Sound in Vista cutting off
Update: A better fix has been found! Click here to be directed to that post.
This post contains the temporary fix to the SoundMAX sound problems.
Lately there has been a case of sound cutting off spontaneously on Vista. This problem concerns users who are using the SoundMAX Integrated Audio Driver.
Symptoms include:
- Progress bars freezing in music and movies
- Sound being disabled after a song
- Sound not working again after pausing a song
- Random occurances of sound disabling
The reason why this might be happening is because there has yet to be a Vista version of the SoundMAX driver. We have come up with a temporary SoundMAX Vistafix for this problem.
You should only result to this solution if there is no Vista driver for your sound hardware. If you haven’t already done so, you should visit your motherboard manufacturer or sound card manufacturer’s website to see if they have a Vista driver.
To solve this problem, many people have tried relogging in, or restarting their computer. Both processes take a long time and do not always guarantee that your sound will start functioning again.
Here is a quick temporary way of fixing your sound. Please note that there has not yet been a permanent fix for this problem.
First, open your Start Menu and click on Control Panel.
Normal View (default):
- Click on Hardware and Sound
- Clck on Sound
Classic View:
- Double click on Sound.
Right click the piece of hardware that is having the problem and choose properties.

Click on the Advanced Tab.
Open the drop-down menu and select a codec other than the one that is currently selected.
Then click on test. When you click on test, a dialog window should pop up like the one below:

Click yes.
After you click yes, every single application on your computer that is communicating with the SoundMAX driver will terminate what it is doing. One of the following might happen:
- Your program will tell you it cannot perform the task specified
- Your program will close and Vista will ask you if you want to send an error report
Whatever happens, the good news is that your sound is back to normal. If you are listening to music in Windows Media Player, you only have to double-click the song in your list pane to start listening again.
Now you can fix your sound in less than 20 seconds rather than spending a few minutes rebooting each time this happens.
The SoundMAX driver for Asus motherboards has not yet been released. If you know of a solution or a driver for these motherboards, please leave a comment or mail albert.ng@vistarewired.com
Still need help? Check out our new forums where you can get an even faster and better response!
February 17th, 2007 at 7:03 am
well…. i have SoundMAX Integrated Audio and i just installed the beta drivers from their site and works perfectly
February 17th, 2007 at 8:09 am
where exactly do you get the beta drivers from can someone post a link.
February 17th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Howdy,
I do not have a ‘Sounds’ in my Control Panel.
I am using Vista Ultimate.
If I switch to ‘Classic view’ in Control Panel, I have a ‘Sound’ icon, and in there, is nothing resembling what you have described.
Can you elaborate?
Cheers.
February 17th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
bender thanks for the update. I will be sure to follow up on this article in the next hour or so.
Do you have a speaker icon in your system tray? You can access the same location by right-clicking and choosing Playback Devices.
Reply to Wyatt Earp:
Sry, I did not keep in mind many don’t use Classic. To get there from non-classic, click on Hardware and Sound, then Sound again.
If you use classic view, you double click on Sound, then right click on the Soundmax Digital Audio device, which is mostly your speakers. I will update this post with screenshots in the next hour as well.
Please let me know if you were able to access sounds now.
February 17th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
hey bender, what is your motherboard brand and model?
I have an ASUS P5P800 and the most recent sound driver does not fix this problem.
February 18th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Same problem here.
this fix works , had to click test a couple times before it worked.
I have a Asus p5p800 se intel 865pe chip set.
using the drivers that vista found when I installed it.
February 18th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Look, the right sequence of steps to get there is this:
Control Panel (Assuming Vista NORMAL view, i.e., not Classic View ) / Hardware and sound / Sound (Manage audio devices option) / SOUND dialog opens… Right click device (speakers, in my case), choose Properties / SPEAKER PROPERTIES dialog opens / Click on the Advanced Tab / In the drop down menu select a codec other than the one that is currently selected.
That’s it.
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:29 pm
I have an Asus p5p800s also and the above “solution” only works for about 5 to 10 minutes then goes mute.
I think we just have to be patient and wait for SoundMAX or Microsoft to come up with the goods. Damned annoying though as I can’t use Flight Simulator without engine noise.
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Maurie:
On the Neowin forums, I found this:
SoundMAX AD1986A HD Audio
WHQL v. 5.10.04.5010
For ASUS mainboards with this 5.1 audio chipset onboard.
I have finally found a replacement for the crappy audio driver downloaded through Windows Update.
Download: Vista 32/64 bit - http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/audio/ad1986/AD1986A_Vista32&64.zip
But it hasn’t made a difference. Yes, I’ve personally emailed Asus Support and they’ve asked me to give them some time before the new drivers come out. It’s funny how Asus, such a large company, is taking quite a while compared to the other companies.
