I accidentally uninstalled SoundMax (my Multimedia Audio Controller) through Add/Remove Programs in the control Panel. I realized my problem immediately after when I could no longer play music. So to fix my mistake I went to dell.com and downloaded the driver I needed. However when I try to install it it gives me this error:

SEVERE
-------------------------------------------------
Driver not found. Reboot the system and try again.




Here's what happened STep-By-Step:

I went to: http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=105596 and downloaded the R80617.EXE (The driver I need, it's SoundMax still) to my desktop using the http download. Then I ran the R80617.EXE file and it installed itself to the /DELL/Drivers/R80617 directory. This is the same directory that it was originally in along with my other drivers from dell. It prompts me to install the driver itself from the /R80617 directory, I agree, the setup finished at 100% with the error message.

Also; I tried restarting and trying again, I tried Safe Mode, I tried to install and manually choose the driver. The driver I need is not in any windows list, windows cannot find it on the 'net either.

Is there a way to get my sound working again?

Using, Dell, pentium 4, winxp- U guys need other info?

Is this site where you got the driver, also is this the driver you downloaded? If so did you close any open programs during the install? Dell site

I closed everything b4 installing and even tried it in safe mode. I came upon this site through a search. Though the site you linked isn't the same site, it is the exact same file that is being downloaded. I'm confused by the error though; I'm trying to install the driver, why would it tell me that the driver is not found?

Please tell me exactly how you are attempting to install the driver. Are you using device manager update driver? Are you double clicking on the downloaded file to start the installation? Sorry for asking so many questions but I am trying to understand what's going on here with this.

To be honest I've tried to get this driver working in so many different ways now over the course of 5 hours. I've tried through the automatic windows hardware detection, windows couldn't find anything. I tried showing Windows where the drivers were manually, but windows won't recognise them.

When I try to do it all manually and have windows show all available drivers, then try to add the SoundMAx driver to the list to force windows to try it, it doesn't allow me, simply stating that the driver doesn't work. Even though I know for a fact that it's the exact same driver I had from Dell

I've also tried to install the drivers without help from the device manager by just using the SounsMax installer, it always gives me that error though. I've tried in safe mode even.

I would have liked to do a system restore but it had been turned off last time I had to get rid of a virus, and I never turned it back on. Never noticed it was still off actually. I got to turn it back on before doing all this troubleshooting. I also tried a program called "My Drivers", it's supposed to be able to find and install drivers for anything. But it only lists me what drivers I have already and I'm not 100% sure how the program works yet to have it do the work for me.

Finally, SoundMax was removed through Add/Remove Programs, I've tried uninstalling the driver in device manager to maybe get rid of some random registry entry but it didn't work...

Anything I can do?








*****EDIT******

FInally I was able to got my hands on a friend's Dell Resource CD which installed a similar SoundMax Driver. Everything's working now. Thankyou very much for your help!