Repairing and Upgrading Your PC

Configuring an Audio Adapter Card Under Windows

To configure an audio adapter under Windows, take the following steps:

1. Before you install the new adapter, remove the existing audio adapter and drivers, if any, and verify that all vestiges of the old audio adapter drivers are gone. Install the new sound card and restart the system.

2. Windows should recognize that the new audio adapter is present and display the Add New Hardware Wizard. Although Windows includes drivers for many audio adapters, you are usually better off using the drivers supplied by the audio adapter manufacturer. To do so, mark the Search for… option button and click Next.

   WINDOWS AUDIO DRIVERS VERSUS GOOD AUDIO DRIVERS

   Windows audio drivers may have limited functionality, such as supporting only stereo sound on an 8-channel sound card or not fully supporting the hardware acceleration features of the adapter. We strongly recommend downloading drivers from the sound card maker rather than using those provided with Windows.

   

   Figure 12-3. Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog

3. When Windows displays the next dialog, either specify the location of the drivers or tell it which drives to search for them. Click Next to continue.

4. Windows should locate the proper drivers and load them. When the process completes, reboot the system. Most audio adapters include an automated installation procedure for bundled applications, which usually ...