Problem using sound card on M90

Question

I'm not able to share my music by internal mixer on Precision M90 and XP Pro sp2.   On my previous M70 i were able to do so.   M90 is SigmaTel STAC9200 provided while M70 is STAC9750   Why the earlier notebook equipement was more performing?

Jim Coates · Answer

Check you Private Messages for the p.m. I sent you. It is difficult to understand what you are trying to do. Please explain in greater detail what you mean by "share my music by internal mixer".

Are you trying to internally record the output of the sound card, or something else?

Jim

Andre68 · Answer

OK Jim I'll try to explain as better as I can.   I bought an M70 Dell Precision last year. Using the mixer periphereal installed on it, simply flagging on 'Mixer' panel into Volume Control panel, Options, Recording section I was able to share music in 'conference room' as Yahoo's or Windows Live Messenger. Since I am a consultant I usually use conference system to run demos of products to my customers so I could show them videos and audios.   M70 was equipped by a Sigmatel Stac 97xx audio device.   Because of a problem I had to substitute the notebook and now (since M70 is out of production) I have an M90 Dell Precision. This model is provided of a Sigmatel Stac 92xx audio device and in the Volume Control panel doesn't appear the 'mixer' panel. I have checked properties of installed periphereal and the message 'Status: driver on but not working properly' appeared (note: I'm italian so my translation could be incorrect).   I have tried to reinstall Intel Chipset Driver and the most recent driver for audio device but I have obteined any result.   Any suggestion is welcome!!!   Thank you for your support Jim

BELL BOY · Answer

Andre68

Jim may reply with a better solution or further explanation, meanwhile:

Sounds like & it’s not unusual

That Dell has removed some audio device features in the M90 Sigmatel audio driver?

Causing much annoyance once users find out :smileymad:

XPS 600 Creative X-Fi missing features was a very hot topic last year

It’s your call, but some have modified driver files to fix missing audio options as explained in this notebook web site

If you intend to try such a method?

First copy/backup any original files that are to be modified so that the original file can be reinstated if recovery is required

Procedure for different Dell laptop but using Sigmatel HD Audio 92xx drivers is here

Jim Coates · Answer

Andre and Bell Boy,

I am sorry but I don't understand some of the terminology, such as "installed periphereal" and "Mixer panel into Volume Control panel, Options, Recording section". Bell Boy's post has helped by suggesting that you are attempting to use "stereo mix" which was an option in the Recording Control panel on Dell laptops with the Sigmatel STAC 97xx chip but not on those with the 92xx chip, due to the way the driver has been written.

I am very ignorant of Yahoo's or Windows Live Messenger because I have never used either. I don't know what you might need to share music through these services, but let us assume it is "stereo mix". There are a couple of ways you might be able to get it, but they are uncertain because the M90 is not a model that we talk about much here and so some things that have worked for other models might not work for yours.

The first suggestion is the easiest. It is to use a driver that was made by the company LG for the Sigmatel. If you can get it installed, it has the "stereo mix" option. To get it follow this path:

LG Service Site

1. Click on 'Device Driver'.
2. Select 'Notebook' from the dropdown list under 'Product'.
3. Select 'Windows XP' under 'Operating System'.
4. Type 'Sigmatel' into the subject box.
5. Click 'search'.

The driver to choose is labeled Ver 5.10.04866 XNOTE(LE50)
The file size is 4,601K.

(This driver is known to work on most of the XP Inspirons with the 92xx chip but reportedly not on the 640m/E1405 and XPS M1210. This solution was discovered by forum member dhkang002.)

Folks have more trouble if they have Vista. This tip from definch20 might work:

1. Follow the path as above but download the 94,472 kb file instead of the 4,601k file.
2. Select 'Vista' under 'Operating System' and click and 'search'.
3. Download the small file named Windows Vista Sound.
4. Install the large driver and restart. After restarting install the small file.
5. Go to control panel and open Sound. On the recording tab, right click in the large box and click on show disabled devices. A stereo mix option should then appear. Click on the stereo mix and then click on set default at the bottom.

The 2nd suggestion is the same as Bell Boy's, that you modify the .inf files of an existing Dell driver to unlock the hidden features. I will post the full instructions in my next post. The problem with this solution will become apparent when you read the instructions ... different models require different inf files to be altered. No one has developed an altered inf file specifically for the M90. I feel pretty sure that one of the other altered inf files will work, but you have to determine which one based on directions that others have given. Read about "Other Models" at the bottom of the instructions.

