Windows Update C-Media AC97 killed my audio- what to do?

I'm using Win XP Pro, recently installed the full (CD) version of SP 2.
After allowing Windows Update to install what my Update History calls:
"C Media Electronics Incorporation Sound C-Media AC97 Audio Device", my
audio disappeared- no icon on the taskbar, nothing would play, Device
Manager told me C media AC97 would not work (well, duh!, I could see that) .
I uninstalled the driver, but now I still have no audio, and when I boot the
computer I get the message ... "RUNDLL>Error loading cmicnfg.cpl, specific
module could not be found".
I found some detailed info in this link, which suggests the problem file is
related to C-Media
http://www.mailarchive.ca/lists/micr...5-06/2403.html
but the instructions on this link are way beyond my ability.
Is there a simple solution to this problem? I just want sound to come out of
my computer like it used to- I don't care whether I have the latest audio
driver or not.

Benny
*******

I Also have a C-Media card, a different model though, and with XP Home. There
are numerous known issues with the C-Media drivers so I suppose the only
choice is to change sound cards. The issues I had have workaround downloads
(ie. updates) at the C-Media website.

"Benny" wrote:

> I'm using Win XP Pro, recently installed the full (CD) version of SP 2.
> After allowing Windows Update to install what my Update History calls:
> "C Media Electronics Incorporation Sound C-Media AC97 Audio Device", my
> audio disappeared- no icon on the taskbar, nothing would play, Device
> Manager told me C media AC97 would not work (well, duh!, I could see that) .
> I uninstalled the driver, but now I still have no audio, and when I boot the
> computer I get the message ... "RUNDLL>Error loading cmicnfg.cpl, specific
> module could not be found".
> I found some detailed info in this link, which suggests the problem file is
> related to C-Media
> http://www.mailarchive.ca/lists/micr...5-06/2403.html
> but the instructions on this link are way beyond my ability.
> Is there a simple solution to this problem? I just want sound to come out of
> my computer like it used to- I don't care whether I have the latest audio
> driver or not.
>
> Benny
> *******
>
>
>

On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:39:36 +1000, "Benny" <> wrote:

>I'm using Win XP Pro, recently installed the full (CD) version of SP 2.
>After allowing Windows Update to install what my Update History calls:
>"C Media Electronics Incorporation Sound C-Media AC97 Audio Device", my
>audio disappeared- no icon on the taskbar, nothing would play, Device
>Manager told me C media AC97 would not work (well, duh!, I could see that) .
>I uninstalled the driver, but now I still have no audio, and when I boot the
>computer I get the message ... "RUNDLL>Error loading cmicnfg.cpl, specific
>module could not be found".
>I found some detailed info in this link, which suggests the problem file is
>related to C-Media
>http://www.mailarchive.ca/lists/micr...5-06/2403.html
>but the instructions on this link are way beyond my ability.
>Is there a simple solution to this problem? I just want sound to come out of
>my computer like it used to- I don't care whether I have the latest audio
>driver or not.
>
>Benny
>*******
>

Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, System, Hardware tab, Device Manager.
Expand "Sound, Video, and Game Controllers" and double-click the AC'97 enrty.
Click the "Driver" tab, click the "Update Driver" button. That brings up the Update Wizard.
Check the box, "Install from a list or spacific loaction (Advanced), click "Next"
Check the box, "Don't search. I will choose the driver to install", click "Next"
Check the box, "Show compatable Hardware"
There should be TWO possibilities there:

AC'97 Codec Combo Driver (WDM)
AC'97 Enhanced Audio Controller. (This one is probably highlighted already)

Select the AC'97 Codec Combo Driver (WDM and "Next" your way out of the Update Wizard, reboot.
If it's not named that, pick ANYTHING but the "AC'97 Enhanced Audio Controller". That's the one
that caused all the problems to start with.

Now, if that doesn't fix the problem, you'll need the CD that came with the sound card. (If the
sound is built into the motherboard, you'll need the CD that came with the motherboard)
Repeat the above exactly to the point where there were 2 choices and instead of picking one of
them, click the button, "Have Disk" and follow the prompts...

Thanks Unk- picked one of the drivers listed, and even though the computer
warned me it might not be compatible, it worked fine.

