I swear I'm gonna dynamite this box...

Ok, here we go with pertinent data:

AMD Duron, 1/2 gig of ram, 40gig maxtor hdd, ASUS Mobo, Nvidia Gforce 5200 xfx, Creative SoundBlaster Live! 24bit.

FRESH lowlevel format, FRESH winXP install, updated as far as it would go. That's it. That's all that's on the bloody machine. She's a virgin.

Now the problems - someone help me a bit here please?

XP detects the Lexmark Z22 printer on lpt1 but keeps telling me the driver data is invalid. It does this every time I reboot the machine.

XP does NOT detect the sound card, but detects a 'Media Controller Device'. When I try to install with the CD it runs through like a good install, but the sound card doesn't work. When I try to go through device manager and do the install manually it tells me the driver data is invalid (I'm trying the drivers from the CD.) I went to Creative's site and grabbed the updated driver pack from them, downloaded it, ran it, and it looked like a good install, yet there's still no sound and Winblows still doesn't recognize the card for what it is.

I'm ready to dynamite the freaking box - I'm scheduled graveyard shift tonight and have been up all day doing the reinstall. **ROAR**

Any suggestions?

LOL, I would go into my BIOS and disable the onboard sound AKA Media Controller Device, that should sort the sound card problem out.

OR

Its strange for the printer AND sound card not to be working straight after a fresh install and with updated drivers, maybe there is a driver or maybe but prob not an IRQ conflict with the two of them. Have you tried uninstalling one and seeing if the other works?

Check your system info for problem devices and conflicts/sharing - this usually sheads more light on the problem than device manager.

Hope it helped!

Went into Bios and verified I'd disabled the onboard sound device, then attempted reinstall. The problem still exists. Any other suggestions?

No IRQ conflicts exist in my system - checked.

Hi l3lacklce,

This may or may not help you but it's the best I could find...

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1108586649
Annoyances.org - re: XP does not recognize my sound card (Windows XP Discussion Forum)

Eg ;)

Are you using the Lexmark driver or the XP one?

I have come across XP not liking "unregistered drivers" or whatever. I seem to recall having to take an "ignore and proceed" option?

:)

no sound output ??

do you have output plugs on the front as well as the back ??

if you have the front ones installed, then the back ones don't work :eek:
have you tried letting an online driver den give you a scan to see what they reckon is out dated ?

I use driverhq,com
I know you can find drivers for free, but sometimes you just don't get the time, and I do repair quite a few PC's nowadays, so it's just convenient for me :lazy ass mo/fo:

OK, well atleast the most simple solution has been tried. What does your device manager say? And under problem devices in sys info does it say anything there?

There seems to be a problem installing drivers on your box, have you managed to install any at all? I take it you have installed all the drivers for your Mother Board?

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Are you using the Lexmark driver or the XP one?

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XP one - it's worked every time I've redone XP on it in the past. In fact, it's worked so well that the Lexmark CD was file 13'd a year and a half ago when I moved.

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do you have output plugs on the front as well as the back ??

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back only.

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What does your device manager say?

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The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)

To reinstall the drivers for this device, click Reinstall Driver.

On attempts to reinstall the driver it gets to ksuser.dll in the install and tells me the data is invalid.

On attempts to install drivers from the CD (this one's new - just happened) - software installs ok, everything looks good, but for some reason XP isn't associating it with the card, so the problem's still there.

DriverHQ == Spyware/trojan/adware heaven. Beware them.


Yes, mobo drivers are in and running. This is what caused the probs with the printer install last time I did XP reinstall, so I was sure to hit it right this time. Kinda strange what worked once didn't work again eh?

How 'fresh' is a fresh install ??

if your CD is getting on a bit, then it may have some corruption in it ???

[edit]

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DriverHQ == Spyware/trojan/adware heaven. Beware them.

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with the amount of security S/W I've got running I'm suprised when ANYTHING gets through :)

Fresh install - CD is still new appearing and clean, did the reinstall with low level format this morning around 11ish, completed by 2 with no problems.


I'm seriously beginning to question the integrity of my Mobo though... I'll look further into that later on if we don't get this resolved by software fixes.

[edit]Since starting this thread I've installed FireFox and ThunderBird - just thought y'all would like to know even if it has no pertinence. MSIE just makes me sick and I REFUSE to use Outlook or express.[/edit]

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MSIE just makes me sick and I REFUSE to use Outlook or express.

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RIGHT, THAT'S IT I'm telling Bill 'bout YOU :p :D

Does the printer actually print?