Jim

Jim Coates · Answer

There is a very long thread at notebookforums.com called "Hacking SigmaTel Drivers for E1705/9400, i need knowledgable helpers", started by Veazer. Another poster working with him, falerus, found that he could unlock a number of controls and features in the SigmaTel audio driver by modifying a certain inf file in the R122161 audio driver. Building on falerus's ideas, eddiep, cais, and EagleGT modified inf files for other Dell laptops that also use the SigmaTel 92xx audio chip and R122161 driver.

Following are the laptop models, links to the modified inf files, and instructions for completing the hack. (These are falerus's instructions that I have modified a bit.)

E1705/9400:

1. Look at falerus's post (#62 on page 5 of the thread) for his link to a modified 92XXM2-3.ini file. The link is right under the words "Attached Files". You will need to register to get it, then download and unzip it.

falerus inf file for E1705

2. Uninstall your SigmaTel driver through Add/Remove programs and download the Dell R122161 SigmaTel driver for XP. (The R122161 is the particular driver that was hacked. Windows Vista users should also use it.)

R122161 driver

3. Run the file. It will unpack the files to the location you specify and then start to install the driver. Cancel the InstallShield installation.
4. Go to the folder where the files were unpacked and browse to the "WDM" folder (C:\Dell\drivers\R122161\WDM).
5. Copy the modified 92XXM2-3.ini into that WDM folder, overwriting the existing one.
6. Go back up one folder to "R122161" (C:\Dell\drivers\R122161).
7. Double click and run Setup.exe. (You might want to turn off your antivirus program first.) The new installation puts a full featured SigmaTel audio control panel in the Windows Control Panel.
8. Restart
9. To enable Stereo Mix, go to Control Panel/Sounds, open the record tab, right click to display disabled devices then right click the Stereo Mix entry and enable it.

E1505/6400:

1. Look at eddiep's post (#235 on page 16 of the thread) for his link to the modified 92XXM2-5.ini file. You will need to register to get it, then download and unzip it.

eddiep's inf file for E1505

2. Follow the instructions for the E1705 above starting with step 2. In step 5 copy the modified 92XXM2-5.ini into the WDM folder, overwriting the existing one.

E1405/640m:

1. Look at falerus's post (#290 on page 20 of the thread) for his link to the modified 92XXM2-1.ini file. You will need to register to get it, then download and unzip it.

cais inf file for E1405 as modified by falerus

2. Follow the instructions for the E1705 above starting with step 2. In step 5 copy the modified 92XXM2-1.ini into the WDM folder, overwriting the existing one.

Latitude D620 and D820:

1. Look at EagleGT's post (#306 on page 21 of the thread) for his link to the modified 92XXM2-2.ini file. You will need to register to get it, then download and unzip it.

EagleGT inf file for D620

2. Follow the instructions for the E1705 above starting with step 2. In step 5 copy the modified 92XXM2-2.ini into the WDM folder, overwriting the existing one.

Other Models:

The above inf files, 92XXM2-1 -2 -3 & -5, are the only ones that have been modified so far. One or more of these might apply to a model of computer other than the ones listed above. For example, someone reported that the hack worked on a M1710, but I wasn't sure which modified inf file he used; I think the -3 one for the 1705. Cais gives some instructions for figuring out which inf file is used in post #292 on page 20 of the "Hacking SigmaTel Drivers" thread.

The following models are the rest of the Dell's that are compatible with the R122161 driver. If you have one of these models it might be worthwhile to try out the different modified inf files in step 5 of the above instructions and see if one of them works for you.

B120, 1300/B130, M140/630m, D420, D520, 120L, M65, M90, XPS M1210 & M1710 & M2010

These have the SigmaTel 92xx HD audio chip. The hack will not work on any model with the SigmaTel STAC 97xx chip.

Post #404 on page 27 by hunnja gives some complicated instructions for the Inspiron 1501 model.

Jim

BELL BOY · Answer

You’re welcome :smileyhappy:

I used the term modifying since “hacking” can frighten off some computer users

Jim has done a great job detailing the relevant posts for each Dell notebook that will probably help others who may eventually discover missing audio features :smileymad:

If your audio system is stable after hacking the .inf file then great job well done :smileyvery-happy:

Message Edited by BELL BOY on 06-25-2007 10:50 AM

Andre68 · Answer

GREAT!!!   Thanks Jim I've solved my problem... and moreover thanks to falerus's post ... I've been able to do so using his .zip file.   So thank you all guys... Hope to be usefull in the future!!!

