device manager

  • Thread starter Thread starter James
  • Start date Start date
J

James

Hi,

I would like to change the keys for device manager using the registry.
Can anyone tell me where i would find these keys in the registry?

Also I am quite interested in any websites/reference that explains the
registry in detail, so if anyone can recommend a site that would be great.

Thanks :-)
 
Hi,

thanks for that, i'll give it a go :-)


Rick said:
There are a _lot_ of entries involved, practically it's beyond
the scope of manual registry editing.


Well, the basic troubleshooting procedure would be:

1. Make sure the onboard audio is enabled in the system bios
(obviously).

2. Download the latest driver for the onboard audio from your
system board manufacturer, or if that's unavailable, get the latest
generic AC97 driver from Intel's website. Unzip or uncompress
the driver into its own folder if necessary.

3. Check Add/Remove Software and see if there's an option to
uninstall an AC97 audio driver. If so, uninstall it. If prompted to
reboot afterwards, DO NOT reboot. Instead, immediately go
into Device Manager and uninstall any remaining related entries
under "Sound, video and game controllers". Also go through
the following two steps *before* rebooting.

4. In Explorer, go to Tools/Folder Options/View and make sure
"Show hidden files and folders" is selected (and the two options
right under that are deselected).

5. Go into \WINNT\INF and look for any OEM*.INF files.
Bring each one up in Notepad and see if any of them are related
to your onboard audio. If so, either rename or delete them, along
with the associated PNF file(s). Be careful to not delete any other
OEM*.INF files though.

6. Reboot, allow Windows to redetect your hardware, and point
to the driver in Step 2 when prompted.

Also check your motherboard manual and see if the onboard audio
shares an interrupt with one of your PCI slots. If so, and you have
a PCI card in that slot, try relocating it.

Rick
Click to expand...
 
Hi,

thanks for that, i'll give it a go :-)


Rick said:
There are a _lot_ of entries involved, practically it's beyond
the scope of manual registry editing.


Well, the basic troubleshooting procedure would be:

1. Make sure the onboard audio is enabled in the system bios
(obviously).

2. Download the latest driver for the onboard audio from your
system board manufacturer, or if that's unavailable, get the latest
generic AC97 driver from Intel's website. Unzip or uncompress
the driver into its own folder if necessary.

3. Check Add/Remove Software and see if there's an option to
uninstall an AC97 audio driver. If so, uninstall it. If prompted to
reboot afterwards, DO NOT reboot. Instead, immediately go
into Device Manager and uninstall any remaining related entries
under "Sound, video and game controllers". Also go through
the following two steps *before* rebooting.

4. In Explorer, go to Tools/Folder Options/View and make sure
"Show hidden files and folders" is selected (and the two options
right under that are deselected).

5. Go into \WINNT\INF and look for any OEM*.INF files.
Bring each one up in Notepad and see if any of them are related
to your onboard audio. If so, either rename or delete them, along
with the associated PNF file(s). Be careful to not delete any other
OEM*.INF files though.

6. Reboot, allow Windows to redetect your hardware, and point
to the driver in Step 2 when prompted.

Also check your motherboard manual and see if the onboard audio
shares an interrupt with one of your PCI slots. If so, and you have
a PCI card in that slot, try relocating it.

Rick
Click to expand...
 
The GUI won't let me delete/unistall some things though.
I'm having trouble with my sound device, thought it might be the only way
(other than reinstalling windows) as I have tried everything else.

Are the reg keys really that messy? i just figured they can't be as annoying
to change, as having to reinstall all of windows! :-)

Cheers,

James
 
The GUI won't let me delete/unistall some things though.
I'm having trouble with my sound device, thought it might be the only way
(other than reinstalling windows) as I have tried everything else.

Are the reg keys really that messy? i just figured they can't be as annoying
to change, as having to reinstall all of windows! :-)

Cheers,

James
 
was just thinking, might be easier to ask - how do i keep device changes
after an In-Place Windows 2000 upgrade? As it did work once, but then
reverted back to no-sound again after reboot.

Any help greatly appreciated :-)
 
was just thinking, might be easier to ask - how do i keep device changes
after an In-Place Windows 2000 upgrade? As it did work once, but then
reverted back to no-sound again after reboot.

Any help greatly appreciated :-)
 
ok,

well I meant the registry keys, or registry key values.

As I understand it, the device manager is just a GUI for changing these
keys, that point to drivers and ini files etc., using values in the
registry.

The current problem I have is there is no sound or 'no active mixer devices'
when i click on the volume control. My sound device is on the motherboard -
I have tried every other way of trying to get it to work again using the
motherboard manual and driver CD and even doing a repair install of windows
2000.

The repair briefly made the driver reappear:

AC'97 Driver for Intel® 82801aa Controller



then it disappeared again after rebooting. So basically, I dont really want
to reinstall windows every time I want to listen to some music :-)



Any ideas?



Thanks,



James
 
ok,

well I meant the registry keys, or registry key values.