When it worked before did you have XP SP2 installed, and have you got it installed now?

Might be worth downloading the Lexmark drivers and trying them?

EDIT: Otherwise try installing the printer a second time and making it the default.

:)

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Does the printer actually print?

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no.

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When it worked before did you have XP SP2 installed, and have you got it installed now?

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yes and yes

I'll check finding the Lexmark drivers and muck about with the soundcard a bit more tomorrow - it's dinnertime, then I'll be getting ready for work. Cyas about 5am mytime.

Hokay, it's 5am mytime and nobody offered anymore solutions... I'm still having the same issues, does anyone have an answer?

[edit]sorry for the double-post, but since the 'bump' button got removed thanks to the abuse of one screaming idiot, I had to get it to the top somehow...[/edit]

Hi,

Have you tried installing the printer twice and setting the new installation as the default printer (like still leave the possibly corrupt installation there, but sideline it?)

Any luck with the latest Lexmark drivers?


:)

No luck with the latest lexmark drivers, can't install it twice - it won't take even one installation. Tells me 'data is invalid' when I try.

The more I think on this the more I'm suspecting the mobo of starting to crap out. Too many things going awry for it to be anything else.

hmmmmmmm....

Remove the SB live card.. how old is this sucker?
remove the exrtra stick/s of RAM in the machine..
attempt to install the Lexmark drivers now.. be sure the old drivers (yeh i know wouldnt install), are removed.. you will need to do a chek in the inf's folder for this one..

the sound card and printer worked on the old installation.. why the clean install?
I have had a bad run with the SB lives with Win XP and mobo's with onboard sound..
some mobo's have a jumper to disable the soundcard as well as the BIOS setting..
have seen forums where the issues with SB live and some Asus, MSI and Gigabyte mobo's basicly required an upgrade to Audigy
the problems were not just from new.. some problems developed over time..

btw.. if my comment above worked with the Printer.. now try reinstalling the Sound card and check if it installs..ok now..

leave the largest stick of ram in the machine.. and leave any others out for now..

As for the MOBO.. any of the caps on the MoBo with sweaty heads..ie: bulging and/or oozing gunk?

(BTW .. I do a ssume a lot some time apologies for the assumptions I have made here..)

EDIT: ok it is a Virgin installation... you havent disabled any services as yet?

If it was my box I may have tried another high level format and re-installed windows by now, if everything worked before the reinstall and now it doesnt I would put it down to a bad installation not a hardware fault.

Maybe format then reinstall without SP2 if possible, then install your MoBo drivers then your Sound card drivers remembering to restart after each driver. If you sound card works after this then carry on with the rest of your drivers restarting after each.

A couple of other things you could try,

Remove service pack 2
Move the sound card to a different PCI slot
Check if there is a jumper to disable on-board sound

My feeling is that there is a problem with windows installer or somthing similar not a hardware problem.

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Originally posted here by |3lack|ce
I'm ready to dynamite the freaking box...

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join my wonderfull club. i say this every day at least once.

if you have another box i would try putting the sound card in there to see if its not a hardware problem. i have had you printer problem i think, but i reinstalled the drivers and it worked so i dont know what to say about that.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll try 'em this evening and get back to you with the results.

to answer questions:

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how old is this sucker?

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the sound card and printer worked on the old installation.. why the clean install?

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The card or the system? System's 2 years old. Card is new (as in 1 week). I did install on soundcard last week and everything worked nicely, then Mrs |ce went in trying to adjust things and mucked up the whole works, hence the reinstall.

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As for the MOBO.. any of the caps on the MoBo with sweaty heads..ie: bulging and/or oozing gunk?

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No sweaty caps were readily evident when I first opened the box and installed the card, however that may or may not be the case now. Let me examine it in detail this evening and get back to you. I haven't smelled magic smoke yet though, which is a good sign.

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ok it is a Virgin installation... you havent disabled any services as yet?

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as of my first post yesterday this was the case. I have now disabled messenger service, and removed windows messenger component from add/remove. Otherwise all virgin.

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If it was my box I may have tried another high level format and re-installed windows by now, if everything worked before the reinstall and now it doesnt I would put it down to a bad installation not a hardware fault.

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Considering that again. Might be a glitch in the install somewhere... If no readily evident hardware issues are found tonight when I crack it, that'll be my next step, with everything installed before I upgrade to sp2.

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if you have another box i would try putting the sound card in there to see if its not a hardware problem. i have had you printer problem i think, but i reinstalled the drivers and it worked so i dont know what to say about that.