Jim Coates · Answer

Andre, Are you running Vista or XP? Did you use the altered92XXM2-3.ini file? Bell Boy, Thanks for getting us all going in the right direction! Jim

Andre68 · Answer

Jim,

I'm using XP Pro SP2 32 bit. Simply I've replaced the old ".ini" file with the altered "92XXm2-3.ini" and now the control panel shows all the control system of sound card.

Let me resume what we were talking about:

A problem of configuration on a Dell Precision M90 Mobile Workstation equipped of a Sigmatel STAC 9200 sound card: Stereo Mixer panel didn't appear into Audio Control Panel

OS = Win XP Pro 32 SP2

*******

Look at falerus's post (#62 on page 5 of the thread) for his link to a modified 92XXM2-3.ini file. The link is right under the words "Attached Files". You will need to register to get it, then download and unzip it.

falerus inf file for E1705

*******

Thank you again guys...

imd14you76 · Answer

Hi Jimco,

You've created a very detail and descriptive post.

I just recently acquired the Dell Precision M90 and am having audio trouble. For some reason the system is not recognizing the sound hardware. I'm getting messages that the drivers is not the correct ones.

This device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device. (Code 31)

Click Troubleshoot to start the troubleshooter for this device.

I tried the methods you listed on your post. Obviously it won't work becuase I didn't read the last sentence you wrote at the bottom stating that

Quote

"B120, 1300/B130, M140/630m, D420, D520, 120L, M65, M90, XPS M1210 & M1710 & M2010

These have the SigmaTel 92xx HD audio chip. The hack will not work on any model with the SigmaTel STAC 97xx chip."

in which I do have the Dell M90.

What other options is there to get the sound card to work? I tried uninstalling the software and the system does detect the sound card hardware, so I know the hardware is detected, but I can't seem to get the drivers to work. I tried reloading the drivers from the Dell website and it doesnt' work.

These are the drivers I currently have and tried them all and still no luck.

sigmatel high definition audio codec version 5.10.0.4995 (3/24/06)

sigmatel high definition audio codec version 5.10.5258.2 (11/6/06)

sigmatel high definition audio codec version 5.10.5511.0 (5/6/07)

Any advice is greatly appreciated

Waiman

Message Edited by imd14you76 on 10-05-2007 05:10 PM

Message Edited by imd14you76 on 10-05-2007 05:25 PM

Jim Coates · Answer

Waiman, 'The hack will not work on any model with the SigmaTel STAC 97xx chip.' in which I do have the Dell M90.' The M90 is supposed to have the Sigmatel 92xx chip; however the hack won't work if the driver won't install. If you are trying to install the driver because you reformatted, then go to your downloads page and select your correct operating system link then install these with restarts between each in this order: a. Install Dell Notebook System Software (click the + sign next to System Utilities). b. Next and very important, install the Intel Mobile Chipset driver (click the + sign next to Chipset). c. Finally re-install the Sigmatel audio driver (click the + sign next to Audio). Rarely there will still be a problem with the installation at this point in XP. In those cases follow this tip from forum member rpilT2005: check in the Device Manager for a 'PCI Device' with a yellow question mark next to it, under the 'System Devices' grouping. Hit 'update driver' on that one, and it should find the driver. Jim

imd14you76 · Answer

Hi Jim,   Thanks for the reply.   The laptop is Brand new, thus I did not do any formatting.   Will performing the said tasks be ok?

Jim Coates · Answer

That's a different situation because the laptop should have arrived with the audio driver installed and the audio working. If the audio was working okay when you got it:

1. Go to Start/Help & Support/System Restore and tick 'Restore my computer to an earlier time'. Try to get the Registry back to a time before the problem first occurred.

2. If that doesn't fix it try using Dell's PC Restore. It is an image of your original OS, drivers, applications and configuration setting in a hidden partition on the hard drive. It's like a normal reformat in that you have to save all of your data to removable media, but it's quicker and simpler and includes the apps & drivers, etc. Whatever was working when you got the computer will work after PC Restore, except for any hardware problems.

To use PC Restore you restart and press Ctrl + F11 during the restart process and it should take you to the "PC Restore" menu. Then just restore your computer to the factory settings. Test your audio first thing after you restore your computer.

If PC Restore doesn't fix the audio or if it wasn't working when you received it, contact Dell about a possible repair or replacement.

About your drivers: the correct driver depends on your operating system which I don't think you mentioned. For XP it is the R122161 v.5.10.0.4995, A06 7/12/2006 STAC 92XX HD, and for Vista it is R147073 v.6.10.0.5343, A02 STAC 92XX. You should not have to re-install the NSS or Chipset drivers in a new computer, but for that matter you shouldn't have to install a new Sigmatel driver either.

Jim

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Problem using sound card on M90

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