Troubleshooting C-Media AC97 Audio Driver Issues on Windows

JulianH

I've been trying to get my old PC up and running, but I'm having trouble with the audio. The system uses the C-Media AC97 audio device, but it seems like Windows isn't recognizing it properly, and sound isn't working at all.

I've checked in the Device Manager, and it's showing a yellow exclamation mark next to the audio device, which I believe means there's a problem with the driver. I've tried looking for the driver online but I'm not sure which one to install or if it's compatible with my version of Windows.

Has anyone dealt with this issue before or knows where to find a reliable driver for the C-Media AC97 audio device? Additionally, any tips on how to successfully install this driver would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

edgeexplorer

It sounds like you're dealing with driver compatibility issues. For the C-Media AC97 audio device, first check your PC manufacturer's website for the exact driver for your model. If that doesn't help, try looking on C-Media's official site or trusted driver repositories like DriverPack. Once you find the right driver, uninstall any existing ones from Device Manager, then install the new one. If it's still not working, ensure your Windows version is compatible with older hardware, as some newer versions may not fully support legacy components.

RosieSolis

You might want to try installing the driver in compatibility mode. Right-click the installer, select 'Properties,' then the 'Compatibility' tab, and choose an older version of Windows. This can sometimes resolve driver issues with older hardware on newer operating systems.