Member Avatar for Scrubber1

Hi my PC has no sound and the 'C-Media AC97 Audio Device' in the device manager has a yellow exclamation mark next to it. I have tried un-installing and re-installing it but this does nothing.
Can anybody tell me how to fix this or how to aquire a working device for it.
Thanks.

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Brief follow‑up and a compact, practical checklist for anyone who lands here with the same yellow‑triangle on “C‑Media AC97 Audio Device.” eventually fixed the machine by installing a new PCI sound card, but many cases are solvable with focused troubleshooting rather than buying hardware. The tips below expand on earlier suggestions from , and and add a predictable, low‑risk workflow.

First, identify the exact codec Windows sees (don’t guess). In Device Manager open the C‑Media device -> Properties -> Details tab -> choose Hardware Ids and copy the top value (format looks like VEN_xxxx&DEV_xxxx). That string tells you the vendor/chipset; use it to search for a matching driver or the INF section that references that VEN/DEV. A matched driver beats “try everything” downloads.

Try this ordered workflow (safe, minimal fuss):

  • Uninstall the audio device from Device Manager, close the Found New Hardware wizard if it appears, then reboot.
  • Extract the correct driver package to a folder and install using the driver installer or use “Have Disk” / manual install pointing at the extracted INF if the installer fails.
  • If Windows keeps re‑installing the wrong C‑Media driver, remove any add‑in sound card (physically), confirm onboard audio is enabled in BIOS, and repeat the manual install as administrator.

A few cautions and fallbacks: avoid paid “driver updater” utilities and random aggregators — prefer the motherboard/vendor or the codec maker. If the on‑board codec is physically dead or drivers are impossible to match, a cheap USB audio adapter or low‑cost PCI/PCIe card (confirm driver support for your OS) is a reliable, low‑effort fix — which is what ended up doing.

Recommended Answers

All 38 Replies

Member Avatar for jingda

Yellow sign mean that the driver is not installed. Go to the manufacturer website and download and install the latest drivers. Any questions just ask. I will help you out. Good luck

Edited by jingda because: n/a
Member Avatar for Scrubber1

Yellow sign mean that the driver is not installed. Go to the manufacturer website and download and install the latest drivers. Any questions just ask. I will help you out. Good luck

I downloaded a driver yester day from acers website but it didn't seem to do anything?

Member Avatar for flagstar

What is your computer specs? Are you using desktop or laptop?

We need to know about it so we can search for the problem easily and come up with possible solution for it...

Try this just in case...
* Go to device manager and select the hardware with yellow exclamation mark
* Uninstall it just in case
* Click on scan for hardware changes icon and a window will pop up
* Select no to update driver from windows update (if any)
* Select install from a list or specific location
* Select Don't search.
* Select any compatible driver listed in the box and click next.
* See if the hardware works and confirm if no yellow icon show up in device manager

Member Avatar for Member #127113

Are you sure its AC97 Codec or HD Audio ? Did you installed that driver (C-Media) or its suddenly stopped working ?

Member Avatar for Scrubber1

What is your computer specs? Are you using desktop or laptop?

We need to know about it so we can search for the problem easily and come up with possible solution for it...

Try this just in case...
* Go to device manager and select the hardware with yellow exclamation mark
* Uninstall it just in case
* Click on scan for hardware changes icon and a window will pop up
* Select no to update driver from windows update (if any)
* Select install from a list or specific location
* Select Don't search.
* Select any compatible driver listed in the box and click next.
* See if the hardware works and confirm if no yellow icon show up in device manager

That didn't seem to do anything. No change.

Member Avatar for Scrubber1

Are you sure its AC97 Codec or HD Audio ? Did you installed that driver (C-Media) or its suddenly stopped working ?

I have no idea.

I bought the Desktop from Ebay, it's quite an old Acer. The sound never worked since i recieved it.

Member Avatar for uv4u

dnt worry friend , download universal high defination audio driver from realtek , this works on all acer machines,
now extract files into an folder and go to deice manager
right click on this icon use update driver / from my computer and browse to folder (where u have extract files ) nw run
surly this will work for u?

