Windows update replaces incorrect audio driver...

Folks,

When I installed Vista on my machine, the installation correctly identified
my audio hardware as "Via AC 97" and installed the correct driver. The driver
version is 6.0.6000.16386 (Provider: Microsoft. Dated: 6/21/06).

Later, Windows update identifies this hardware as "Realtek AC 97" and
installs an incorrect driver. This version is 6.0.1.6285 (Provider: Realtek.
Dated: 3/25/08).

Although the driver gets installed successfully, it fails to start with an
error code 10.

The workaround is to uninstall the audio driver and rescan the hardware.
This brings back the old driver.

I have set update settings to "Check for updates but let me choose when to
install them." However, the shutdown button from the start menu still
installs this update. There is also a "shutdown" menu item that does not
install drivers. However, the box is used by the whole family and sometimes
they just click on shutdown button to shut the machine.

Questions:
1. Is there a way to disable download/install of this specific driver
permanently?
2. A more general question. Is there a way to inform Windows update team of
this issue?
3. Is there a better solution for my problem?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Regards,
Peter

Have you checked with Dell Support yet? Have you posted in Dell Support
Forums yet?

Does this address the problem? =>
http://www.idt.com/content/vista/html/introduction.htm
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


Peter Taps wrote:
> Folks,
>
> When I installed Vista on my machine, the installation correctly
> identified
> my audio hardware as "Via AC 97" and installed the correct driver. The
> driver version is 6.0.6000.16386 (Provider: Microsoft. Dated: 6/21/06).
>
> Later, Windows update identifies this hardware as "Realtek AC 97" and
> installs an incorrect driver. This version is 6.0.1.6285 (Provider:
> Realtek.
> Dated: 3/25/08).
>
> Although the driver gets installed successfully, it fails to start with an
> error code 10.
>
> The workaround is to uninstall the audio driver and rescan the hardware.
> This brings back the old driver.
>
> I have set update settings to "Check for updates but let me choose when to
> install them." However, the shutdown button from the start menu still
> installs this update. There is also a "shutdown" menu item that does not
> install drivers. However, the box is used by the whole family and
> sometimes
> they just click on shutdown button to shut the machine.
>
> Questions:
> 1. Is there a way to disable download/install of this specific driver
> permanently?
> 2. A more general question. Is there a way to inform Windows update team
> of
> this issue?
> 3. Is there a better solution for my problem?
>
> Thank you in advance for your help.
>
> Regards,
> Peter

"Peter Taps" wrote:

> Folks,
>
> When I installed Vista on my machine, the installation correctly identified
> my audio hardware as "Via AC 97" and installed the correct driver. The driver
> version is 6.0.6000.16386 (Provider: Microsoft. Dated: 6/21/06).
>
> Later, Windows update identifies this hardware as "Realtek AC 97" and
> installs an incorrect driver. This version is 6.0.1.6285 (Provider: Realtek.
> Dated: 3/25/08).
>
> Although the driver gets installed successfully, it fails to start with an
> error code 10.
>
> The workaround is to uninstall the audio driver and rescan the hardware.
> This brings back the old driver.
>
> I have set update settings to "Check for updates but let me choose when to
> install them." However, the shutdown button from the start menu still
> installs this update. There is also a "shutdown" menu item that does not
> install drivers. However, the box is used by the whole family and sometimes
> they just click on shutdown button to shut the machine.
>
> Questions:
> 1. Is there a way to disable download/install of this specific driver
> permanently?
> 2. A more general question. Is there a way to inform Windows update team of
> this issue?
> 3. Is there a better solution for my problem?
>
> Thank you in advance for your help.
>
> Regards,
> Peter
>