Sound Troubleshooting: Gateway MX6441 Multiple drivers fail

Punkrulz

Somewhat eXPerienced
Joined
24 Dec 2001
Messages
790
Hey guys,

You know, when it comes to reformatting computers, I really can't win when it comes to sound drivers! My friend has given me his Gateway Laptop, an MX6441 for me to repair for him. I reformatted it with Windows, as he did not have the disk that was provided with it. I hopped onto Gateway's website to obtain the drivers, which say they're a Conexant driver. The device on the laptop, using multiple hardware scanners says it's an ISB400 by ATI... however I can't find any such drivers. I have been reading around and I'm hearing that this device and the modem are the same... but again, Gateway's drivers don't match up.

I used Gateways, but the installation states that the device has failed. Since it's an AC'97 codec, I attempted to use one from Realtek... however while that one does install, in the control panel it says that the device cannot start. Is there anything else that I can try to use, since the manufacturers website can't even give me the correct driver?

This is for Windows XP btw.

Thanks!
 
You are not supposed to reformat the entire disk. The recovery files are (were) on the HD. What your buddy was supposed to do as soon as he got the laptop:
http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/Medialess/MLXPH1/MLXPH1su5.shtml

How to make a driver recovery disk (before you format):
http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/Medialess/MLXPH1/MLXPH1su3.shtml
http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/Medialess/MLXPH1/MLXPH1su4.shtml

Now you get to call gateway and ask for a driver CD or the download link or a recovery CD. Expect to have to pay for it.

The files may still be on the HD in a hidden partition if they were in a seperate partition you did not reformat it. If you made the entire HD one big partition they are gone.

I assume this is the driver you tried to download from Gateway:
http://support.gateway.com/support/...latform=10022&model=10785&os=10406&type=10096

Make sure all the shipset drivers are installed first. The audio driver may require functions from the chipset before it will load.
 
Last edited:
You are not supposed to reformat the entire disk. The recovery files are (were) on the HD. What your buddy was supposed to do as soon as he got the laptop:
http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/Medialess/MLXPH1/MLXPH1su5.shtml

How to make a driver recovery disk (before you format):
http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/Medialess/MLXPH1/MLXPH1su3.shtml
http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/Medialess/MLXPH1/MLXPH1su4.shtml

Now you get to call gateway and ask for a driver CD or the download link or a recovery CD. Expect to have to pay for it.

The files may still be on the HD in a hidden partition if they were in a seperate partition you did not reformat it. If you made the entire HD one big partition they are gone.

I assume this is the driver you tried to download from Gateway:
http://support.gateway.com/support/...latform=10022&model=10785&os=10406&type=10096

Make sure all the shipset drivers are installed first. The audio driver may require functions from the chipset before it will load.

Thanks for the reply Leejend! I asked him numerous times before taking his laptop to locate the CD's and then I will reformat it using that way. He stated that he could not locate them at all, and I warned him of the possible problems that would occur by doing the kind of format I was doing. One of things I'm curious about: If you've been working with the computer for an extended period of time, and you begin to have problems... if you decide to make a recovery disk at that point, doesn't it also put your "problems" onto the disk?

When I was doing the reformatting, I did note that he did have a separate partition with the recovery files on it. However, 1) I was unable to browse to that partition or do anything with it, and 2) I was looking for sort of a BIOS recovery option... you know when you see "Press F11 to Recover..." or something like that. I couldn't find anything. I was hoping to do it that way but had absolutely no luck.

Fortunately, his laptop was divided into two partitions, so the recovery partition still remains on his computer. I was able to resolve the sound driver issue, I just had to do a back door way of doing it.

1) Install the latest realtek Audio Drivers.
2) Go into the Device Manager -> Realtek Audio -> Drivers -> Update Driver
3) Navigate to where you extract the driver from Gateway's website.
4) Uncheck "Show compatible hardware". My problem was I was trying to specify using disk. What I was supposed to do was to select it on the left hand side for Conexant.
5) If the install asks you where some files are, navigate to where you extract the audio driver.
6) After installation + reboot, you should be fine when it comes to sound.

Just for anyone else who reads this post.

Also, you would be correct in that was the sound driver I was trying to download... and using their setup file for installation, every time it would attempt to go through, it would say that the installation status is FAILED.

Stupid me didn't download the chipset drivers first, I had thought about it then decided not to... dumb mistake. Now I'll be left wondering if it would have worked had I installed the chipset drivers. I did however try to install the modem drivers since I keep reading the modem & sound card are one in the same, thinking with the modem drivers install the sound drivers will function... however that failed every time.
 
Punk

If the recovery partition is seperate you may not be reinstalling the same problems. It depends on how smart the vendor was setting up the recovery partition. Like making the recovery partition read only a virus would not be able to corrupt it.

Glad to hear you got it working.

And always install the chipset first! It forms the needed software layer between the bios and windows. The add on drivers then install on top of the chipset drivers.
 
Yeah it was a dumb mistake that I had made on my part, and that I hope not to make it again!!!
 

Members online

No members online now.

Latest profile posts

Also Hi EP and people. I found this place again while looking through a oooollllllldddd backup. I have filled over 10TB and was looking at my collection of antiques. Any bids on the 500Mhz Win 95 fix?
Any of the SP crew still out there?
Xie wrote on Electronic Punk's profile.
Impressed you have kept this alive this long EP! So many sites have come and gone. :(

Just did some crude math and I apparently joined almost 18yrs ago, how is that possible???
hello peeps... is been some time since i last came here.
Electronic Punk wrote on Sazar's profile.
Rest in peace my friend, been trying to find you and finally did in the worst way imaginable.

Forum statistics

Threads
62,015
Messages
673,494
Members
5,621
Latest member
naeemsafi
Back