I wonder if anyone can help me…
I’ve recently purchsed a laptop off ebay and trying to be a little security/data concious i decided to format it and re-install Windows XP. The baisc details are as follows:
Model – Toshiba Tecra A2
RAM 512mb
OS – Windows XP Home Edition SP2
The rebuild seems to have worked except i no longer have any sound. Before the rebuild the sound worked perfectly so im sure i have the hardware i need, however when i look in the Control Panel under Sound and Audio devices there is no device listed, the fileds are all greyed out, although the hardware tab does list a Multimedia Audio Controler that it says is not configured correctly. There is also no volume icon in the system tray.
I’ve tried clicking on Properties on the hardware tab (within Sound & Audio Devices)and reinstalling the driver for the Multimedia Audio Controler, but half way through this the process says the driver has not passed Windows logo testing to verify compatibility with Windows XP and asks if i want to continue. I continue and it asks me to insert a CD with Realtek AC97 driver. I dont have this CD but if i click OK it gives an option to navigate to a folder with ALCXWDM.SYS. I found this file in C:Program Files/Realtek AC97. When i select this and click OK i get what i belive is known as the ‘blue screen of death’ and the system crashes.
I’ve also tried downloading AC97 drivers from the web and installing directly (, sometimes the installation completes but i still dont get any sound. Sometimes it crashes during the installation (inc direct from Realtek). I’ve looked at various similar posts on this site and some others and tried various drivers from links they suggest (have also tried some Sigma Tel drivers). None have worked.
If its of use the following devices are listed in the Hardware tab of the Sound and Audio devices box:
Toshiba DVD ROM
Multimedia audio controller (PCI Bus 0, device 31, function 5)
Audio Codecs
Legacy audio drivers
Media control devices
Legacy video capture devices
Video Codecs
All are listed as working properly except the Multimedia audio controler.
If anyone can offer any help id be really grateful. Please let me know if you need me to provide any further info.
Thanks in anticipation.