Using Windows 7 Drivers in Windows 8 with errors and problems

Discussion in 'Drivers' started by Bahram_Persia, Dec 15, 2012.

  1. Bahram_Persia

    Bahram_Persia

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    Hello! I have a sound problem in my PC. I DIDN'T have ANY problem with my sound card (Realtek, ALC 850) in Windows 7 64bit but I have the problem after installing Windows 8 64bit on my PC. When I try to install the sound driver, Windows 8 doesn't allow the Setup.exe (Realtek wizard for ALC850 setup file) to copy the driver and the setup encounters with problems and finishes with installing no drivers!. I also tried compatibility wizard for the setup.exe and chose "Windows Vista" but it didn't work. So, I tried to get the driver via windows update and the driver installed.
    But the problem is the malfunction of the installed driver! I have a 6-channel speaker and it seems the installed driver (via Windows update) is for a 2-channel speaker or something like that. Every time I try to configure my speaker from Windows (by: Right clicking on Speaker Icon in the Taskbar --> Playback devices --> Speakers --> Configure --> 5.1 surround --> next ....) and click on the Finish button, Windows shows an error dialog that says: "Format not supported by this device!" and the configuration doesn't complete. In addition, when I want to test my 6-channel speaker (by: Right clicking on Speaker Icon in the Taskbar --> Playback devices --> Speakers --> Configure --> 5.1 surround --> Test ....), Windows shows an error dialog with this title "Device In Use" that says: " The device is being used by another application. If you continue, that application may stop working. Do you want to continue?"; I click on "yes" and the test sound play. The problem is the malfunction of the sound driver which is installed via Windows Update. I also run "update driver" in device manager again in order to get the latest driver online, but Windows could not find any newer version of the driver.
    I can't even change my speaker configuration in Sound Effect (Realtek-Gigabyte sound manager) and every time I change the configuration from "2CH Speaker" to "6CH Speaker", it resets to "2CH Speaker".
    Summary, I can't hear any sound from Rear, Center and Sub-woofer speakers. It seems that they have been kind of mute by Windows 8!!!!
    I was wondering if someone could tell me what the problem is! Is there any way to fix this? If this problem can't be solved, I have to Install Windows 7!
    Thank you in advance!

    Here are the specifications of my (almost!!) old PC:
    OS: Windows 8 Enterprise x64
    CPU: Intel P4 3.52GHZ (OC), FSB: 850MHZ (OC), 2MB Cache Memory
    RAM: 2x1GB (422MHZ, OC)
    MB: Gigabyte 8IPE775-G (rev.: 1.1)
    HDD: 1TB WD Caviar Black SATA III and 2TB WD Caviar Black SATA III
    SOUND Card: Realtek ALC850 CODEC
     
    Bahram_Persia, Dec 15, 2012
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  2. Bahram_Persia

    davehc

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    You havn't mentioned which version you have tried? It looks like the latest is here:

    http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/

    But make sure you totally unimstall any previous versions first.
     
    davehc, Dec 15, 2012
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  3. Bahram_Persia

    Bahram_Persia

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    Yes, I tried to install the latest driver version and I got that from realtek.com. The latest driver version for ALC850 AC 97 is the driver below. here are the details:


    Vista/Win7 (32/64 bits) Driver only (ZIP file)
    6305​
    2009/9/7​


    Unfortunately Realtek hasn't released any AC 97 driver update since 2009. So I tried this version but Windows didn't allow the setup.exe to install drivers and the driver installation wizard finished without installing any driver. As I said before I currently use the driver which Windows installed via Windows update but it doesn't work properly.
    According to Microsoft claims, we don't have to upgrade our PC hardware for Windows 8 because it can use the exact hardware of Windows 7. In addition, The drivers of Windows 7 can be installed in Windows 8 without facing any problem. These are the claims of Microsoft, however I think these are just claims and lies!!
    I still have problem with the sound driver. I'm waiting for a solution to get my problem solved!
    Thanks
     
    Bahram_Persia, Dec 15, 2012
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  4. Bahram_Persia

    Core coffee & gigabytes Moderator

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    When you say Windows "doesn't allow" installation, what do you mean precisely? Is there an error message?
     
