DO NOT Install the IDT Codec Update from Microsoft Updates

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 2 May 2008 12:24 pm

For those that have the Sigma-Tel audio (integrated on the motherboard), this update will corrupt the sound. If you allow the automatic update you will have to use the System Restore function to recover the sound, just reinstalling the Sigma-Tel drivers or doing a driver rolloback will not work.

System Restore can be accessed under Accessories/System Tools.

IDT recently bought Sigma-Tel and apparently any new updates will be branded with IDT rather than Sigma-Tel.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 2 May 2008 12:49 pm

Interesting, Jack. I have Sigma-tel audio on my Dell motherboard. After I had to do a reinstall of the XP operating system, I did all the updates from Microsoft. After one of the many times I had to do this, I lost my sound. How do I tell if this is my problem?

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 2 May 2008 3:37 pm

The Dell's are especially sensitive to this since Dell uses their own drivers and they are not compatible with the Retail driver versions. Best to not use hardware driver updates from Microsoft for Dell's. Dell's motherboards are all custom OEM boards made for Dell.

You can go to the Device Manager and check the sound. If it says IDT, you have the update. If it says Sigma-Tel you are OK, as far as the update. You can access the Device Manager by holding the Windows key down and then pressing the Pause/Break Key.

The correct install sequence for a Dell with the Intel Chipset is (1) Install Windows (2) Install the Intel Chipset drivers (3) Install device drivers such as the sound. PC's that have an AMD processor have a chipset driver but it's slightly different.

What model Dell do you have?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 3 May 2008 1:31 am

It's a Dimension 9100

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 3 May 2008 2:18 am

HERE are the Dell downloads for the 9100. There is only one audio driver listed. Suggest you reinstall the Intel chipset drivers then reinstall the Dell audio driver.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 3 May 2008 2:00 pm

I'm actually upgrading from Media Center to XP Pro. Just haven't gotten up the courage to go through the reinstall yet. I will definately follow your advice, Jack.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 3 May 2008 2:56 pm

Media Center IS Windows XP Pro with media additions. It just doesn't have some of the networking that basic PRO does.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 4 May 2008 5:33 pm

The reason for the upgrade to Pro is, I was reading a book on Frontpage 2003 which I have but never used, There is a component in Pro that is not in Media Center that is recommended. I believe it is the local webhost option to view your site without having to publish to the internet first - not sure as it's been a while since I read that part of the book. Also, I have had nothing but bad luck reinstalling the Dell CD that has the XP Media Center version.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 4 May 2008 8:42 pm

Richard Sinkler wrote:The reason for the upgrade to Pro is, I was reading a book on Frontpage 2003 which I have but never used, There is a component in Pro that is not in Media Center that is recommended. I believe it is the local webhost option to view your site without having to publish to the internet first - not sure as it's been a while since I read that part of the book.

Richard;
You need to be made aware that FrontPage is no longer supported by Microsoft, as it used outdated, proprietary, non-standard HTML tags and attributes. Websites designed in FrontPage tend to break horribly when viewed with modern standards-compliant browsers, like Firefox. This goes especially for any widgets, or marquees created in FrontPage. These items simply disappear in Firefox or Opera browsers. Thus, I would strongly urge you to seek a more modern web design tool, like CoffeeCup HTML Editor 2008, or CoffeeCup Visual Site Designer. Microsoft has replaced FrontPage with Expressions Web Designer, which is standards compliant and is a commercial product.

Another thing that FrontPage designers need to know is that Microsoft no longer supports or makes available FrontPage Extensions, for Apache or Windows web servers. While many hosting companies still maintain the FP extensions they have on-hand, others cannot supply them, as they are obsolete and not available to new customers. You cannot publish a FrontPage "Web" without FrontPage Extensions on the web server.