Quick question about KB888111

I'm running XP SP3 with a Delta 44 sound card. I'm having some sound issues with my new studio monitors, I can hear my computer "thinking" when I drag windows around or scroll websites, I think it might be the "High Definition Audio Driver Package - KB888111" driver.

When I go to remove the driver it says "This program removes Windows XP KB888111WXPSP2 and restores your previous configuration"

'restores your previous configuration' makes me a little nervous. Is it ok to uninstall this driver? It's not going to mess up my xp install or anything will it?

 

Sorry for the late reply, was out of town. I don't need the HD audio, I have it disabled in BIOS. I went to uninstall the KB driver and it gave me a big list of programs that "might not work" so I'm still iffy about doing it lol.

When I'm in SAFE MODE the noise and crackling isn't there anymore, there's no humming or weird popping sounds coming out of my speakers. What's the deal with that??

1. Have you just had to re-install Windows? if so why?
No.

2. In Device manager do you have any yellow ! marks, if so by what device?
No yellow marks.

3. Is your PC an OEM built one, eg. Dell, HP, ACER etc, if so what make and model?
I built my PC.

4. Is your PC a home build if so what make and model is the motherboard.
ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard

 

I disabled the HD Audio in BIOS, I even tried RealTek and neither worked.

I know it's not my speakers, I plugged up my old speakers and they did the same thing, whenever I move my mouse or drag something on-screen, you can hear it "buzzing" like a bee through my speakers.

I disabled C1E and Speedstep in bios, re-arranged my sound card and video card in different slots, nothing works.

The static isn't there when I restart my computer until the Windows logo is ending and my desktop starts loading, then the speakers "pop" and the static starts.

No static in Safe Mode as I said before, which makes me think it's a driver issue and not a hardware problem?

 

Halo brings up a good point with possibility of a conflict.... do you have the on-board audio disabled in the BIOS? Have you uninstalled the drivers for the on-board audio (you'd think if the device was disabled at the BIOS level that having the drivers installed wouldn't matter, but if they're being 'called up' when your desktop loads, they could easily cause an aural hiccup). Also, check your startup lists and uncheck any items that aren't critical to normal operation. Then reboot and see if the problem continues. You should also uninstall the Delta sound drivers, reboot, then re-install the drivers.....

 

And, one thing that's been nagging at me since the beginning of this thread - if, after following the aforementioned suggestions, the problem still remains, then try this: reinstall/reenable the onboard audio, and bypass the Delta 44 by using the onboard audio. Do the symptoms disappear, or continue?

Pardon the intrusion if this has been tried.

 

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMito9X4ycw
3 parts in that video showing the problems.

My Asus P5E board came with HD Audio enabled in the BIOS but the sound card was in a separate bag that you had to install on the motherboard yourself, I never installed it and just disabled the HD Audio through the BIOS.

I have the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 LGA 775 processor, any idea if I need to disable something with it? I tried to update the drivers for that but the intel utility software is confusing.

In Device Manager under "Sound, video and game controllers" I have:
Audio Codecs
Legacy Audio Drivers
Legacy Video Capture Devices
M-Audio Delta 44
Media Control Devices
Video Codecs

I can't uninstall any of those except for the Delta 44. Not sure what the Legacy Audio Drivers are but I can't remove them.

I've tried uninstalling the Delta 44 numerous times, tried different drivers, I tried plugging my computer into 2 different wall jacks, power strips, etc.

When I start a PC game like World Of Warcraft, the buzzing is HORRIBLE. Only time I don't hear anything but the normal speaker hum is in Safe Mode.

Maybe the mobo is just a POS and I'll have to live with this until I built a new one.

 

Any way this could be a case of overdriving your sound? Try opening any volume controls you might have and lowering the volume.

And, to clarify: the distortion also occurs with the sound card uninstalled?

 

Yep, I've lowered the volume and muted the volumes in the Delta 44 control panel and through Window's Sound and Audio Devices, the crackling was still there.

Yes, the distortion occurs even if the sound card is uninstalled, I just tested it.

 

Yeah - I was gonna recommend removing the Delta card completely, and using the on-board audio just to see what happens.... I doubt the problem is with the motherboard, it's likely a problem with the Delta sound card. If the buzzing disappears when using the on-board audio, then we know it was the card; if the buzzing continues, the problem may be in the speakers, something may not be shielded correctly, or it could be any number of things (including the motherboard)....

 

I can't test it without the sound card, it's an audio recording $200 sound card with a break-out box, I plug my speakers into the 1/4" jacks on the box.

The speakers are brand new, bought them last week, plus my old studio monitors did the same thing. I might just buy a new sound card and see if that fixes it, I don't think I have any other option lol

 

Hmm, interesting.

The first noise on the video sounds quite rhythmical, like it's RFI being picked up by poor cables or a bad or corroded connection. The window-dragging noise may be driver-related. I'm not sure what's going on in the final section of the vid (HDD activity being picked up?).

When did you first notice the noises? What changes were made around that time? Did you move rooms, add software, update Windows (apart from KB888111), buy a new cellphone, wristwatch, carpet, ... ?



I think I would do a thorough check of the PC internals first, reseat all connections and components on the motherboard, breakout box connectors, drive leads, etc. If you're very careful, you can try gently moving leads inside the PC (use something non-conductive) while it's powered up with the speakers connected and volume turned up a little, listening for any change in the noise.

Next stage would be to isolate the PC by testing it on a different electrical circuit - upstairs or at a friend or neighbours? Take along the amp/speakers too.

If none of that turns up anything, I'd start by running DXDiag and looking for any old or Beta files. Then disabling non-essential devices in Windows Management (those that auto-reinstall after uninstall/reboot). The next stage would involve Autoruns, Process Explorer and Google to try to eliminate any residual startups and dross like toolbars, etc. and check there are no old drivers and that you have all the latest installed.

I'm sure there are more things I've missed but that's enough for you to think about for a while.

 

I'd imagine that statement is going to be the key - something's got to be going on with some 3rd-party software.

 

I just noticed the buzzing is in BIOS too when I use my keyboard arrow keys, a little hiss/buzz each time I hit the arrows.

It's definitely not the video card, lcd monitor, 2nd hard drive, fans, usb/ie ports, or LAN. With all that disconnected I still get the buzzing.

I'll probably just buy a new sound card cause I honestly can't think of anything else it could be, it's either the sound card or the mobo not liking the delta 44 card.

 

Uninstall all the software you really don't need, update all your drivers.

 

I've done all that guys, and I never installed the Asus addon sound card when I built the PC, the sound card came in a separate bag that I never installed in the computer.

I can't test it that way anyways because I have studio monitor speakers with 1/4" plugs, they won't fit into the smaller jacks that are on the sound card. So if I take my delta 44 sound card out I'll have no where to plug my speakers into.

I bought new speaker cables today, that didn't fix it so I'm headed over to Asus support because there's either a hidden driver I'm not aware of or my sound card is messed up.

Thanks for all the help, if I fix it I'll definitely update this post for any future users that might run into the same problem.

 

That's why it's so hard to troubleshoot via the internet - I find myself losing sight of the fact that your equipment is not the same as mine. :-o

Why not install the ASUS sound card? I know the monitors won't plug in, but can't you get a set of headphones to check? The results might shed new light.