--
Benny
*******
"Unk" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:39:36 +1000, "Benny"
> <> wrote:
>
>>I'm using Win XP Pro, recently installed the full (CD) version of SP 2.
>>After allowing Windows Update to install what my Update History calls:
>>"C Media Electronics Incorporation Sound C-Media AC97 Audio Device", my
>>audio disappeared- no icon on the taskbar, nothing would play, Device
>>Manager told me C media AC97 would not work (well, duh!, I could see that)
>>.
>>I uninstalled the driver, but now I still have no audio, and when I boot
>>the
>>computer I get the message ... "RUNDLL>Error loading cmicnfg.cpl, specific
>>module could not be found".
>>I found some detailed info in this link, which suggests the problem file
>>is
>>related to C-Media
>>http://www.mailarchive.ca/lists/micr...5-06/2403.html
>>but the instructions on this link are way beyond my ability.
>>Is there a simple solution to this problem? I just want sound to come out
>>of
>>my computer like it used to- I don't care whether I have the latest audio
>>driver or not.
>>
>>Benny
>>*******
>>
>
> Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, System, Hardware tab, Device
> Manager.
> Expand "Sound, Video, and Game Controllers" and double-click the AC'97
> enrty.
> Click the "Driver" tab, click the "Update Driver" button. That brings up
> the Update Wizard.
> Check the box, "Install from a list or spacific loaction (Advanced), click
> "Next"
> Check the box, "Don't search. I will choose the driver to install", click
> "Next"
> Check the box, "Show compatable Hardware"
> There should be TWO possibilities there:
>
> AC'97 Codec Combo Driver (WDM)
> AC'97 Enhanced Audio Controller. (This one is probably highlighted
> already)
>
> Select the AC'97 Codec Combo Driver (WDM and "Next" your way out of the
> Update Wizard, reboot.
> If it's not named that, pick ANYTHING but the "AC'97 Enhanced Audio
> Controller". That's the one
> that caused all the problems to start with.
>
> Now, if that doesn't fix the problem, you'll need the CD that came with
> the sound card. (If the
> sound is built into the motherboard, you'll need the CD that came with the
> motherboard)
> Repeat the above exactly to the point where there were 2 choices and
> instead of picking one of
> them, click the button, "Have Disk" and follow the prompts...
>

You're welcome.

On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 14:40:52 +1000, "Benny" <> wrote:

>Thanks Unk- picked one of the drivers listed, and even though the computer
>warned me it might not be compatible, it worked fine.
>
>"Unk" <> wrote in message
>news:.. .
>> On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:39:36 +1000, "Benny"
>> <> wrote:
>>
>>>I'm using Win XP Pro, recently installed the full (CD) version of SP 2.
>>>After allowing Windows Update to install what my Update History calls:
>>>"C Media Electronics Incorporation Sound C-Media AC97 Audio Device", my
>>>audio disappeared- no icon on the taskbar, nothing would play, Device
>>>Manager told me C media AC97 would not work (well, duh!, I could see that)
>>>.
>>>I uninstalled the driver, but now I still have no audio, and when I boot
>>>the
>>>computer I get the message ... "RUNDLL>Error loading cmicnfg.cpl, specific
>>>module could not be found".
>>>I found some detailed info in this link, which suggests the problem file
>>>is
>>>related to C-Media
>>>http://www.mailarchive.ca/lists/micr...5-06/2403.html
>>>but the instructions on this link are way beyond my ability.
>>>Is there a simple solution to this problem? I just want sound to come out
>>>of
>>>my computer like it used to- I don't care whether I have the latest audio
>>>driver or not.
>>>
>>>Benny
>>>*******
>>>
>>
>> Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, System, Hardware tab, Device
>> Manager.
>> Expand "Sound, Video, and Game Controllers" and double-click the AC'97
>> enrty.
>> Click the "Driver" tab, click the "Update Driver" button. That brings up
>> the Update Wizard.
>> Check the box, "Install from a list or spacific loaction (Advanced), click
>> "Next"
>> Check the box, "Don't search. I will choose the driver to install", click
>> "Next"
>> Check the box, "Show compatable Hardware"
>> There should be TWO possibilities there:
>>
>> AC'97 Codec Combo Driver (WDM)
>> AC'97 Enhanced Audio Controller. (This one is probably highlighted
>> already)
>>
>> Select the AC'97 Codec Combo Driver (WDM and "Next" your way out of the
>> Update Wizard, reboot.
>> If it's not named that, pick ANYTHING but the "AC'97 Enhanced Audio
>> Controller". That's the one
>> that caused all the problems to start with.
>>
>> Now, if that doesn't fix the problem, you'll need the CD that came with
>> the sound card. (If the
>> sound is built into the motherboard, you'll need the CD that came with the
>> motherboard)
>> Repeat the above exactly to the point where there were 2 choices and
>> instead of picking one of
>> them, click the button, "Have Disk" and follow the prompts...
>>
>