How can I fix the 'No Sound on AC'97' issue in Windows 7 Ultimate?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers around issues with audio output after a clean installation of Windows 7 Ultimate. Users report that despite having compatible hardware and enabling audio in the BIOS, the system displays "No Audio Output Device is installed." Initial attempts to resolve the issue included uninstalling previous drivers and installing various audio drivers, including the Realtek AC'97 driver, but these efforts were unsuccessful. Some users experienced temporary sound after installation, only for it to disappear following Windows updates.Participants suggest uninstalling all audio drivers and the AC'97 device from Device Manager, then allowing Windows to detect and reinstall the hardware. There are mentions of needing to use the specific drivers provided by the motherboard manufacturer rather than generic drivers. One user noted that sound issues persisted even after reinstalling drivers, indicating potential problems with Windows 7 compatibility or other underlying issues. Suggestions also included checking services and dependencies related to audio, but no definitive solution was reached, leaving users frustrated with the ongoing sound problems.
Equate
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No upgrade, full install of WIN 7 Ultimate.

Problem is just like the title says.

Screens:

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/3513/75588998.th.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/7209/81433304.th.jpg

Icon in taskbar says: "No Audio Output Device is installed".

Yes, it's enabled in the BIOS. Yes, my hardware is compatible, I ran this http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...0-7659-4bd9-9e51-2497c146af15&displaylang=en" and everything is good to go. I uninstalled any previous audio drivers before trying to install this one:

http://download.cnet.com/Realtek-AC-97-Driver-Windows-Vista-Windows-7/3000-2120_4-10962344.html

I also tried numerous others. I had Windows trying to repair it - no go. I uninstalled it through Device Manager. Windows detected it on re-boot but went back to screen shot 1.

Funny thing is, I did have sound after it was first installed, but it disappeared after Windows ran its updates. Never came back. :mad: One might think I'm dealing with LINUX here... :-p

So, any ideas? Has anybody experienced the same? If yes, how was it fixed?

I'm stomped...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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Equate said:
I'm stomped...

That was my first reaction after a clean new install of W7.

There was no sound even before any updates, but the Realtek sound driver was automatically installed by W7, and it was showing "device is working properly" message.

I tried to unroll the W7 driver, reboot, but it didn't get unrolled. Did it a second time, and then it got unrolled. I tried to install the original driver that came with the motherboard - had some privileges issue, and somehow it got latched on W7 a few reboots later - got sound. Then I ran the update - and sound died again. Error 10 somewhere appeared and so I ended up uninstalling everything, ran the update again, and then sound appeared.

On the same computer that used to run Vista - there was never an issue with any sound drivers.
 
Last edited:
I see I'm not alone.

By saying
uninstalling everything
you mean the audio drivers and the AC'97 "device" in Device Manager?

Right now I'm trying to hunt down the audio driver that's ON the WIN 7 DVD through "exploring" it. No luck so far. Any idea what to look for, name of it, file extension etc.?
 
Equate said:
I see I'm not alone.

By saying you mean the audio drivers and the AC'97 "device" in Device Manager?

yes, just unroll it from the device manager
Right now I'm trying to hunt down the audio driver that's ON the WIN 7 DVD through "exploring" it. No luck so far. Any idea what to look for, name of it, file extension etc.?

The drivers that I used came with the motherboard - as the computer was custom built. But then again, after the update, sound died. I uninstalled the update, installed it again, and sound worked from the windows drivers.
 
Your problem is that you are not installing the correct driver. Install the driver provided your motherboard manufacturer and not some generic driver off the internet.
 
waht said:
yes, just unroll it from the device manager

Thats what i thought. I have already done that. WIN 7 picked up the "new hardware", tried to install it with the same (negative) result.



waht said:
drivers that I used came with the motherboard - as the computer was custom built. But then again, after the update, sound died. I uninstalled the update, installed it again, and sound worked from the windows drivers.

Lucky you... :-p
 
Topher925 said:
Your problem is that you are not installing the correct driver. Install the driver provided your motherboard manufacturer and not some generic driver off the internet.

That was my first approach Topher, but it didn't do the trick.

After that I dove into the realms of the internets and tried a multitude of drivers (Realtek's first), all to no avail.

Someone else suggested it might be the Services/Dependencies not being started, but everything looks good:

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/1385/capture007i.png​
[/URL]

I doubt a BIOS flash would make any difference?

:sigh:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What motherboard do you have? Can you give us a link to the driver you are downloading for it?

If the driver provided by the manufacturer doesn't work, then W7 is either not supported or you have some other issues going on besides the driver.
 

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