Original posting in another forum under Windows 98 (Ripping hair out. Need Audio Drivers):

Got this PC for free for my 9 yr. old. Clone box named "Global". Re-formatted, reinstalled WIN98se...but NO SOUND. WinXP can find the drivers and put sound in but took it off because it's such a memory hog and sloooooowed the PC to a grind and went back to Win98se. This is really weird. Western Digital HD diagnostics say it's an Intel MotherBoard. Has Intel chipset 810E. But GATEWAY keeps coming up as the manufacturer in searches without telling me much on drivers. Intel website doesn't have the drivers, nor does Gateway. The Motherboard type is: WL810E ver AAA27218-205. BIOS is AmericanMegatrends:Intel Corp #WL81020A.15A.0004.P03.0004041700. The Audio is OEM, no card, and NO ID code on the thing. Sure, it would be easier to throw in a sound card for 30 bucks, but that ain't the point here. Why is it that I can't find the OEM audio manufacturer ANYWHERE by going to Intel or Gateway??? Who is the Motherboard manufacturer...Intel...Gateway...I am at my wits end. I've never had to post to anything to find a simple driver and it is driving me crazy. It's a Christmas present for my 9 yr. old that I've worked on in my spare time so she can have a PC of her own. Does anyone have a clue as to where the audio drivers and/or codecs that go along with them are? Thanks to all and Happy Holidays : )
Barbidahleeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Here's the address for the driver that fixed my problem and now I have sound:

Name: Barbidahlee
Date: December 18, 2005 at 22:34:12 Pacific
Subject: Ripping hair out.Need Audio Drivers

Fixed it, boys ; )
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads35.html

Used: VIA AC97 Vinyl Audio Driver

(loads Vinyl AC'97 Codec Combo Driver [WDM]after install, reboot, finds PCI Device and installs driver(s))

I would definitely recommend that just about anyone try this one out. Worst case if it doesn't work is just go to system, remove the device and it'll come back on it's own anyway on reboot.

And I'll bet you'all just thought I was just anouther pretty face...LOL...Merry Christmas to my little Hillary Duff daughter (YUK!!!!) fan now that she'll have sound. She'll be so happy!!!! I'm more of a Def Leppard fan myself ; )

Happy, Happy Holidays to everyone!!!
Barbidahleeeeeeeeeeee
http://rockandrolldundee.com/AboutMe/

As mentioned in that other thread this driver is (obviously) only for VIA boards with onboard sound. It is a much better method to determine the system specs first and download what you *need* rather than try installing things based on random hunches

You were lucky in this case, but the kitchen sink approach is not the most efficient (to say the least)

If you get people asking the wrong questions, you don't have to worry about the answers

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Wow. Kitchen sink? Lucky? Hardly, jboy. If you read the docs buried deep inside the Intel site, you'll come across numerous references to the AC'97 genre.
Ya' know...not to bang my own drum...but not only have I had years of toying around with these annoying grey boxes called PC's, but believe it or not, I have a bonafide degree in this thing they call Computer Science. Geez...I don't know everything...but know quite a bit. It worked and that's all that matters. Who knows why PC's do the strange things they do and sometimes out of the ordinary will fix 'em. Lighten up, dude and enjoy the upcoming Holidays.
Barbidahleeeeeeeeeeee

"It worked and that's all that matters"

Well - seriously, it's not like trying on shoes, it is a fairly straightforward process - you identify the hardware and install the correct drivers, period.

It worked for you, fine - if that's your approach, also fine

... but hardly recommended

"I have a bonafide degree

Well, if you say so (but it sure doesn't show)

If you get people asking the wrong questions, you don't have to worry about the answers

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You said: "Worst case if it doesn't work is just go to system, remove the device and it'll come back on it's own anyway on reboot"

This is not always the case. If you put in the wrong drivers then the files will remain in place and often registry entries too. These can continue to cause problems even when you eventually find the correct drivers. I've spent many happy hours sorting these problems, often to find some inappropriate file lurking somewhere in the system.

You mentioned Computer "Science". I therefore don't need to say that a scientific approach is methodical. You determine the spec for the machine then select the correct (or at least the most appropriate) drivers.

I'm happy that you fixed the problem but this should not be seen as either a generalised approach or a solution. It could have produced a mess, leaving reformatting as the only means of recovery.

DerekW