Dumb Sound Driver Question

[Vudak]

Hey all,

I'm trying to update my sound driver, but I'm finding it is not as idiot-friendly as the graphics card driver...  I tried googling Realtek Semiconductor Corp., and then searching for RTKVHDA.sys on the site, but am coming up empty.  There are a couple of downloads on there for what I think are other things, but I have no idea which one I need.  Can anyone make sense of this and point me in the right direction?  I'm having a few hard lock ups occasionally, and am wondering if updating my sound driver might help that (many people seem to relate the lockups to a problem of some sort with sounds).  Here is the pertinent (I think) information from the dxdiag.

Thanks so much,

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_1458A002&REV_1000
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5653 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 6/26/2008 23:23:26, 2149912 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

            Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_1458A002&REV_1000
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5653 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 6/26/2008 23:23:26, 2149912 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5653 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 6/26/2008 23:23:26, 2149912 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

            Description: Realtek Digital Input (Realtek High Definition Audio)
  Default Sound Capture: No
  Default Voice Capture: No
            Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5653 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 6/26/2008 23:23:26, 2149912 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

[Getback]

Go to your motherboard site. Remember, delete the old drivers first.

[Vudak]

Go to your motherboard site. Remember, delete the old drivers first.

Alright, here come some more dumb questions

What is my "motherboard?"  Is it the processor?  The system model?  The BIOS? 

When I do finally figure out what the "motherboard" is, where do I go to delete the old drivers?

[Ghosth]

Motherboard is the main circuit board that everything attaches too, including the Processor.

Some motherboard brand names are Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, Asrock, etc.
It should be printed on the board itself.

Right click your "my computer" icon on your desktop, properties.
Bring up the hardware tab, then device manager, then system devices will give you the Chipset, but not necessarily who makes your motherboard.

Last, onboard sound may work (although I've often had issues trying to use it)
Any decent PCI sound card will take less CPU cycles and give you better performance.

[FLS]

I assume you can't just look at your PC and see a name and model number on it. If you can then that would be where to go for drivers.

The first page of your DXdiag shows System Manufacturer. If System Manufacturer is listed as System Manufacturer ( helpful right? ) look under it at System Model. Web search the system model and see what comes up.

If that doesn't work, unplug the power cord, open your case and look at the Motherboard.

[Vudak]

System Manufacturer = Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.

System model = EP45-DS3L

I went to the manufacturer's website, searched drivers for the system model, and came up with this link:

http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Motherboard/Driver_Model.aspx?ProductID=2844&ost=windows+vista+x86+(32-bit)#anchor_os

Does this look like I'm on the right track?  If so, how do I delete the old drivers so I can install this one?

Sorry for all the trouble, and I appreciate all the help...

[FLS]

From the link you posted I assume you're using 32 bit Vista. If you have a different OS be sure to download the correct file.

I don't have Vista but this should be close enough.

Open Task manager, right click Computer, select Device manager, find Sound,Video and Game controllers. Select your sound device, click the driver tab and you'll find options for uninstalling driver.  Reboot and run the file you downloaded.

[TilDeath]

Oh MY 

[Delirium]

Vudak, I'm hardly a tech guru but if you need anything you should still have my phone number.

[FLS]

Oh MY 

Thanks for helping.   

[Vudak]

Thanks for helping.   

He built my machine, so he knows what he's dealing with when it comes to me the prayers are indeed a help lol.

I found that driver tab, went to Sound,Video and Game controllers, etc., and then just searched for new updates (no intention of doing it through there).  The search came back with "you are using the latest device" or some such, so I guess perhaps the machine is updating overnight?  Shrug.

[Getback]

Oh MY 

Ouch! 

That's okay Vudak, you gotta learn sometime. I'd rather see you ask first. Also, I think I would get a buddy to help get you started.

[TilDeath]

He built my machine, so he knows what he's dealing with when it comes to me the prayers are indeed a help lol.

I found that driver tab, went to Sound,Video and Game controllers, etc., and then just searched for new updates (no intention of doing it through there).  The search came back with "you are using the latest device" or some such, so I guess perhaps the machine is updating overnight?  Shrug.

I was prepairing myself for a reinstall of the OS, Drivers, AH, Software all over the phone.

If I built your system, got a question you all know you can call me anytime.