem. It was something to do with microsoft and an auto update that installed a driver that crashed and then left bits of it all over the place. No more auto updates for me, can't believe i trusted those clowns in the first place.
This problem only happens when there is a game crash or, as this last time proved, when there is some sort of interuption in the power supply.
It appears that when I have disabled the sound and got rid of the driver I have to re start, not re boot. I tried and tried with dozens of re boots, gave up, went to bed, next morning the sound was back all on it's own, just because I had switched off.
So, next time, I will disable, uninstall drivers then re start, if it still takes an age to fix then I think a sound card must be the answer????
Cheers.