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I refuse to unload my barrels on someone attempting to help. Thanks for the attempt although I'm not quite sure what you mean by your post here. Have you taken a hardware course at any time in the past?

:fizzzzzzzz:

foxy passes over the dynamite :D



















and RUNS for cover


:KABOOM:




problem solved :)

NEXT ..........

Gee Flox! I never knew ye cared! :D

/me is now downing the box to effect attempts at repair and will rejoin the crew in a minimum of 3 hours time depending on status.

Ok, newest info: (again sorry bout double posting, but it's the only way to bump up nowadays)

1. No evident hardware damage. No smell of magic smoke, no sweaty caps, nada. Everything looks fine.

2. Re-reinstalled windows with high level format, no issues encountered during reinstall.

3. got through runonce, then the machine rebooted due to driver issue (fitting, it wasn't installed yet...)

4. booted to safemode and installed nvidia drivers from cd. (halted the reboot issues)

5. rebooted to normal windows and installed the mobo drivers, ports, lan, etc from my handy mobo cd.

6. had reboot issues due to video drivers (fitting, something in the mobo drivers must be conflicting with the nvidia drivers.)

7. booted to normal windows again and reinstalled nvidia drivers.

8. rebooted to normal windows again, waited through the 'found new hardware' 'printer install failed' bs yet again. Went online with MSIE and snagged down the latest drivers for z22 from Lexmark (for winXP specific). Unzipped them to their own directory per their instructions, attempted install of printer - FAILED. Grr.

I've not even begun to screw with the soundblaster yet, thinking that if it's fuxored at just the printer, I need to fix it first yesh?

So here's where we stand:

Virgin Winblows install - Yes, I'm putting up with the popups to say it's effing virgin, although I'm pretty sure I'll halt messenger and remove windows messenger from the mix before it's over with.

XP is sitting happily at service pack 1 with zero updates as of yet. (SP1 being as far back as I can go.. my OEM XP has sp1 onboard.)

What next?

Ok, I got tired of waiting round so I did the following:

Messenger service is now disabled, as is fitting for all good machines. Winblows messenger has been duly uninstalled, and all networking and fax services have been added.

Then the |ceman said "There will be sound!" and he inserted the Creative CD. And there was sound, and it was good! Now if I could just get the damn printer working...


One rack of greenies to Nokia for suggesting the highlevel format reinstall - at least the sound's fixed. I'm still in need of help though, so there's still greenies up for grabs!

I assume that the memory is a single stick.. and as there install has been 100% then the likelyhood of RAM compatability problem is reduced to <1%..

I have a cautious nature with Creative SB live cards.. Did you try installing the Lexmark drivers with the SB live card not in the machine? this question also displays my dislike towards Lexmark, but HP is higher on my dislike list..
All the problems with the nVidia video card is a worry,

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I had a Gigabyte mobo that annoyed the crap out of me.. it had a Leadtek GF4-ti4200.. BSODS, locks, freezes..DATA LOSS.. blame vid card.. go to another nvidia .. fine for a month or more then problem resumed.. Could not install a ATI card come hell or high water. and even when working forget the SB live card.. New mobo.. ATI cards work well, the ti4200 is supurb (I was lazy I just swapped the mobo, still running the original WInXP Pro sp2 happy as larry..

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The fact all was well before, and the only reason for the clean install was a user stuffup.. then I would sugest that the problem is a installation order problem.. the sound card was very recent..
so the order will be..

OS install..
Shipped Video card drivers
create system restore point before each of the following steps
Mobo Drivers
Current Video drivers
USB updates..???? check ASUS for updated mobo drivers... check USB for any recent changes
Printer
SP2
Soundcard
Shipped soundcard drivers or just get the latest from ceative labs

please note: you could have a hardware hate triangle there.. Soundcard, Mobo, Videocard.. and the Printer is getting caught in the middle..

Agreed Undies. I'm thinking the issue is some sort of foul-up between SoundBlaster and the (I hate 'em too but they're cheap where a po boy like me can afford 'em) Lexmark printer. I'll give 'er a shot and see if removing the card, then installing the printer, then reinstalling the card works. For now everybody's up and running nicely save for that printer, and it's a secondary issue (other than the annoying 'windows has detected' and 'windows can't install' popups on bootup.

I've upgraded XP to just short of SP2 - thinking I might hold off on that install until after I resolve printer - best not to mess with it since it's behaving nicely atm.

Oh, and yes, the memory's a single 1/2 gig stick. Planning on adding a second one soon-ish - this is Mrs |ce's primary box.