    Core, Dec 16, 2012
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  5. Bahram_Persia

    Bahram_Persia

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    Hello,
    By saying "Windows doesn't allow setup.exe ...", I meant that the setup runs without any problem in the beginning but in the middle of the [driver installation] wizard, it (the wizard) stops for a moment; then it says "Rolling back the actions ..." and Windows closes the wizard and/or the wizard finishes without installing an driver. That's what I meant.
    I have a 6-channel speaker [Front Right, Front Left, Center, Subwoofer, Rear Right, Rear Left] but now only Front Right and Front Left is working. I'm sure as hell (it's an idiom! ;) ) that my speaker is NOT broken and the driver is not working properly, because I had no problem in Windows 7 x64.
    I really don't know why Windows is incompatible with the Driver setup wizard?!! Why windows insists on installing my sound card driver via Windows Update and why the installed driver is NOT working properly?!!
    So, Is there any solution to me to get this problem solved?!!
    Thank you all in advance
     
    Bahram_Persia, Dec 17, 2012
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  6. Bahram_Persia

    Core coffee & gigabytes Moderator

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    The driver from Windows Update is from 2008 or before, so it is older than the 2009 driver Realtek has released. Unfortunately that driver was designed for Windows Vista and 7, so it's possible there's no way to get it to install. I tried to install the software on my system, and while it didn't roll anything back, it just quit the installation after the initial step without any warnings or errors. I suppose you could try installing manually by locating the device under Device Manager and selecting to update the driver and letting it search for one in the folder where you have unpacked the driver installation files. In the Vista64 folder there are a bunch of drivers (.INF files), one of which might work. But even if that works, it won't install the Realtek audio control panel so you won't be able to fiddle with settings much.

    The ALC850 is at least 7 years old technology and no longer supported.
     
    Core, Dec 18, 2012
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  7. Bahram_Persia

    Bahram_Persia

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    Thank you for your reply. I forgot to tell you; I already have tried to install the sound driver manually in device manager, but it didn't work. I really thank you for trying to install the driver on your PC and for giving me some solutions! thank you!
    If you get noticed when the setup wizard is installing the driver, a dialog will show (inside the wizard neither outside the wizard window nor in desktop) that says "rolling back actions ..." and suddenly the setup closes. I'm thinking to install windows 7 ultimate x64 because I didn't have any problem with it and I loved it (and I still love it!). I think the only improvements in Windows 8 are the Boot speed (windows start-up) and the shutdown speed, not anything else. According to the opinions of many Windows 8 users, the UI of Windows 8 is confusing (at least at the first look) and it takes time to get familiar and habituated with it!
    I still have the problem; and I got frustrated with windows 8 and its incompatibility with my hardware and especially its strange User Interface!!
    BTW, thank you all.
     
    Bahram_Persia, Dec 19, 2012
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  8. Bahram_Persia

    Core coffee & gigabytes Moderator

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    Ok, I may have found a way around this. I have managed to install the AC97 driver set successfully, but I can't verify whether it functions normally because as stated before I don't have Realtek audio hardware. But it should!

    You may want to uninstall any existing AC97 (like Windows Update ones) drivers to increase chance of success.

    Close all applications and documents first as this procedure will require a reboot. I also recommend you have UAC (User Access Control) disabled although it probably isn't necessary. Write down the instructions in bold as you will need them during boot.

    On the Start Screen (Metro), move mouse to right bottom corner and go to Settings, More Settings, General, and Advanced Startup. (I am using a Finnish version of W8 so these translations may be slightly off on your system, but you'll get there). Select Restart now. Click Troubleshooting, Advanced Options, Startup Settings, and finally, Restart.

