C-Media AC97 Audio Device not working

The sound on my computer has been acting up for a little while now but today I installed some windows updates and now I have no sound. It says my C-Media AC-97 Audio device cannot start due to a code 10. I have uninstalled and then let the hardware wizard reinstall the device but that does nothing. I have enough computer experience to do as i'm directed to by one of you but not enough to fix it myself....HELP

 

Windows has a few different ways of installing drivers (I am more familiar with Win 98 so let me know if you cannot see what I am describing).

It may be better to boot into Safe Mode and uninstall the drivers there.

When you reboot and the Hardware Wizard appears, click Cancel. In Windows, run the drivers installation CD. If the audio is on-board (part of the motherboard) the drivers will be on the CD that came with the motherboard/computer. If it is a PCI audio card it will have it's own drivers CD.

It may be due to Service Pack updates and requires that the latest drivers are installed, if so, you will need to find the latest driver version. As AC97 I would expect the audio to be built into the motherboard, in that case, you will find the best drivers at the motherboard manufacturer's (computer manufacturer's if it is a branded type like Dell, Compaq or HP) website for your model. You may find "C-Media" driver's listed at some websites, but I use the version recommended by the maker of the hardware itself.

After you run the drivers installation program, reboot, Windows should find and install the new drivers or you may just need to direct it to the CD or downloaded driver files.

Matt