Question : Problem: Intel se440bx & SoundMax - missing Multimedia Audio Controller

Intel se440bx & SoundMax - missing Multimedia Audio Controller

PC (WIN XP Pro) Device Manager reports missing Multimedia Audio Controller.
Control Panel lists SoundMax - double-clicking icon does nothing
Control Panel Add/Remove Programs lists SoundMax.

iTunes & Windows Media Player 11 report no audio player available

Drilling down to SoundMax AudioWizard and clicking returns:

"Neither the playback device or the default recording device is SoundMAX. You cannot use the AudioWizard If you would like to change the default device you will need to run the Multimedia Control Panel program  to select the new default device."

Clicking the Multimedia button opens the Sounds and Audio Device Properties dialog window, but no default devices are available for selection.

All worked OK until I started uninstalling unused recording devices - I may have uninstalled(?) SoundMAX.

No SoundMAX driver listed at:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filter_results.aspx?strTypes=all&ProductID=208&OSFullName=All+Operating+Systems&lang=eng&strOSs=All&submit=Go%21

How do I install/enable SoundMAX? I don't have Intel CD for this PC.

Answer : Problem: Intel se440bx & SoundMax - missing Multimedia Audio Controller

BIOS update may be needed for XP:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=215&DwnldID=1075&lang=eng

Intel says it uses Crystal PCI audio drivers.
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/se440bx/sb/cs-013617.htm
For the hardware (sound chip) you need the Crystal PCI audio drivers.
[AC97 should work for that but I'm not 100% sure.]

SoundMax is the interface. It is drivers for software not for the sound chip.
- Similar to saying 'windows media player drivers'.

If you have windows medial player installed the software drivers will show for it in device manager even if you have removed the hardware drivers for the sound chip.
- change "windows medial player" in that sentence to "SoundMax". - same/same


.