    Your computer will reboot into a blue screen full of options. You will want to select "Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" which should be number 7. Just press the corresponding number to select it.

    This will make your system boot into Windows 8 with DDSE disabled. Note: It only does it for this Windows session; once you reboot again at a later time, DDSE is enabled again, but this won't affect your driver(s) once it is installed.

    Once back on the desktop, browse into the folder where the driver from Realtek is unzipped, and run the setup.exe with Administrative Privileges.

    Now, you will be hit with a lot of red warning screens saying you are installing an unverified driver. This is because Windows cannot confirm the digital signature on it, which is what was blocking them from being installed in the first place. I got about thirty of these, so just keep clicking Install Anyway until finally the installation should finish normally and ask you to reboot. Do so.

    You should now be able to adjust your sound settings as desired. If not, I am afraid I am out of ideas... Good luck!
     
    Core, Dec 19, 2012
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  9. Bahram_Persia

    Bahram_Persia

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    Hello again, my friend!
    I did exactly what you told me to do and I succeeded! Thank you so much, Thank you!
    The sound driver installed without any problem and it's working great!! I have to tell you I tried everything to get the driver installed properly but without success! I even used DSEO (Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider) software to sign the driver system files and be able to install them, but it didn't work for me. I somehow knew something was wrong with windows security for driver installation; since I remember the confirmation dialog for installing unsigned driver in windows 7 which is not shown in windows 8 anymore; but I had no idea how to disable this security feature until you taught me how to disable it.
    Thank you so much buddy!! Good luck!:)
     
    Bahram_Persia, Dec 19, 2012
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  10. Bahram_Persia

    Nibiru2012 Moderator

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    Core aka Papa Smurf has good knowledge and it always willing to help.
     
    Nibiru2012, Dec 20, 2012
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  11. Bahram_Persia

    Tepid

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    People should also be aware that this is not a Windows 8 issue.
    This is a 3rd party Driver issue (AGAIN, [see history of Vista release issues]).
    Realtek needs to update their drivers. That is the issue.

    Glad that you were able to resolve it the way you did though. :)
     
    Tepid, Dec 24, 2012
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  12. Bahram_Persia

    Nibiru2012 Moderator

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    In my experience regarding Realtek drivers, whether they're LAN, WiFi or Audio drivers, they have done a very good job of updating those drivers.

    Now downloading them sometimes can be a P.I.T.A. due to their servers, but other than that Realtek's drivers for me have always been rock solid, current, and well engineered.

    I used to joke on a couple of Windows 7 forums that sometimes it seemed to be a race between Radeon and Realtek as to how many driver updates they would release in a year's time.
     
    Nibiru2012, Dec 25, 2012
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  13. Bahram_Persia

    Core coffee & gigabytes Moderator

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    No, Realtek doesn't need to "update their drivers." The ALC850 is ancient. There is no reason to expect them to provide drivers for equipment they no longer manufacture or support. It's up to users to stay current on their hardware, or just not use new software.
     
    Core, Dec 25, 2012
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  14. Bahram_Persia

    Nibiru2012 Moderator

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    I wasn't specifically talking about the ALC850 chipset, but the current in use hardware and respective drivers for them.
     
    Nibiru2012, Dec 26, 2012
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  15. Bahram_Persia

    Core coffee & gigabytes Moderator

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    No, I was responding to Tepid. I should have quoted his post but all this Christmas food in mah belly is making me relaaaaaxed.
     
    Core, Dec 26, 2012
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  16. Bahram_Persia

    macameo

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    I've tried as you said but still cannot get the sound. Basically, there is no red warning screen to say I'm installing unverified driver. Things go smoothly and nothing change after restarting my PC. My playback driver still doesn't change and there no more option for me to choose. Can you help ? Thanks.
     
    macameo, Dec 27, 2012
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