March 4th, 2007 at 2:32 am
My music plays absolutely perfect!!!
It would seem that, after subjet to elimination, the problem lies in Microsoft games both imbedded in Vista and added such as Flight Simulator. So who do we attack, Asus or Microsoft??
March 4th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Thanks for the fix..worked perfectly.
March 4th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Maurie: Lol I’m not really sure… I’d say Asus because the other motherboard companies have already caught up and developed a driver for their SoundMAX integrated.
March 7th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
I have the Intel D865Perl and as far as I know there is not an updated driver for Intel motherboards either…or at least that I can find. After using vista for over a month, this problem becomes EXTREMELY annoying.
March 10th, 2007 at 4:39 am
I also have the Intel D865Perl , there are no updated drivers on intel website, i think that Intel sucks for not updating their drivers fir Vista, especially that vista was released much earlier for developers…i’ll never buy an intel motherboard again.
March 10th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Vali, tell Intel of your feelings. I tried to do it with Asus but they, and SoundMax, don’t provide a tab for feedback.
I guess there is a reason for that!
March 10th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
LOL. That’s a good one. I’ve tried talking to Asus and all they said was they needed time to adjust.
March 11th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
I’ve been having the same problem and have been using this quick fix for a while now… I can’t wait for Intel to release updated drivers for my motherboard (D865PERL)
March 13th, 2007 at 1:21 am
“Experts” pick on Microsoft but they never build a better system. Third party operators have had the Vista codes for two years and they still want more time? Canon was ready with drivers for printers and scanners. If it wasn’t for Bill Gates’ attitude a lot of people, other than those at Microsoft, would be out of work.
March 15th, 2007 at 2:39 am
I have fond a way to force this problem
Whenever This problem occur i go to Run And type “Services.Msc” And then Restart Windows Audio Service
you can make a shortcut icon of services.msc and do this faster
March 15th, 2007 at 6:05 am
Thought I would share my experience with SoundMax (BAH!!)
I helped my flatmate install Windows Vista on his Intel D865PERL based system, everything works perfectly… except the SoundMax (ADI 1985) driver… after not finding any updated drivers on Intel’s website (the latest version is dated 4/13/2005!!) I sent them an email requesting information on the subject:
Thier reply:
> Windows Vista(TM) is not a validated operating system for the Intel(R)
> Desktop Board D865PERL.
They pointed me to this page for “Supported” operating systems:
> http://intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-008326.htm
I then replied with:
Thanks for your reply,
Yes, I noticed the board is not designed for Vista, I just wonder you have any new information regarding SoundMax/Cadenza developing a Vista driver.
It seems the SoundMax chipset is installed on such a large user base that is would be important to develop a Vista driver.
thank you,
Gaspard Leon
Their final response:
> We regret to inform that we don’t handle the information you are looking for.
> We strongly recommend contacting the audio driver developer directly in order to obtain this kind of information.
My diagnoses… WTF! SoundMax is on so many motherboards it’s not funny… how can they not write a decent driver?!
March 16th, 2007 at 3:32 am
This is also a problem with many with soundblaster audigy/xfi sound just stops working. i go to properties and go from 16 bit to next then go back and it works again . But very random. I may not happen all day then next 10 times that day. This seems to be a glitch on some systems with vista. I dont think drivers are going to fix it. I did not have the problem for 2 months and I did a reinstall all the same drivers and it started. reinstalled and it was fine. reinstalled again and it started again.
March 16th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
I experienced this problem of sound disappearing when I paused a media stream within Vista Media Center (it happend about half the time). I have found a solution that appears to work fully - i.e. it does not require any of the fannying around restarting the Media Center application, switching audio codecs, or restarting the machine.
I simply replaced the drivers that were automatically installed by Vista with the ones I already had from when the machine previously had Windows XP on it.
The motherboad is an Asus S-Presso, which has the SoundMax AD1888 hardware on it. I got the latest WinXP audio driver for this board from the Asus website (it was described as version 6.0). I first tried to run the installer included with the driver, but it simply complained about the version of the operating system, and refused to install. Instead, I went to the Device Manager, to the “SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio” sound device, told it to “Update Driver Software…”, pointed it to the WinXP driver, and it duly installed.
Since then, I have had no more disappearing sound problems in Vista Media Center.
I was a little surprised that a WinXP driver would be accepted by Vista, let alone work! This machine lives only to run Media Center, so I cannot comment on how consistently the driver works outside of that application. I’m sure you can work out how to do the corresponding process if you have one of the other SoundMAX chipsets.
Boy, am I glad this worked! I wasn’t willing to continue struggling with the repeated loss of sound, whilst waiting (possibly for ever) for a working Vista driver. I was also not wanting to even think about re-installing Media Center 2005/XP - never mind about then coping with the channel-scrambling and guide-loss bugs in it.