Member Avatar for Scrubber1

dnt worry friend , download universal high defination audio driver from realtek , this works on all acer machines,
now extract files into an folder and go to deice manager
right click on this icon use update driver / from my computer and browse to folder (where u have extract files ) nw run
surly this will work for u?

Do you have a link? Realtek just keeps prompting me to buy things from a driver navigator.

Member Avatar for uv4u

use this link u may find there . . otherwise go to brothersoft , and one i like most is 9down.com

Member Avatar for Scrubber1

As i said realtek site just wants me to buy things and doesn't actually have anything with the name 'universal high definition audio driver' and those other sites don't look safe.

Member Avatar for jingda

I am not sure whether this is the correct link. Try

Member Avatar for uv4u

9down is safe site i have tested using McAfee site adviser. and brothersoft is also a safe sit ,

Member Avatar for jingda

9down is safe site i have tested using McAfee site adviser. and brothersoft is also a safe sit ,

I know that. I wanted to give him more link.

Member Avatar for Scrubber1

I downloaded the Realtek High Definition Audio Driver but it didn't do anything. When it says installation is complete and restarts my computer, C-Media just re-installs itself and i can't find the RHDAD anywhere.
What exactly am i supposed to do? Thanks.

Member Avatar for jingda

Show me the picture of the yellow sign and the driver that is currently intalled. Take a picture and post it here, i need to see what driver is suitable for your computer

Member Avatar for Scrubber1

Show me the picture of the yellow sign and the driver that is currently intalled. Take a picture and post it here, i need to see what driver is suitable for your computer

[IMG][/IMG]

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Member Avatar for jingda

When did this happen. Did it happen right after you do a system restore? Backup your data on an external hard diks and try reformatting it. You might want to back up your web browser bookmarks as well.

Member Avatar for Scrubber1

I bought the PC from ebay it was restored to factory settings already.

EDIT. I have finally found out the model of the PC if this helps in any way it is an AcerSystem Aspire 8000 XP DDRb

Edited by Scrubber1 because: n/a
Member Avatar for uv4u

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try dis link

Edited by mike_2000_17 because: Fixed formatting
Member Avatar for Scrubber1

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/3404/unledeci.png

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try dis link

It doesn't work, if i try to run the wizard it just crashes and comes up with windows error report.

Edited by mike_2000_17 because: Fixed formatting
Member Avatar for uv4u

this is the acer support
this is last option for driver ,

Member Avatar for Scrubber1

It doesn't work. What an absolute fail of a computer this is.

Thanks anyway.

Member Avatar for jingda

You said you bought it from Ebay, try contacting the person who sold you the laptop. Maybe he has experience this problem before. If he experience the same problem as you before, he might have sold the computer to you because he cannot solve the problem himself too. In that case, you might have been cheated because he sold you a computer that cannot work.

Try to contact the person who sell you the laptop first.

Member Avatar for gerbil

It seems that your sound device is actually working, at least to the extent that the system can recognise it, and know that the driver is incorrect, or corrupt.
These chaps are good: http://members.driverguide.com/
Just paste into Search your C-Media AC97 Audio Device, or [better..] choose Sound Card and follow through. You might come to this page:
http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=136560
Grab that file [register, please.] and install it.

Edited by gerbil because: n/a
Member Avatar for flagstar

Well maybe the cable inside the desktop has wrong connection. Open your desktop casing and check a cable with name 'Ac'97' or 'HD audio' embedded on the head cable.

If it's HD audio, then follow uv4u post and you should be fine...

Member Avatar for flagstar

ignore my last post... I didn't notice this page already expanded.

Try to uninstall the c-media driver and reboot. After reboot, if it come up with 'add new hardware' just cancel it and install realtek driver. If it still showing C-media, then something is wrong with your pc...

Edited by flagstar because: n/a
Member Avatar for Scrubber1

ignore my last post... I didn't notice this page already expanded.

Try to uninstall the c-media driver and reboot. After reboot, if it come up with 'add new hardware' just cancel it and install realtek driver. If it still showing C-media, then something is wrong with your pc...

Yes, it does this, so there must be something wrong with it.

I contacted the seller and he said at home he has a Card that i install into a pci slot, and comes with a disk that will add 5.1 surround sound.

Does that sound ligit?

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