As I understand it, the device manager is just a GUI for changing these
keys, that point to drivers and ini files etc., using values in the
registry.

The current problem I have is there is no sound or 'no active mixer devices'
when i click on the volume control. My sound device is on the motherboard -
I have tried every other way of trying to get it to work again using the
motherboard manual and driver CD and even doing a repair install of windows
2000.

The repair briefly made the driver reappear:

AC'97 Driver for Intel® 82801aa Controller



then it disappeared again after rebooting. So basically, I dont really want
to reinstall windows every time I want to listen to some music :-)



Any ideas?



Thanks,



James
 
In said:
Hi,

I would like to change the keys for device manager using the
registry. Can anyone tell me where i would find these keys in the
registry?
Click to expand...

All over the place, :-)
I'd stick with the GUI interface for safety's sake.
Also I am quite interested in any websites/reference that explains
the registry in detail, so if anyone can recommend a site that
would be great.
Click to expand...


One "goldmine" site is
http://www.jsiinc.com/
 
In said:
Hi,

I would like to change the keys for device manager using the
registry. Can anyone tell me where i would find these keys in the
registry?
Click to expand...

All over the place, :-)
I'd stick with the GUI interface for safety's sake.
Also I am quite interested in any websites/reference that explains
the registry in detail, so if anyone can recommend a site that
would be great.
Click to expand...


One "goldmine" site is
http://www.jsiinc.com/
 
James said:
The GUI won't let me delete/unistall some things though.
Click to expand...

How would changing the shortcut keys help? Or is that not
what you meant by "change the keys for device manager"?
I'm having trouble with my sound device, thought it might be the only way
(other than reinstalling windows) as I have tried everything else.
Click to expand...

Be specific about the problem and maybe we can help.

Rick
 
James said:
The GUI won't let me delete/unistall some things though.
Click to expand...

How would changing the shortcut keys help? Or is that not
what you meant by "change the keys for device manager"?
I'm having trouble with my sound device, thought it might be the only way
(other than reinstalling windows) as I have tried everything else.
Click to expand...

Be specific about the problem and maybe we can help.

Rick
 
James said:
ok,

well I meant the registry keys, or registry key values.

As I understand it, the device manager is just a GUI for changing these
keys, that point to drivers and ini files etc., using values in the
registry.
Click to expand...

There are a _lot_ of entries involved, practically it's beyond
the scope of manual registry editing.
The current problem I have is there is no sound or 'no active mixer devices'
when i click on the volume control. My sound device is on the motherboard -
I have tried every other way of trying to get it to work again using the
motherboard manual and driver CD and even doing a repair install of windows
2000.

The repair briefly made the driver reappear:

AC'97 Driver for Intel® 82801aa Controller

then it disappeared again after rebooting. So basically, I dont really want
to reinstall windows every time I want to listen to some music :-)
Click to expand...

Well, the basic troubleshooting procedure would be:

1. Make sure the onboard audio is enabled in the system bios
(obviously).

2. Download the latest driver for the onboard audio from your
system board manufacturer, or if that's unavailable, get the latest
generic AC97 driver from Intel's website. Unzip or uncompress
the driver into its own folder if necessary.

3. Check Add/Remove Software and see if there's an option to
uninstall an AC97 audio driver. If so, uninstall it. If prompted to
reboot afterwards, DO NOT reboot. Instead, immediately go
into Device Manager and uninstall any remaining related entries
under "Sound, video and game controllers". Also go through
the following two steps *before* rebooting.

4. In Explorer, go to Tools/Folder Options/View and make sure
"Show hidden files and folders" is selected (and the two options
right under that are deselected).

5. Go into \WINNT\INF and look for any OEM*.INF files.
Bring each one up in Notepad and see if any of them are related
to your onboard audio. If so, either rename or delete them, along
with the associated PNF file(s). Be careful to not delete any other
OEM*.INF files though.

6. Reboot, allow Windows to redetect your hardware, and point
to the driver in Step 2 when prompted.

Also check your motherboard manual and see if the onboard audio
shares an interrupt with one of your PCI slots. If so, and you have
a PCI card in that slot, try relocating it.

Rick
 
James said:
ok,

well I meant the registry keys, or registry key values.

As I understand it, the device manager is just a GUI for changing these
keys, that point to drivers and ini files etc., using values in the
registry.
Click to expand...

There are a _lot_ of entries involved, practically it's beyond
the scope of manual registry editing.
The current problem I have is there is no sound or 'no active mixer devices'
when i click on the volume control. My sound device is on the motherboard -
I have tried every other way of trying to get it to work again using the
motherboard manual and driver CD and even doing a repair install of windows
2000.

The repair briefly made the driver reappear:

AC'97 Driver for Intel® 82801aa Controller

then it disappeared again after rebooting. So basically, I dont really want
to reinstall windows every time I want to listen to some music :-)
Click to expand...

