After you have performed an Operating System reinstallation, you should first install Dell Notebook System Software (find it under System & Configuration Utilities), next and most importantly Intel Mobile Chipset (find under Chipset), then the Sigmatel audio driver in that order. All of these are on the downloads page that andreychuk pointed you to. Be sure to enter XP as your operating system.
(You didn't give your model. Not all Dell laptops use the Intel Mobile chipset, but if yours does then the audio driver won't install unless the chipset driver has been installed first.)
In some few cases there is still a problem with the installation after following the procedure above, 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.
After you have performed an Operating System reinstallation, you should first install Dell Notebook System Software (find it under System & Configuration Utilities), next and most importantly Intel Mobile Chipset (find under Chipset), then the Sigmatel audio driver in that order. All of these are on the downloads page that andreychuk pointed you to, or use the link on the bottom left of this page labeled 'Drivers & Downloads'. Be sure to enter XP as your operating system.
If you are sure you had installed the correct drivers in the correct order, then you might want to run Dell Diagnostics interactive audio test to ascertain whether or not your audio hardware is still working.
To run Diagnostics restart the computer and as soon as it starts to boot up hold down f12. Select 'Diagnostic' from the boot menu. It will run some tests for a couple of minutes before the Diagnostic comes up. When it does select 'custom', then the audio test. This will test your audio system independently of Windows and drivers. Alternate between using headphones and listening to speakers in case only one is working.
[If you wiped the Diagnostics partition when you re-install Windows, you can download the Diagnostic from your downloads page under 'Diagnostic Utilities'.]
The Diagnostic will play some audio and ask you whether you heard it. If you answer 'no' then the test generates an error code that means you indicated you did not hear the sounds it played. It can't pinpoint the exact component that has gone bad but that doesn't matter because the 'repair' is to replace the motherboard with a new one (if you are still under warranty), so all possible defective parts are replaced. If you are no longer under warranty, the best workaround in this situation is to get an external soundcard.
Q1: the holes in bottom do not match up? still works and in solid but now what...
Q2: should I do a system retore? I did this once and alll files and folders were recovered and some programs, some of the program worked others did not...or should I start fresh?
Q3: Audio works expect the front controls button
notebook: E1505
operating system: XP
Message Edited by dacoachmo on 07-19-2007 10:25 AM
andreychuk
527 Posts
0
July 15th, 2007 00:00
If not go here:
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/product_support/en/product_support_central?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn
and enter your system tag to find drivers specific for your machine.
Jim Coates
6 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
July 15th, 2007 11:00
After you have performed an Operating System reinstallation, you should first install Dell Notebook System Software (find it under System & Configuration Utilities), next and most importantly Intel Mobile Chipset (find under Chipset), then the Sigmatel audio driver in that order. All of these are on the downloads page that andreychuk pointed you to. Be sure to enter XP as your operating system.
(You didn't give your model. Not all Dell laptops use the Intel Mobile chipset, but if yours does then the audio driver won't install unless the chipset driver has been installed first.)
In some few cases there is still a problem with the installation after following the procedure above, 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
dacoachmo
33 Posts
0
July 15th, 2007 16:00
speedstep
11 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
July 15th, 2007 23:00
Chipset drivers are required
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/
dacoachmo
33 Posts
0
July 16th, 2007 02:00
Chipset
Detected Chipset:
Mobile Intel(R) 945PM Express Chipset
Chipset Components
Memory Controller:
82945PM
I/O Controller:
Intel(R) 82801GBM I/O controller hub (ICH7M
Jim Coates
6 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
July 16th, 2007 10:00
After you have performed an Operating System reinstallation, you should first install Dell Notebook System Software (find it under System & Configuration Utilities), next and most importantly Intel Mobile Chipset (find under Chipset), then the Sigmatel audio driver in that order. All of these are on the downloads page that andreychuk pointed you to, or use the link on the bottom left of this page labeled 'Drivers & Downloads'. Be sure to enter XP as your operating system.
Jim
dacoachmo
33 Posts
0
July 16th, 2007 17:00
Jim Coates
6 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
July 16th, 2007 17:00
To run Diagnostics restart the computer and as soon as it starts to boot up hold down f12. Select 'Diagnostic' from the boot menu. It will run some tests for a couple of minutes before the Diagnostic comes up. When it does select 'custom', then the audio test. This will test your audio system independently of Windows and drivers. Alternate between using headphones and listening to speakers in case only one is working.
[If you wiped the Diagnostics partition when you re-install Windows, you can download the Diagnostic from your downloads page under 'Diagnostic Utilities'.]
The Diagnostic will play some audio and ask you whether you heard it. If you answer 'no' then the test generates an error code that means you indicated you did not hear the sounds it played. It can't pinpoint the exact component that has gone bad but that doesn't matter because the 'repair' is to replace the motherboard with a new one (if you are still under warranty), so all possible defective parts are replaced. If you are no longer under warranty, the best workaround in this situation is to get an external soundcard.
Jim
dacoachmo
33 Posts
0
July 18th, 2007 14:00
dacoachmo
33 Posts
0
July 19th, 2007 11:00
Message Edited by dacoachmo on 07-19-2007 10:25 AM
Jim Coates
6 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
July 19th, 2007 16:00
Q3, maybe Dell Quickset will fix it.
Jim
dacoachmo
33 Posts
0
July 19th, 2007 16:00
Jim Coates
6 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
July 20th, 2007 01:00
Jim