I wish you luck with your system(s).
March 19th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Thanks TONS for the post. The drivers made my sound work again.
Albert Ng on Mar 2nd, 2007 said:
Maurie:
On the Neowin forums, I found this:
SoundMAX AD1986A HD Audio
WHQL v. 5.10.04.5010
For ASUS mainboards with this 5.1 audio chipset onboard.
I have finally found a replacement for the crappy audio driver downloaded through Windows Update.
Download: Vista 32/64 bit - http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/audio/ad1986/AD1986A_Vista32&64.zip
But it hasn’t made a difference. Yes, I’ve personally emailed Asus Support and they’ve asked me to give them some time before the new drivers come out. It’s funny how Asus, such a large company, is taking quite a while compared to the other companies.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Try setting the PCI latency timer in the bios to 64 from 32 and turn off ASF support I did this and now the sound works with the Windows XP drivers I sat here for literally 4 hrs searching for Vista drivers but no luck had a think about it and played around with the bios and now the sound works all good see how you go.
March 20th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Hi Guys,
I own a D865PERL and my sound is working fine… however vista does not recognize my 4.1 Altec Lansing… is there any way to put my surround and subwoofer to work?
Thanks,
March 21st, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Hi,
I had the same issue and found that stopping and restarting the “Windows Audio” service (Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services) works.
March 21st, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Hi,
Its me again, I got a new “surprise”, when I go to Control Panel \ Sound, if I click on the “Recording” tab I got a blue screen… I thought there was an issue with my Mic so I tried unpluging it… same result… any ideas?
Thnx
March 21st, 2007 at 11:26 pm
Do you know what the blue screen says?
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:05 am
It is quite fast (less than 1 sec), I cant get to see anything… is there any place where I can look for it?
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:21 am
Yep. Follow this guide until step 2 http://vistarewired.com/2007/03/20/boot-into-vista-without-encountering-the-boot-selection-screen/
But when you get to the part where you uncheck things, uncheck the Automatic Restart box.
March 25th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Hi,
A couple of things before troubleshooting.
1. I got the blue screen when I allow windows to install the SoundMax driver from Windows Update.
2. If I use the SoundMax driver for WinXP (the one on my Intel D865PERL CD) there is no blue screen.
In both cases I suffer the “sound cutting off” problem. Additionally if I do with the Windows Update Driver, I have some options to configure my speakers (Altec Lansing AVS500 4.1) however I only have output on the stereo, no surround, no subwoofer. On the other hand if I go with WinXP Driver I only have the “Stereo” option.
It looks like I have more than one issue in here… I ll appreciate your help.
BTW, I am running Vista Home Premium and my Mother Board is a Intel D865PERL.
Thanks,
March 25th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
I’m sorry Zkorp, I really don’t know what is at fault here. It is most likely that the problem is with the driver since your sound continues to cut off. I recommend you contact Intel or maybe even Windows support with this problem. By the way, do you know what the blue screen says?
March 26th, 2007 at 12:03 am
Anyone running a motherboard with SoundMax AD1985 (Intel D865PERL etc) successfully without the sound-cuts-off-when-pausing-video-in-windows-media-player issue??
Or is everyone just suffering…
Pausing movies using Windows Vista and SoundMax AD9185:
1. Note current playback location e.g. 38:19:39 etc.. DO NOT PAUSE THE PLAYBACK
2. When you come back to the movie, “unpause it” by scrolling back to this “mental bookmark”
3. If the movie is (accidentally?) paused, scroll back a few minutes and wait the sound will usually come back after 20 or so seconds
4. if it doesn’t come back, restart media player, if it still no sound, play around with the codec or services etc
5. if it still does not play sound, restart the computer.
as you can see… this sucks… if the driver worked properly it would be:
1. press pause to stop playback
2. press play to continue playback
March 26th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
I HAVE COMPAQ PRESARIO 3172 LAPTOP.USING VISTA ULTIMATE TRIAL PROBLEM IS THAT AFTER SOME TIME SOUND DISAPPEARS IF NO ACTIVITY DETECTED ON MY LAPTOP
March 27th, 2007 at 1:33 am
Good news for AD1985 users!!!
Although it isn’t listed at support.asus.com download center for P5P800, so you should contact Asus support to send you the correct file. It is possible that this driver works with other AD chipsets, so ask it.
After a few days I finally could get a working driver for my Asus P5P800 motherboard. As far as I tested, there’s no annoying pausing problems and the sound doesn’t stop randomly.
The Soundmax driver version is 5.12.1.3890, it was released on 30.10.2003. So it’s an old driver but it works
(Note: You get only 2-channel playback)
I hope i helped you all with sound-cutting-off problems and if you know other people with this problem, please tell them, too.
