Marcos,

These instructions are for a situation where an operating system has already been reinstalled and everything works except the audio driver will not install ... usually you get an error message, because the NSS and chipset drivers were not installed correctly and the audio chip on the motherboard is not recognized. In this situation "usually" a fresh install of the OS is not required, just re-installing the NSS and chipset correctly. If that doesn't work then a full reinstallation may be necessary.

After you have performed an Operating System re-installation, install the audio driver following this order of installation:

a. Install Dell Notebook System Software (on your downloads page expand the System Utilities category). Restart.

b. Next install the Intel Mobile Chipset driver (expand the Chipset category). Restart.

c. Install the Sigmatel audio driver (expand the Audio category).

Get these from the M1530 driver downloads page. When you get on the page use the dropdown box to select your Operating System.

The Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced MB is software that should not be installed before the Sigmatel audio system is fully functional. A failed attempt to install it sometimes results in the loss of the Windows Audio Service.

what are NSS drivers?

Sorry that I didn't make that clearer. NSS is an abbreviation for the Notebook System Software found in the Utilities category. It is important in XP but less so in Vista. The really important detail is that you have to install the Chipset driver or else you can't install the Sigmatel.

I reinstalled the OS and the Sigmatel drivers but how do I install the volume panel and Soudblaster Audigy Advanced MB?

Thanks for the info from earlier jimco

If the Sigmatel audio system is working correctly you should see the Windows mixer icon on the taskbar.  To get the Creative mixer you have to reinstall your software from the cd. You said you upgraded to Vista 64 but I don't think you mentioned if you upgraded from Vista 32 or XP. If the cd is XP then it won't work and you should contact Dell about upgrading it to a Vista cd. For some of the laptop models there is a downloadable "upgrade path" to get the software from XP to Vista, but the "path" is not available for your model because it isn't on your downloads page.

If your cd is for Vista 32 I don't know if it will work in Vista 64.

Sorry for not saying earlier but I did a clean install from Vista 32. I donwloaded the suite of drivers from the manufacturers but even those don't work nor the CD. They both tell me to install the drivers first.

So how do I install the Soundblaster, I was able to instal the Sigmatel.

Thanks,

Marcos

Marcos,

I don't fully understand your situation. In your initial post you wrote

"On the CD that came with the laptop it says Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced MB"

If you had bought the installation cd and it worked with Vista 32 but the software will not install on Vista 64 then I guess it doesn't work with Vista 64. If you bought it from Dell then you would need to contact them to see if there is an exchange possibility.

For a time Dell was selling the software as a downloadable aftermarket purchase for certain models running Windows XP. In those cases the installation was:

1. Download & install Creative Labs Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED HD Audio driver.
2. Download & install Creative Labs Integrated Audigy Invitation.

I think the driver by itself contained the volume control panel, and the download for it was free. The "invitation" download was free too but included a link to where one paid for the EAX and other software and finished downloading it.

When Vista came out then for certain models Dell had an "upgrade path" link that alllowed the XP version of the software to be converted to the Vista version. All of these downloads and links appear on the downloads page under "Audio" for the models concerned, but those don't include your model.

Sorry for not being clear.

I was able to install the Sigmatel drivers but I can't install the Soundblaster Audigy Advanced MB drivers from the CD or from their website. I'll try to contact Dell and see what happens

Thanks for the help,

Marcos

I talked to a Dell Representative using Dell Chat, I was told that I need an upgrade but then I was told that there no solution to the problem. So now I'm even more confused that before. Dell also says that they don't have Drivers for the 64-bit Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced MB, then he said it was a compatibility issue, it all ended with him telling me I need the software upgrade. Does anybody have a fix or an alternative. I have sound but when I had the Soundblaster it sounded better and I had more control over how it "came out" as in I could adjust the bass amount, change the room type, the eax effects, etc.

Thank,

Marcos