Audio drivers won't install on Abit NF7-S

[saturnotaku]

I just got my Abit NF7-S motherboard and I wanted to get it set up. The machine posted perfectly and Windows XP installed with no problem. I went to isntall the nForce drivers and everything installed except the audio drivers.

When I tried to force install them through device manager, Windows recognizes that there is an nForce Audio Codec, but when it tries to install the drivers, it coughs up an error saying "The data is invalid" and stops from there.

Anybody have any ideas? This is an Abit NF7-S version 1.2 with the latest BIOS and Windows XP SP1.

[jnd3]

Are you using the Nforce 2.03 driver set, or is there a set from Abit?

There are some updated audio drivers on Windows Update. You might be able to get it to download and install from there (I think the latest is 5.0.2922, but from what I've read 5.0.2918 is better).

And the Abit forum over at nForcersHQ (http://www.nforcershq.com) might have some useful info...

Cheers,
JND

[saturnotaku]

I think the problem was that when I was installing the motherboard into the case, one of the audio jumpers got knocked loose. I redid my Windows installation and now the sound is working perfectly. Bizarre, I must say. :confused:

[jnd3]

Well, at least it works, right? :) Enjoy!

There may be an Nforce driver release along with the new Detonators later this week. That's my hope, at least. Hopefully yours won't have the dreaded "crackling" problem that many others (me included) are having in certain games...

Cheers,
JND

[saturnotaku]

I hope not. "Debugging" this audio problem took up the vast majority of my evening last night so I haven't had a chance to test any games with it yet. Which games are problematic just so I might know what to look for?

[jnd3]

I have problems with Ghost Recon and Splinter cell (the two games I most want to play at the moment). The audio degrades into a staticky mess after about 15-30 minutes. Hardware accelerated, software only, doesn't matter. Others have mentioned problems with UT2003 and Half-Life/Counterstrike.

I've *never* seen a problem with Morrowind (even after 4+ hours of playing), and I've had OGG/MP3 playing for up to 8 hours without a hitch.

It's a common problem, but not universal. Hopefully you won't see it!

Cheers,
JND

[saturnotaku]

Well I don't have Ghost Recon or the full version of Splinter Cell. However I do have UT2003 and Half-Life. I'll be sure to check those games out the next time I have a chance.

Thanks for the heads up! :)

[SavagePaladin]

Originally posted by jnd3
Well, at least it works, right? :) Enjoy!

There may be an Nforce driver release along with the new Detonators later this week. That's my hope, at least. Hopefully yours won't have the dreaded "crackling" problem that many others (me included) are having in certain games...

Cheers,
JND
Well, I believe within the month, though I have no concrete proof.
http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11242
should help you out with some knowledge at least