March 27th, 2007 at 2:17 am
Akos,
Your idea looks good but how did you get that driver. Both “support” and “download” pages at their website are timing out. Trying to contact them only gives tele numbers for laptop support. If this was a Microsoft problem, someone would have taken them to court and won a million in damages.
March 27th, 2007 at 2:31 am
Asus sites are also timing out for me. Try this page: http://vip.asus.com/eservice/techserv.aspx
March 27th, 2007 at 6:38 am
Thanks, Akos.
I’ve filled in their query form and they have promised to get back to me in 48 hours-WATCH THIS SPACE, guys.
March 27th, 2007 at 7:02 am
Albert Ng!
Could you publish the driver at vistarewired.com if i sent it to your address? So everyone who needs it, could download it from here and didn’t have to wait for asus support’s reply.
March 27th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Akos: Most definetely. How do you know if you are running a Soundmax AD1985. It just says Soundmax for me
March 28th, 2007 at 1:41 am
I know it from the motherboard’s user guide, you’ll find it on the specifications summary page.
I have sent you the file.
And it’s important to know, that asus support told me, that this is a third-party driver, not made by asus, so everyone should use it on own risk!
March 28th, 2007 at 3:32 am
PROBLEM SOLVED (I think/hope). Uninstall sound drivers then reinstall them. They are SMAXWDM/2K_XP and are on the motherboard instal disc. However this works when you have the Motherboard instal disc. For those without it………??
March 28th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
That information came from Asus support, I have done this and it works!! Beaudy!!
March 29th, 2007 at 5:02 am
HY peeps my problem is slightly different my soundmax seems to work fine when installed using the basic vista drivers as supplied by asus however. when i restart the pc it says ” sound configuration has changes and soundmax must be reinstalled” i get this allmost every time i switch the pc on i then re install the drivers and the sound works perfectly untill next time i turn it off. Has anyone else had this and/or found a cure for it .
intel p4 3 gig
asus p5vdc-x
nvidia 7600gt-oc
1 gig ram
March 29th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Don’t turn off your computer! There is a theory that it is better for your hard drive mechanically.
Try uninstalling your sound then reinstall-leave computer running, then you shouldn’t have a problem.
March 29th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Adrian: Maurie has some good advice. You should be using hibernate
Maurie: I’m going to test out your method ^^. What’s your motherboard?
March 29th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Looks like I lost my Asus disk -.- and the website is down too. Asus has a horribly laggy website.
March 29th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Asus P5P800S
March 31st, 2007 at 4:41 pm
i tried that stuff suggested by Ianin Campbell wich i thank,cause it worked :p
10x
April 17th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
hello my stroom me asus p4 p800 vista audio driver Necessary Somehow , I could not find That is, ad 1985 If you help , I am pleased Thanks
May 1st, 2007 at 10:35 am
Hello. Can anyone solve this audio problem? If yes, please notice us how you are done. I’m very angry to ASUS, they aren’t published an audio driver that supports Vista, they’re sleeping I guess.
May 15th, 2007 at 5:06 am
Hello, I have been reading this article and I have the same problem. The sound cuts off randomly and doesn’t work until I do the Sound > Advanced > Test thing. However my situation is a little different. I do not use my built in sound device, I have a Creative Soundblaster Audigy 4 card and I receive all my sound from that. I do not use the audio ports built into my motherboard.
Does all sound somehow go through that built in device then into my Creative sound card? If so that makes sence. I don’t even think I have the SoundMAX drivers installed, of course because I don’t use that device, and knew I wasn’t going to be when I built my computer.
I always knew crap would hit the fan driver-wise when Vista was released, but I didn’t think it would take this long for all the drivers to be updated…
I am running an Asus P5B Deluxe MB
May 26th, 2007 at 2:43 am
The 5.12.1.5240 drivers provided by Windows Update, are actually just the last Windows XP drivers released. Which wouldn’t offer any real support for Windows Vista at all, and rely on backwards compatibility.
Don’t blame the companies that produced the motherboards, as they still require reference drivers from the company (Analog Devices) that produced the SoundMax audio codecs, to work off.
Unfortunately Analog Devices have only produced Windows Vista drivers for their most recent SoundMax audio codecs. Earlier SoundMax audio codecs seems to have been abandoned, the last (Windows XP) drivers were released back in 2005!
