XPS 8930, installed sound card, getting SA error for unplugged cable

What is your Alienware model number?  Always include that on any initial problem post. 

The model is XPS 8930.

Disabling Realtek audio in Device manager did not help. Uninstalling the Dell SA (SupportAssist) app did not help.

The error is very specific

Alert! Front I/O cable failure" message (code 2000-0716)

bios version 1.0.14 on the XPS 8920 had this issue.

bios version 1.0.15 seems to resolve this on XPS 8920

Did you disable the integrated sound card in the Bios menu?

My BIOS version is 1.1.8, so it is much later than 1.0.15.

As I said in my original post, there does not seem to be a way to disable the integrated sound card in the BIOS menu. If that is the solution, please explain where I may do that.

Thank you.

The slim page only goes to 1.1.16

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=82kt9

https://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER05736145M/1/XPS8930_1.1.8.exe

I too have this problem and have the latest bios version 1.1.8. Is there a resolution to this problem? My PC also is the XPS 8930. Should I not use the front I/o jack on the sound card and return it to the mother board? I don't really care if the front io support the sound card as I use rear usb for wireless speakers and may change to a corded headset.

@CodeBlueZ I'm wondering if this issue is down to the system not being designed with audio card upgrades in mind. 

Looking at the audio connectors on the integrated audio card it's has 7.1 channel capabilities as standard. Furthermore, looking at the BIOS options available, I can see no option for enabling /disabling the integrated audio controller. 

Withe regards to the front i/o panel, there are multiple connectors that run from the front i/o board to the motherboard. Tracing the cables back the front audio connector jack (yellow five pin) connects to the motherboard just below the expansion card slots. I would suggest disconnecting the front audio cable and checking to see if the error message still appears.

This allows you to retain the functionality of the front i/o panel without disabling it in the BIOS.

I can't guarantee that this will work so I look forward to hearing how you get on.

Alan

I found that if I left the front IO jack in place on the motherboard, I can then use the sound card when my speakers are directly plugged into the new sound card. I just cannot remove the front IO jack from the motherboard and plug it into the sound card so I would expect that anything plugged into the front jack will still use the onboard sound card. Windows 10 basically added a sound output choice. I believe my USB headphones are still using the onboard sound card which stinks, This means in order to use the new sound card fully, I would need to purchase a hard wired home sound system style head set. Yes, it does look like the XPS 8930 does not really support add in sound cards.

@CodeBlueZ that makes more sense, i misunderstood you when mentioned the front I/O panel and trying to connect it directly to the add in sound card.

As it appears to be working fine plugged into the motherboard , I would leave it in that configuration. I didn't realise you were using a USB headset, that will work off the onboard sound card.

When you connected up your usb headset for the first time, did it install drivers? - It could be that your headset drivers are doing the processing over the inbuilt audio card and that will be the defining factor of the audio quality.

Do the headphones have their own application to manipulate their output?

Ultimately you are correct in saying that a dedicated audio headset plugged directly into the soundcard will give you the best quality output.

Alan