Installing ATI Radeon HD4550 Disables Integrated Sound-SOLVE

[Randy Tyndall 1087023]

After my WinXP system died I decided not to throw good money after an outdated and unsupported OS by trying to salvage the OS and the disk it was on. I was able to save the data off the disk so I went with a refurbished system from Newegg.com instead.

 

I now have a Hewlett-Packard E6550 Desktop, Intel® Duo Core 2.33GHz, Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit, with 4GB RAM. It came with a Soundmax Integrated Digital HD Audio Card and an onboard Intel® Q35 Express Chipset Family Graphics Card. It runs FS2004 very, very well. It runs FSX okay, but not very well or even well. I cannot install FSX SP2 because, although the chipset GC has 2.0 Pixel Shader (SP2 requires at least 1.1), it has no vertical shader and SP2 requires at least 1.0 for that parameter.

 

I have a perfectly good ATI Radeon HD4550 Graphics Card from my old system. However, when I installed it (despite using the Install CD that came with it), it disabled my Integrated Audio and gave me a warning that the HD 4550 driver was not installed. It wanted my sound to come from the HDMI port on the back of the Graphics Card and [Mod - Happy Thoughts]umed, I guess, I was connecting to a TV (I am not) for use as a monitor. My system speakers plug into the back of the tower using the "green" cable connection port, not to the Graphics Card.

 

In researching this I found many users with the same problem, usually when installing it in a Dell system. Only one user posted a solution. He went into the BIOS, saw where his onboard sound system was disabled and re-enabled it. I looked in BIOS and the only entry for a sound controller was the HD 4550 GC. It seemed the Card or the computer was masking/hiding the Soundmax Controller.

 

Needless to say, I uninstalled the HD4550 and reverted back to the Q35 and the Soundmax devices. I want to get a better graphics card, preferably the one I have since there is no expense, but will buy a new one if necessary to bring FSX up to a higher level of enjoyment (paywares run at 6 FPS with no "task" intensive sceneries around, so I know already a fly-in to LAX online is out of the question with FSX. But....you knew that was coming, right...I don't want to go through the same thing with a new Graphics Card and have it disable my onboard sound. Any suggestions given my specs?

 

Randy

Edited December 17, 2014 at 05:15 PM by Guest

[Randy Tyndall 1087023]

Never mind. Fixed it. Did some serious reading. Wish I could post the definitive link here that solved my problem, but I went to so many sites and forums that I honestly do not remember from where I wrote down the fix. I was taking notes as I read because there were so many different suggested fixes. I changed the subject line to better fit my problem to help others in searching this thread.

 

However, here is what I physically did to fix my problem. These instructions are most probably specific to my system, my BIOS version, and my card. I would hope the fix will be similar in your system as well.

 

I powered down my computer and installed the ATI Radeon HD4550 Graphics Card. I then powered up the system, let it find the card, and come up to a full screen. The suggestion I ended up using said to wait a full 5 minutes before touching the keyboard while Windows 7 goes through it's diagnostics, driver installs, etc.

 

Of course I got the message that the drivers for the ESP Soundmax Integrated Audio failed to load with an error code of (52). The HD4550 was shown as my primary audio device, but no HDMI Cable was connected so the audio was disabled. The system showed the familiar Windows yellow exclamation point signifying a problem with the device. My USB headset was the only source of sound for the system and, of course, the ESP Soundmax didn't show up at all. I disabled the HD 4550 Device in the Sound Tab of Control Panel

 

I restarted the system and watched the screen, waiting for the BIOS Boot screen. This screen happens very fast on any system I have ever owned, so you have got to be ready. I immediately pressed F10 to enter BIOS Setup. Your hotkey to enter may be different. I had been here before the first time I had this card installed, but I was on the wrong tab all along. I went to "Advanced" and scrolled down to "Device Options" with the arrow keys. Hit "Enter" and a list of my devices appeared. Looking through the list I saw that Integrated Video (My Q35 Chipset) and Integrated Audio (the ESP Soundmax) were both disabled. I scrolled down to Integrated Audio and pressed the right arrow key, enabling integrated audio.

 

Saved my changes and exited BIOS. Normal startup from there on out and was very happy to here the Windows 7 startup chime come from my speakers and not my USB Headset. Just to be safe I restarted the system again and let it go through a normal startup. Everything was working as it should with no yellow exclamation points.

 

Here's the bonus. I installed FSX SP2 with no problems and restarted again. I'm a firm believer in restarting your system anytime you make changes, even if the change doesn't prompt you to restart. After this restart I started FSX without changing my "okay" settings. Holy Cow! I was pushing almost 150 FPS in the default Cessna at my local muni. I changed the sliders to put a heavier load on the system and still was getting 80 FPS. FS9 was AWESOME! All sliders maxed out and still getting over 100 FPS with default cessna at my local muni.

 

I cannot wait to fly!!!!!!

 

Randy

[Charan Kumar]

Great job Randy, nice job resolving it ... it's amazing what ppl can achieve when they are cornered...Oh the thought of not being able to fly and/or hear the sound...it can start playing tricks on your mind

 

Kudos!! Now you can look up all the great xmas and year-end sales going on around, and stock up on what you can. 80FPS, haven't seen it in a really loooong while.

[Randy Tyndall 1087023]

Thanks Charan,

 

The human psyche when backed against a wall is a wonderful thing sometimes. Choosing between "Fight or Flight" was not an option...I chose both if you'll forgive the pun...and "fought" till I could "fly".

 

Hope you are still controlling in KOAK ARTCC. Watch for me!

 

Randy