June 11th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
nice blog
June 12th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Hello
I Have Problem with Audio Divice
My Spesification Computer
MB Asus P5VDC-X
HD 80 GB
RAM 1G
VGA 256 MB N Vidia 6500
Audio Soundmax HD 1986 Anlog Divice
TV Xpert Philips
OS Vista Ultimate
My Problem
I Install Soundmax Successfully and corectly, but I Shut Down My PC and I turn on Again this messege â€sound configuration has changes and soundmax must be reinstalled
I tried tutorial in vistarewired, but not fix…
Plz Help me … send Driver Sound Max for vista or Knowledge base vista to my email ari_natuna@yahoo.com to Fix Problem. Or Audio Pacth vita ready From Microsoft like Install Soundmax on XP
Or I hope Others Solutions
Thank
Sorry my bed English
June 14th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
@Kirebn:
The most info I have got out any two of these companies (AD and Asus). Asus tech support sucks. I like their products but they have like forums/download sites coded from 1995. (Looks like a custom forum job they never finished…) … Plus they lag terribly.
Anyway I just hope AD does something. I have written in the Asus forums, also to NO avail.
bC
June 14th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
BTW here is a link for v3890 (I have AD1985).
http://202.188.160.140/user/user_nec_download.asp?driver_location=D:\Drivers\Sound\Audio_WinXP2K_51213890.exe
Here is the only link I could find for v5.12.1.5240:
ftp://ftp.gateway.com/pub/hardware_support/drivers/win_2k/sound/integrated/Soundmax5240.exe
^ That link is thru Gateway so…?
Do you know of better ones?
June 14th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
v3890:
http://soundcard.free-driver-download.com/Analog%20Devices/17905/Analog-Devices-AD188x,-AD198x-AC97-Codec-SoundMax-Driver-5.12.01.3890-Windows-98SE-ME-2000-XP.html
July 1st, 2007 at 1:45 am
the link in line 58 worked great for me.
thanks to bonecrusher
I use a Asus MB P4V800D-X with Soundmax
July 24th, 2007 at 11:10 am
it’s pretty lame, I have an intel D865PERL, I emailed them about this, they said that vista isn’t supported with their MOBO, then a couple of weeks later it stopped showing up on the menu on their website. I wish I had gotten an AMD mobo
August 4th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
hello i have intel 865gbf board it uses ad1985 codec, driver at asus p5p800 also uses ad1985 but driver does not install on my intel board please help me
September 10th, 2007 at 11:38 am
I need sound vista driver. Asus P5VD1-X You can help me. Im happy
September 27th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
So, I have the ASUS P4S800D-X motherboard, and I can’t even install the video driver for Vista 32-bit. I can’t find it anywhere, and when I called the ASUS tech support they told me the board is old, and it isn’t compatible with Vista. My system is running on Vista, and everything is working BUT the SoundMax Audio. Every driver I download doesn’t work (won’t complete installation) and anytime I run a program (game) my system freezes completely and I have to restart. Somebody help me before I go crazy. I bought this board only 18 months ago!!!
October 27th, 2007 at 4:12 am
i need vista 32-bit Sound driver for ASUS P4S800D-X, please help me
November 6th, 2007 at 2:44 am
Interesting read.
I too have spent a long time looking for an update here.
I have tried to install the ASUS drivers and others about to no joy. It certainly took a while to locate the smwdm.sys driver the software asked for, still it hasn’t worked correctly (TF2 stutters a lot).
I have SoundMAX Integrated Audio on an ASUS P4C800-E motherboard and Vista (of course)
Any update appreciated ..
November 14th, 2007 at 4:19 am
Try Windows Vista Ultimate and update Soundmax Audio Driver like manual with your motherboard CD. May be it wil run your sound perfect.
December 9th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Great tutorial, this fixed my sound instantly, thank you very much!
December 10th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Just to advise I am about to get a whole new PC so no further problems expected
December 18th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
If you can find on Google- driver: version 5.12.01.5246. download it.
I think DELL use it. I know it works for the AD 1888 codec used in Asus p5p800se and it sounds great.
Gives you all the added extras as well. I have tried at least 50 different drivers over the past year and this one is the best.
No cut-outs,no crackle or hiss,and you can use spdif.
You will have to do a manual update from device manager and Vista will give warnings that it is not compatiable,,but it is.
I think it was originally for a Dell system with an AD 198x or something but it works a treat as I have already said.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
So none of these has really worked for my Asus P4P800 with SoundMax 1985 chips… I’m about to buy ANY OTHER sound card with ANYTHING EXCEPT Analog Devices. Before I do… Has any of this been fixed yet?!? Where are the LATEST drivers to try one last time before doing so?
Thanks,
Brian
January 26th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Dear Sir,
i would like to download D865PERL motherboard driver and soundmax audio driver for vista window.
Please help me with site name , sir.
thanks
htetlwin
February 4th, 2008 at 12:41 am
I hate to break it to you, but this problem isn’t limited to SoundMax or Asus. I have a Dell XPS M1710 with Vista Ultimate and the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage SRM, an external USB sound card. Yep, it does it too.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I would suggest all of you who are having problems to contact the company directly.
I will look into this but as of now, this is all I have.
February 9th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
syoif !.
