multimedia audio controller

Question

i recently had to reload windows xp onto my dell. I have a dimension 2300. Since then i have lost all sound. I have tried uninstalling the multimedia audio controller and reinstalling it because it said it could not start the driver or something similar to that. After reinstalling i still cant get it to work. Does anyone know how to fix this issue?

Alexandra_P · Answer

'Multimedia Audio Controller' is XP's 'generic' device - it's basically saying 'found a sound device but don't know which driver to use'.   The audio driver you need for the Dell 2300 is here:   http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz&releaseid=R46202&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_2300&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=2430&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=3&fileid=54115

Peanut5618 · Answer

Thank you for the link to the driver download. I downloaded and attempted to run it but it kept saying driver not found and to restart and try again. So ive tried it a few times with still no luck. Anyone have an idea of what else i can try? thanks again

Alexandra_P · Answer

After you reloaded XP, did you install the chipset drivers? These tell XP exactly what's on your motherboard, including your sound chip, and if you didn't install them it might be the source of the "not found" error. I hope.

Uninstall the audio controller first to (hopefully) clear it out, then reboot and try installing the chipset drivers.

After that, run R46202.exe again and see if the driver will take. Hopefully this will do the trick. If not, it may help to try "forcing" the audio driver to take by using the Add Hardware Wizard to point directly to the audio driver files.

Message Edited by Alexandra_P on 11-28-2007 04:08 PM

Peanut5618 · Answer

Hi,
i tried what you said and ended up trying to force the driver to install. i went through the add new hardware thing.
got through the whole process and at the end it said " there was a problem installing this hardware C-media AC97 audio device.
The device cannot start (code 10) " is there anything else i can do to force it to work? im really at a loss here.
Thanks again

Alexandra_P · Answer

Here are some possibilities, but no guarantees  - if I'm missing something, I hope someone else will jump in with more ideas:   1) In Windows:  Right-click My Computer icon, Manage, Services.  Scroll down and look for Windows Audio Service.  Make sure it is Started and Automatic.   2) Boot screen, BIOS (F2) - tab to Advanced, arrow down to Peripherals, enter, check and make sure Integrated Audio is Enabled.   3) Boot screen again, F12 -> boot to utility menu, then Custom Diagnostics, and run sound tests.  If there is a hardware problem with the sound, it should tell you.  If you don't have this option, it can be run from the Dell Resources CD, or you can download the 32 bit Diagnostics from your driver/download page here.   4) Long shot:  In Add Hardware wizard, when you look for a driver, UNCHECK the 'list compatible hardware' box. You will get a list of all available drivers for every component, not just audio.  Look for Intel, then try the generic AC '97 sound driver.    Beyond that, if it is not a hardware problem, there is no 'magic bullet'.  This is very common after a reinstall, and this forum is full of similar problems - Windows is very, very fussy about audio drivers.   If you want, you can try reinstalling XP again, but this time make sure you install the drivers in the correct order (Chipset, video, network, audio, everything else).   Or, you have the option of installing an inexpensive PCI sound card and bypassing the integrated audio entirely.

David.Carradine · Answer

'Multimedia Audio Controller' is XP's 'generic' device - it's basically saying 'found a sound  device but don't know which driver to use'.   The audio driver you need for the Dell 2300 is here:   http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz&releaseid=R46202&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_2300&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=2430&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=3&fileid=54115     Something error occurs when opening the link, Is the link expired?

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multimedia audio controller

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