What do I put in and what do I search for? Thanks Mike

Without the NSS and the Chipset driver the Sigmatel audio driver will not work. If Dell doesn't support your computer by providing Vista versions of these then you probably are out of luck. You can google driver websites but I doubt you will find copies of these items if Dell hasn't created them.

Jim

Mike,

The reason it is not working is this. No Sigmatel driver on any model in any operating system will install properly after an operating system reinstallation unless the following procedure is followed in the correct order:

a. Install Dell Notebook System Software (click the + sign next to System Utilities). Restart.

b. Next install the Intel Mobile Chipset driver (click the + sign next to Chipset). Restart.
(Models with AMD cpu use the AMD processor driver.)

c. Finally re-install the Sigmatel audio driver (click the + sign next to Audio).

The problem is that you can't follow the necessary procedure if Vista versions of a and b don't exist for you even if you have a Vista version of c. Most of the other drivers will install without a and b but not the Sigmatel. So if the Sigmatel isn't installing properly Vista assumes that there is a problem with it and that the problem will go away if you install a later version. However the problem is not with the driver but with the other 2 items. Anyway the Sigmatel driver on your downloads page is the latest version. You can find other versions by clicking on 'other version' but they are all earlier releases.

Jim

HI Jim, Yes I have downloaded that drivers and the audio will not work with DVD shrink and there is not sound when I click the preview and I want to know is there an "updated" driver for my laptop and by the way when I install that driver from Dell website. Window Vista says there is a problem which is caused by Dell and it is the Sigmatel. Please go to Windows update and update the driver which will solve the problem. But I cannot find any updates so now it will not work with Windows Vista. Do you know where I can download a new driver for my laptop? Mike

Mike,

Here is the XP downloads page for the 9100:
link

If you go there and look in the Operating System dropdown box, you will see there is no option to select Vista. This can only mean that Dell doesn't support Vista on your machine. You are right that the audio driver is for XP and for Vista, but the Sigmatel audio driver won't work by itself. It requires the prior installation of Dell Notebook System Software and the Intel Mobile Chipset driver. Without Vista versions of these two I can't see how you will get audio working in Vista. The only thing I can think of is to experiment with these from other models and try to find a Vista version that works on the 9100 but that is probably not a practical idea.

Jim

OK JIM I have done what you said and it still is the same problem with the sound. By the way when I install the driver for the Intel 865PE it popped this message "The Intel (R) Chipset Software Installation Utility requires a supported chipset platform running a supported operating system. Check the System Requirements section of the README.TXT file for more information" So I went to Intel's website and download the Intel 865PE chipset and installed it on my Window Vista and it installed it and then rebooted my laptop and then install my sound driver from Dell's website and then when I went to the Internet it popped that message again "Download and install the driver for Sigmatel C-Major Audio This problem was caused by Sigma Tel C-Major Audio, which was created by Dell Inc, A solution is available that will solve this problem." Again there are no updates to the sound driver I just installed from Dell. So I guess I am out of luck right running Windows Vista on my Dell Inspiron 9100? If I am out of luck running the latest OS do you know if in Windows XP that came with my machine has a "shadow copy" feature just like Windows Vista? The thing I like about Vista is there is a "shadow copy and the search" where you can every where in windows. Thanks Mike

Hi Jim, OK I see thanks about XP. So that means I cannot upgrade my Dell Insprion 9100 to Vista then if the sounds drivers are not working. Mike

I'm not familiar with "shadow copy". XP does have 'System Restore' that can undo changes made to the Registry.

In later models, those that came out after yours, Dell started including a separate hard drive partition with an image of the Operating System, drivers and applications. On those models it is quite easy to return the computer to the exact state it was in when shipped. This feature is called PC Restore but yours does not have it.

Jim

You might contact Dell and ask if they will ever provide a Vista version of the Notebook System Software and the Intel Chipset for your model, but because they haven't by now I doubt that they will.

Jim

Hi Jim, Thanks for the reply. Yeah I did contact Dell and they told me I have to contact the manufacture of the company for the sound drivers which I did and they said contact Dell. So now there is no use and DELL is a VERY HORRIBLE comapny because there not updating the drivers and the DELL is CONTROLLING people NOT use the LATEST Microsoft OS. I don't see like the other companies like HP have that problem because I do see them updating the drivers often. You know I am going to make another Topic saying Dell should update there drivers for the Dell Inspiron 9100 because I paid a lot of the system and now Dell abandons the computer PLEASE. I am so mad you have no idea and if Dell does not update it's driver DELL SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN and be out of business because there whole tech support horrible. Mike

"...they told me I have to contact the manufacture of the company for the sound drivers..."

You may have misunderstood me. I said to ask if they will ever provide a Vista version of the Notebook System Software and the Intel Chipset for your model. The audio driver isn't your problem; it is these others.

Jim

Hi Jim OK thanks Mike