RAM 1G
VGA 256 MB N Vidia 6500
how are u even possible to use vista on that computer ? okay sure 1 gig in RAM is okay. but that graphic card may not be the best for it :P. plz tell me u are using Vista basic.
March 15th, 2008 at 6:20 am
I Have an Asus AV8-XE which has an onboard SOUNDMAX AD1986. As I adopted Vista64 very early on this machine and found the modified drivers (posted near the top) only allowed 2channel stereo I decided to DISABLE the onboard sound from the BIOS and bought a Soundblaster X-FI based card instead.
However dispite this (Remember disabled at bios) I still suffer the same symptoms described.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Hey does any one have or know a site for SoundMax Cadenza for Vista OS, Please Can You tell me where to download this?
April 4th, 2008 at 7:47 am
thanks it worked, however i dont know if its the problem of my music or not, because the music sometimes lags a little. dont know. thanks anyways
April 8th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Hey my sound keeps on cutting in and out until the sound cuts out entirely. i got vista 64bit ultimate and i got X-fi sound card. All my drivers are up to date and the comp says the devices are working fine. Does anyone have the same problem and/or solution
April 9th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Hey all im having a annoying sound problem. When i play music or a game, or a movie the sound cuts in and out until it cuts out entirely. I have vista 64bit ultimate and a X-fi sound card. Does anyone have the same problem or a solution??:(
April 15th, 2008 at 12:02 am
Alex,
I’ve posted a few above yours….same issue.
I’ve taken many approaches with little/no success. Even the disabling the soundcard from the system tray, restarting the Windows Audio Services (and other dependancies etc) and turning off the Integrated SoundMAX from the BIOS has failed.
The latest soundblaster drivers have helped a little but the problem still arises from time to time making it difficult to pin down and blame either the drivers or the OS…
And I keep searching….
April 17th, 2008 at 4:17 am
SoundMAX in VistaBusiness32 with Thinkpad 2529 Z60m no go !
Other nerving thing is that middle button of navpad does not work as normal button pressed event, maybe I can live with this symptom but without sound?
Any help would be highly appreciated.
rob*
April 30th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
almost SOLVED!
YOU MUST COMPLETE DELETE SOUNDMAX FROM YOUR SYSTEM….
so run the original intalation from cd or from the site of intel with compatible xp xp2 mode… click on remove all soundmax drive from pc… then do not intall that thing again… restart system.. don’t let windows install the drive… ok then…
Just download 6280_Vista_APO from realtek… YES REALTEK!
from here: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsCheck.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=23&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false
Intall the drive…. restart pc… ok now you have spdif output.. but rear audio is now the front audio… so disconect your sterio system and conect in the rear out… In my 865perl the sound is nice AND NOW I CAN CONFIGURE SPDIF IN WINDOWS MEDIA CENTER AND IN POWER DVD.. NOW I LOVE VISTA HAHAHAHA!!! bye bye from Brazil…
April 30th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Ac97 adi1985 users!! only!!
almost SOLVED!
YOU MUST COMPLETE DELETE SOUNDMAX FROM YOUR SYSTEM….
so run the original intalation from cd or from the site of intel with compatible xp xp2 mode… click on remove all soundmax drive from pc… then do not intall that thing again… restart system.. don’t let windows install the drive… ok then…
Just download 6280_Vista_APO from realtek… YES REALTEK!
from here: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsCheck.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=23&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false
Intall the drive…. restart pc… ok now you have spdif output.. but rear audio is now the front audio… so disconect your sterio system and conect in the rear out… In my 865perl the sound is nice AND NOW I CAN CONFIGURE SPDIF IN WINDOWS MEDIA CENTER AND IN POWER DVD.. NOW I LOVE VISTA HAHAHAHA!!! bye from Brazil…
May 14th, 2008 at 11:07 am
A.For Intel D865PERL with integrated Soundmax AD1985 - sound in Vista cutting off.
Tested on Vista Ultimate 32bit with amplified stereo speakers.
Before 1-2-3 bellow uninstal older driver, restart PC. When boot to Vista desktop select in Found New Hardware window Don’t show this message again for this device.
1.Driver 5[1].12.1.3713_ADI_SM4_SF.exe for W2K and XP working:
Run driver exe file and unzip to any directory.
Fully Install and Uninstal (software and driver):
For install set copatibility for WINDOWS XP SP2 in setup.exe - properties and run it.
For uninstal run setup.exe again and select remove.
Partial Install and Uninstall (driver):
For install go to Control panel-Other devices-Multimedia audio controller, select Update driver software-Browse my computer for driver software, select directory ..\SMAXWDM\W2K_XP.
For uninstall go to Control panel-Device manager-Sound,video …-SoundMAX Integrated Digital audio, select Uninstall and check Delete the driver software for this device. Restart PC. When boot to Vista desktop select in Found New Hardware window Don’t show this message again for this device.
