The audio chip on the motherboard connects through the PCI bus. Go to the properties and choose to update the driver. Choose to manually find the drivers and don't let windows look for drivers on the net or automatically. Browse to
c:\Dell\drivers\R171789\WDM

With any luck it should detect some new hardware and one of them should be the Sigmatel.

If not, reinstall the Notebook System Software and restart. Then the Intel Mobile Chipset driver and restart. Then try the Sigmatel driver again.

I was wondering if the problem lies with installing a windows xp with service pack3 already integrated.  Perhaps installing the drivers after the service pack henders the completion of the setup?  It would seem odd if this were the problem.. but it wouldnt be the FIRST Time that a windows service pack stopped other things from working LOL.  Let me know what you think. 

EDIT:

Solved!

Here's how I did it.

Step1:

Since I had an inkling that the SP3 integration was part of my problem..

Fool the installers into thinking I'm on service pack1:

Run

Regedit

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Windows  Edit the value for "CSDVERSION" from 300 to 100

(300 = sp3 200 = sp2 100=sp1)

Reboot

Step 2:

Reinstall the Notebook Support Software..

Reboot

Step 3:

Reinstall the Intel Chipset Driver

Reboot

Step 4:

Reinstall the Connexant Driver and Application

Reboot

Step 5:

Successfully install the Sigmatel Driver supplied by Dell

Reboot

Note: Steps 4 and 5 may be reversed depending upon your computer's setup.. If one way does not work, try the reverse.

Step 6:

Change that registry value back to 300!

Reboot

Step 7:

Enjoy your sound!

_______________________________

Summary

Since sp3 was installed the intel chipset did NOT install all cab files and components necessary to install the the related components..PCI Modem Soundcard Video

After changing the registry value the installs worked PERFECTLY installing all components and therefore allowing the driver installation of the PCI Modem Soundcard and Video drivers which were supplied by Dell..

Before trying this the NSS and Chipset installers went straight to the " Finished " Dialogue boxes, which made me think SP3 had made the installation fail.. even though the installers gave no error messages.  Usually you see the cab and drivers being put onto the hard drive via dialogue boxes.  I got nothing before changing that one registry value.

Oddly enough the connexant driver and the  soundcard are joined at the hip somewhat.. Just so you know for future reference.. they are both on the HDA Bus.. (this refers to the dialup modem)  So you should DEFINITELY try to install the connexant driver BEFORE you try to install the sigmatel driver, however, you will see below that there are cases where the audio has to be installed first.  This will all depend on your computers setup and config.

So in essence your response

No new ideas at this time. Normally one sees that error message after a reformat when the NSS and then the Intel Chipset driver are not properly installed before attempting to install the Sigmatel driver.

Was partially correct...The NSS and the Chipset were not installed properly!..  Oddly enough this is all routed around that one registry value which hindered EVERYTHING.

However I would recommend this solution ONLY those who know what they are doing and are comfortable working in the registry..

Glad I thought of this before trying other harsher ways of fixing these things.. (complete re-install) LOL

Thanks for your responses .. I really hope this helps others!

It would be real nice to get some SP3 compliant installers for the hardware on this laptop series.  Shouldnt have to change registry values just to instal a driver!!!  But this seems to be the quick fix for us SP3 Integrated  OS folx.

Thank you for your response.. the first step " going to the wdm" did not work.. So I proceeded to follow step two.. everything went fine until I tried to install the sigmatel driver again.. I recieved the following error:

ExitError:Error=This system does not support the driver you are attempting to install.

So..  does this mean it doesnt even see my audio device at all?

I double checked to make sure I had the right one for windows XP and that it was the one for my laptop..

Any more ideas? :/

No new ideas at this time. Normally one sees that error message after a reformat when the NSS and then the Intel Chipset driver are not properly installed before attempting to install the Sigmatel driver.

Thank you for your solution. I will put a copy of it in a folder I have full of XP/Sigmatel driver installation problems.

I registered just to say thank you B34m3r!!!

This was the exact, I mean EXACT problem I was having.  Fresh install of WinXP w/ SP3 integrated on a Latitude D520.  It's just a coincidence that it's the same model computer we're talking about so I totally lucked out finding this thread.

I followed your instructions and sound is now working!  YAY!

Just a couple things about my experience:

- In the reg path, you forgot the key CurrentControlSet but it's pretty easy to figure that one out.

- I couldn't install the modem drivers until I installed audio drivers - if I tried modem first it said "driver installation failed: could not find the xxxx device for this driver"

- Of the hundreds of rebuilds I've done, I've never installed the Notebook System Software so I don't know if it was necessary but I did it just cause you said to.  :emotion-5:

I built my XP CD with SP3 thinking it would make things easier so when I do fresh installs I won't have to wait another hour for SP3 to download and install.  But now I don't have much confidence in it knowing that it hinders some drivers from being installed.  I ran into the same problem before when I rebuilt my sister-in-law's computer and I spent hours trying to figure out why the heck the audio drivers wouldn't take!!!  I thought I somehow hosed the hardware so I had her buy a $40 sound card.  Now I feel like an idiot...I just won't tell her what I found.

So glad this helped someone else.. now we know it wasnt just an isolated event... Since these computers were manufactured with parts established before SP3 , it is no surprise that their installers would not recognize what SP3 was and what operating system was currently in use.  IT was my basis on which I decided my little registry bit.  Thx for the update on how it worked for u.  Sorry for not being clearer on the registry key " CurrentControlSet"  I was so excited I was typing like a mad woman LOL. 

Pls dont feel like an idiot... I dont think too many people would have thought like I did.  I'm quite the strange one.  I can't say that the NSS was "NECESSARY" either btw.. That was an attempt to get in line with " Dell Proceedure " :)   Odd on the modem install not taking until u installed audio.  Mine was the other way around... but I suppose it doesnt truely matter as long as all is well and working now.

As far as this being a "sigmatel driver issue".. not really.. .. It is a non-compliant installer issue...they need to be updated to support sp3's registry values... but I don't see this happening any time soon.

Thanks again for the input!

Thank you! I got this laptop from a friend who upgraded to a new laptop because he couldn't fix this very audio issue. This definitely solved my no audio/ "installing new hardware"/"drivers did not install correctly" issue. Worked like a charm.

The only audio issue it did not fix is my onboard speakers still don't work- that must be a seperate issue (I'm not much of a techie, but I'll keep searching for a reason on the forums). But the audio does work through headphones, so it's still a huge improvement.

Please start a new thread and I'll answer about the speaker issue. I don't want to go off topic in this thread. Thanks.

Done: http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19326408/19673722.aspx#19673722