Well, the basic troubleshooting procedure would be:

1. Make sure the onboard audio is enabled in the system bios
(obviously).

2. Download the latest driver for the onboard audio from your
system board manufacturer, or if that's unavailable, get the latest
generic AC97 driver from Intel's website. Unzip or uncompress
the driver into its own folder if necessary.

3. Check Add/Remove Software and see if there's an option to
uninstall an AC97 audio driver. If so, uninstall it. If prompted to
reboot afterwards, DO NOT reboot. Instead, immediately go
into Device Manager and uninstall any remaining related entries
under "Sound, video and game controllers". Also go through
the following two steps *before* rebooting.

4. In Explorer, go to Tools/Folder Options/View and make sure
"Show hidden files and folders" is selected (and the two options
right under that are deselected).

5. Go into \WINNT\INF and look for any OEM*.INF files.
Bring each one up in Notepad and see if any of them are related
to your onboard audio. If so, either rename or delete them, along
with the associated PNF file(s). Be careful to not delete any other
OEM*.INF files though.

6. Reboot, allow Windows to redetect your hardware, and point
to the driver in Step 2 when prompted.

Also check your motherboard manual and see if the onboard audio
shares an interrupt with one of your PCI slots. If so, and you have
a PCI card in that slot, try relocating it.

Rick
 
In said:
There are a _lot_ of entries involved, practically it's beyond
the scope of manual registry editing.
Click to expand...

Even that might be an under-statement. said:
Well, the basic troubleshooting procedure would be:

1. Make sure the onboard audio is enabled in the system bios
(obviously).

2. Download the latest driver for the onboard audio from your
system board manufacturer, or if that's unavailable, get the
latest generic AC97 driver from Intel's website. Unzip or
uncompress the driver into its own folder if necessary.

3. Check Add/Remove Software and see if there's an option to
uninstall an AC97 audio driver. If so, uninstall it. If prompted
to reboot afterwards, DO NOT reboot. Instead, immediately go
into Device Manager and uninstall any remaining related entries
under "Sound, video and game controllers". Also go through
the following two steps *before* rebooting.

4. In Explorer, go to Tools/Folder Options/View and make sure
"Show hidden files and folders" is selected (and the two options
right under that are deselected).

5. Go into \WINNT\INF and look for any OEM*.INF files.
Bring each one up in Notepad and see if any of them are related
to your onboard audio. If so, either rename or delete them, along
with the associated PNF file(s). Be careful to not delete any
other OEM*.INF files though.

6. Reboot, allow Windows to redetect your hardware, and point
to the driver in Step 2 when prompted.

Also check your motherboard manual and see if the onboard audio
shares an interrupt with one of your PCI slots. If so, and you
have a PCI card in that slot, try relocating it.
Click to expand...

Great procedure Rick.

In some cases it may be necessary to "Show hidden devices" in Device
Manager. Also, from a cmd prompt:
SET DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1
devmgmt.msc
But probably not in the OP's case I am guessing.
It is also a possibility that the embedded audio is defective or
partially dead (intermittent operation)

The OP may want to utilize Installation Tracking software in order to
see the voluminous and rather cryptic registry changes made during
the installation. Just for "fun".
 
In said:
There are a _lot_ of entries involved, practically it's beyond
the scope of manual registry editing.
Click to expand...

Even that might be an under-statement. said:
Well, the basic troubleshooting procedure would be:

1. Make sure the onboard audio is enabled in the system bios
(obviously).

2. Download the latest driver for the onboard audio from your
system board manufacturer, or if that's unavailable, get the
latest generic AC97 driver from Intel's website. Unzip or
uncompress the driver into its own folder if necessary.

3. Check Add/Remove Software and see if there's an option to
uninstall an AC97 audio driver. If so, uninstall it. If prompted
to reboot afterwards, DO NOT reboot. Instead, immediately go
into Device Manager and uninstall any remaining related entries
under "Sound, video and game controllers". Also go through
the following two steps *before* rebooting.

4. In Explorer, go to Tools/Folder Options/View and make sure
"Show hidden files and folders" is selected (and the two options
right under that are deselected).

5. Go into \WINNT\INF and look for any OEM*.INF files.
Bring each one up in Notepad and see if any of them are related
to your onboard audio. If so, either rename or delete them, along
with the associated PNF file(s). Be careful to not delete any
other OEM*.INF files though.

6. Reboot, allow Windows to redetect your hardware, and point
to the driver in Step 2 when prompted.

Also check your motherboard manual and see if the onboard audio
shares an interrupt with one of your PCI slots. If so, and you
have a PCI card in that slot, try relocating it.
Click to expand...

Great procedure Rick.

In some cases it may be necessary to "Show hidden devices" in Device
Manager. Also, from a cmd prompt:
SET DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1
devmgmt.msc
But probably not in the OP's case I am guessing.
It is also a possibility that the embedded audio is defective or
partially dead (intermittent operation)

The OP may want to utilize Installation Tracking software in order to
see the voluminous and rather cryptic registry changes made during
the installation. Just for "fun".
 
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