2.Driver AUD_ALL32_5.12.1.5240_PV2.EXE for W2K and XP working, but sound in WMP not working again after pausing a song, etc.(senfilt.sys = Sensaura):
Unpack it with WinZIP or Wincommander to any directory.
Download senfilt.sys v5.10.00.3519 393088 B - eg. download Audio_32bit_V510014160a.zip, unzip it to any directory. Go to directory ..\SMAXWDM\W2K_XP.
Fully Install and Uninstal - Partial Install and Uninstall:
As above in 1, only overwrite senfilt.sys with downloaded file.
When you have this driver installed, run your PC in Safe Mode and overwrite senfilt.sys with downloaded file.
3.R89530.EXE - v.5.12.01.5243 from ASUS site working with patch (senfilt.sys = Creative)- brilliant sound:
Run driver exe file and unzip to any directory.
Fully instal and Uninstall:
failed
Partial Install and Uninstall:
First modify smwdmCH5.inf file (ASUS MB use 5 jack audio - Intel 865PERL 3 jack):
[AnalogDevices]
;added for Intel D865PERL
%*WDM_AC97AUD.DeviceDesc%=WDM_PHOSPF, pci\ven_8086&dev_24D5&subsys_E0008086
[Pho2.AddReg]
;disable for Intel D865PERL
;HKR, Settings, “JackSenseConf” , 1, C1, 20, 67, F5
;disable for Intel D865PERL
;HKR, Settings, “JackSense” , 1, A0, 00, 00, 00 ;
;added for Intel D865PERL
HKR, Settings, “JackSenseShare”, 1, F3, 57, FF, FF
HKR, Settings, “PM_EAPD_Mode”, 1, 09 ;
HKR, Settings, “JackSense”, 1, F0, 50, 00, 00
HKR, Settings, “JackSense2″, 1, F0, 02, 00, 00
HKR, Settings, “JackSenseConf”, 1, 11, 20, F5, FF
HKR, Settings, “JackSenseInhibit”, 1, F1, FF, FF, FF
Next as above in 1.
B.For other MB with integrated Soundmax AD chip - sound in Vista cutting off.
Not tested.
Try to overwrite senfilt.sys with new version.
—- Sorry, I can’t speek English. —-
May 19th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Correction to my message May 14th, 2008.
Tested on Vista Ultimate 32bit with amplified stereo speakers and Intel 865PERL with 3 jack audio (Flexible 6-Channel Audio with Jack Sensing).
Part A.1.
- Driver 5[1].12.1.3713_ADI_SM4_SF.exe for W2K and XP working (upper filter senfilt.sys is not used):
Part A.2.
- (senfilt.sys = Sensaura, v5.10.00.3515 381056 B)
- Audio_32bit_V510014160.zip
Part A.3.
- R89530.EXE - v.5.12.01.5243 from DELL site working with patch (senfilt.sys = Creative)
- (DELL MB use 5 jack audio - Intel 865PERL 5 or 3 jack audio)
Part A.3.
Text in message is formated. When you use copy and paste to smwdmCH5.inf opened in e.g. Notepad retype quotation marks.
PS:
When you update driver for D865PERL from Microsoft site is installed older version senfilt.sys.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
soundmax driver version 5.12.01.3890
Download from here:
http://www.opendrivers.com/freedownload/217905/analog-devices-ad188x-ad198x-ac97-codec-soundmax-driver-5.12.01.3890-windows-98se-me-2000-xp-download.html
September 17th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
WOW…
I’ve come back to this page after being away for so long…
My friend that tried Vista before (in March 2007), then abandoned it for XP has come back around to re-install windows, and decided to try Vista again…
So, after installing Vista, I just tried the default Windows Update drivers (thinking that hopefully Microsoft and Analog devices had worked out the best code to provide)…
LOL Microsoft choosing a good course of action?? WHAT, WHAT??
Anyway for the Intel D865PERL (Desktop board) using the AD1985 chipset (with 3 jacks) the provided SoundMAX/Analog devices driver is absolute rubbish (version is 5.12.1.5240), it occasionally provides some kind of sound, but then cuts off to nothing when pausing, and sometimes randomly, causes WMP to stop etc… so naturally I was a bit disappointed.. however I didn’t give up that easily.
So I came back to this comments list (Almost a forum) to see if a definitive solution had been reached.
