Do I actually need 4 drivers for internal sound?


OldGrantonian

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I have Dell XPS 17.

My laptop currently has no internal sound. I only use sound about twice a year, so I've no idea how long I've had the issue. (I have no external speakers.)

Over the last few days, I've "updated" my sound driver from various sites, including Dell. As a result, I can now see four Realtek drivers in Device Manager. (I'm guessing that the sound driver might not have been actually updated. Instead, new drivers have been added each time.)

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Is it safe to start from scratch, and manually delete all the Realtek drivers, then start again from the Dell site? Dell have a dedicated site for my unique "Service Tag". So, I'm assuming that if I need only one sound driver, they will give me one. - and if I need more, they will give me what I need.

Thanks.
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 17
Is it safe to start from scratch, and manually delete all the Realtek drivers, then start again from the Dell site?
Yes.

Indeed that is always what you should do - get sound [& Intel display] drivers for hardware that was part of your computer when you bought it from Dell only.
Dell's version of the sound driver is tailored to the hardware they fitted in your computer and is not necessarily the same as any version available from anywhere else [including directly from Realtek, Intel].
The same applies to many Dell drivers for Intel display cards.
- Back up all existing drivers before you begin. Backup and Restore Device Drivers - TenForumsTutorials
- Download the driver from Dell. While you're there, check for anything about Intel sound drivers as well, perhaps those Intel entries indicate that you have additional sound hardware fitted by Dell when you bought the computer.
- Then disconnect from the internet.
- Then delete those entries
- Then run the driver installation file.
- Then you can test sound, reconnect to the internet, ... .

I don't understand what those Intel audio entries are for. Perhaps you do.

All the best,
Denis
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296
- Download the driver from Dell. While you're there, check for anything about Intel sound drivers as well, perhaps those Intel entries indicate that you have additional sound hardware fitted by Dell when you bought the computer.

I searched simply for "intel". There were several hits, but none for "audio" or "sound".

I followed the remainder of your instructions to the end.

Sound is working fine now.

Thanks for your help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 17
"searched"?
Ah, I think I realise what you mean:-
Dell support site,​
put in your Dell Service tag,​
select Drivers & downloads,​
Find drivers [in the box Manually find a specific driver],​
Keyword box - enter "Intel" or whatever.​

Having done all my updates in the past, I don't use that keyword box which is why it took me a moment to realise what you meant. I'm just interested in recently issued updates.
I look at the list of updated drivers further down the page,
I click on the Release date column header if necessary to get the latest ones at the top,
I bookmark the page now so I can get straight here again in the future,
I work my way down the list,
I click on the dropdown arrow on the right-hand side next to anything that I think I might need otherwise I pass on to the next entry,
I check the version number shown [against my own records*** or the relevant entry in Device manager] & if I already have it I pass on to the next entry,
If I want it I right-click on View full driver details and open it in a new tab,
I bookmark that page, I expand any dropdown such as installation instructions, I print it out, I click on the download button, I check the hash against the hash code shown on the page, then I install the driver.

*** I keep all my Dell driver downloads, bbokmarks & page printouts. This helps me avoid re-downloading the same version twice.
- Whenever I can find it, I also take a screenshot of the relevant Device manager entry so I can see where to go to double-check the currently-installed driver version.​
- This is not perfect because the version number Dell uses is not always the same as that shown in Device manager because Dell uses its own version numbering scheme for drivers from third-parties, such as Intel, whether Dell has customised the driver or not.​
Version number checking is necessary because Dell Drivers & downloads uses 'Release date' entries that they alter at the throw of a dice. A later Release date does not mean the driver version offered is any different from that previously offered.


All the best,
Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296
....
I look at the list of updated drivers further down the page,
I click on the Release date column header if necessary to get the latest ones at the top,
I bookmark the page now so I can get straight here again in the future,
...

I copied this entire post to my notes app, along with your previous post: Saturday at 9:10 AM

Maybe they should make it a driver sticky (after removing all my posts).

Disconnection from the internet would never have occurred to me.

I respectfully suggest that you might want to add a final step:

- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 17
Disconnection from the internet inhibits Device manager's Scan for new hardware procedure, its response to deleting anything in Device manager. If there's no internet connection then it cannot look online for drivers & start installing them while you're still trying to install the ones you want.

There'd be no harm in rebooting afterwards but I have not seen a driver that needed it that did not include it as the final step of its installation procedure. But I'll note it if I ever give similar advice to others so thanks.


All the best,
Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296

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