However the comments were a little hard to parse, I did glean the piece of knowledge that some people had some luck with older (and newer versions??) of the driver
So I dutifully started the search for a manufacturer that was actually offering for download some of these drivers… suffice to say that some of the download pages are 404 or fubarred in other ways…
When I finally did get a copy of the 5.12.01.3890 drivers I didn’t have much hope for them, but tried it anyway, not that easy to install… also I wasn’t keen to try the setup so I used device manager… after restarting, LO and BEHOLD!! the bloody thing works fine!! with a circa 2003 driver with a low version number it works just like a new one!! impressive
What I did:
- Find a copy of 5.12.01.3890 driver (I used Google, YMMV)
my first result in google was: http://driverscollection.com/?file_id=30329 (might be 404 by the time you see it)
(don’t worry about the manufacturer, the chip is usually the same, just make sure the version is the 3890 one)
- Extract or unpack the driver(s) to a folder
- Find the actual driver (don’t need all the exe installer stuff)
- It will have some xxxxxxxx.inf file
- Open Device Manager
- Find the SoundMAX Device
- Open it’s properies
- Click Update Driver
- DON’T USE THE AUTO-SEARCH, FIND BY HAND
- “HAVE DISK”
- Use folder of inf file
- Windows will probably warn you, also the name of the device might be exactly the same, so it can be confusing.
- Once done it should say you need to restart to complete install
- After restart go back to the device and check the driver version number is 5.12.01.3890 (and date is sometime in 2003)
- The sound should work, test it by playing a music file in WMP and pausing it for more then 10 seconds then try to resume it…
Hope this helped
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:39 am
Hallo!
I’ve got 865PERL got same sound problems…
But Intel D865PERL users please pay you attention!
My boot time is 8 (eight) minutes!!! I see 8 min green warm running and then log to system.
Can you tell me your boot time?
P.S. I guess it’s another Bill’s joke :)))
September 23rd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
@Walking Along
- What do you have installed?
- How old is your Vista install?
- Did it always take that long to boot?
I just installed a fresh Vista Ultimate with SP1 on my friend’s Intel D865PERL board and it’s great, takes around 45 seconds to 1 minute to boot
His specs:
Intel D865PERL
Pentium 4 3.0ghz w/ HT
2GB of DDR400 SDRAM
Nvidia Geforce 6600GT w 128MB
160GB 7200RPM SATA Hard drive
PATA DVD Writer
Vista Ultimate w/ SP1 installed 16th September (a week ago)
September 24th, 2008 at 4:46 am
I’ve got the same Vista Ultimate with SP1. I tried it 1 week ago. Even when i entered set up disk a had the same!
1-st screen several seconds but the second with logo ~ 8 min.
First time i restart thinking something wrong tried one more and the same. As summarise: Installation total time: ~ 1 h 15 min;
About 4 reboots (i don’t exactly remember) because of this problem took me for 30 min.
As a result i don’t want Vista anymore on current PC, and use WXP SP3
But after my test drive i find out:
SoundMAX problem! (VERY bad)
Aero - periodicaly i remembering it
I guess Vista as plannig W7 is the bridge to some stable system as XP in (for) the future
my specs: 1!GB of DDR400 SDRAM - problem?! (actually i thoght about i suspect that not enogh mem space for intallation programm and there are some mem processes use time - i guess)
September 25th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
well…
Things that can effect startup time severely:
- Broken device drivers (HDD, Chipset, Video, etc)
- Joining network domains (admin scripts etc)
- Viruses, other software installs etc
Things that would effect time in a lesser extent:
- Hard drive performance (5400rpm vs 7200rpm etc)
- CPU Performance (2ghz vs 3ghz etc)
- RAM Size (1GiB vs 2GiB vs 4GiB)
- Broken networking or device drivers can cause some lag too.
- Restart installs (windows updates etc)
The short answer is Vista is great if everything works, but it’s not as solid as XP SP3 which is stable and mature, and works on every machine from 2001 to 2006 and most new ones too.
Also XP SP3 will wring that last drop of FPS out of most games as well, and if you have less then 2GiB of RAM it’s definitely more efficient.
G
October 21st, 2008 at 4:26 am
i have sound one moment then next nothing it says its working ansd when i test it its okay but if i watch video on internet it dosent work
January 18th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
hi. i have a compaq presario F500 that i’ve had for about a year and a half and havent had any problems with it until recently. the sound wont work and i’ve tried just about everything, including various methods above. nothing seems to be working. any suggestions would be appreciated. thanks.
January 19th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
@steph:
Not sure if you’re in the correct forum.. I can’t find any information if the F500 series uses SoundMax audio drivers…
If it does then this page might help… but only in the off chance that it actually uses the same chip as described in this page…
Please check your device manager and see if it’s listed as “SoundMax” under your audio device.
You said it worked correctly previously for a year or so, please try an older version of the driver.
I searched HP/Compaq:
http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Lookup?h_pagetype=s-001&h_lang=en&h_client=s-s-r2515-1&h_cc=nz&h_query=Compaq+Presario+F500+Notebook+PC+series
used that link to find the model… you need to flip the notebook upside-down and look at the model number on the sticker.
March 24th, 2009 at 5:36 am
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