XP Drivers for Conexant High Definition Smart Audio 221 - Do they exist? [ Edited ]

[James_Cummins]

I wonder if an older bios would help.  In the following thread there's an example of people having problems with XP and audio related to an ACPI setting.  It's for a different model, dv2700t, but that model also appears to use i965 mobile chipset and conexant HD 221 driver (in Vista).

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=214395&page=2

There are a few older bios here,

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/previousVersions?softwareitem=ob-65442-1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&os=20...

Also, when I looked at the notes for the oldest bios there, it said it was for yours and an HP G7000.  When I went to the G7000 bios page, it lists all the same bios plus one older version not shown on your page.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/previousVersions?softwareitem=ob-65442-1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&produ...

When I looked at that oldest v 07, the notes,  ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp36501-37000/sp36774.cva , do mention 30D9 family and C700 series, so that would appear to be the oldest version.  I mean, "I" would try the oldest version on the support page for your board, the F.22 bios first, but since that thread for the dv2700t mentioned other lower numbered versions, as a last resort I'd try version 07 too but that chance I leave up to you to take or not since it isn't my notebook.

I'm running out of ideas... On my notebook, the Conexant audio chip is on the top of the board, roughly under the touchpad.  If you don't get it working and ever pull the board out (or if you're lucky and can see the chip with some panel off), it's a roughly 1cm square chip with roughly 48 pins on all sides labeled "CXnnnnn-nnn" with "n" representing numbers.  If you have the chip number then you have another lead to search for that chip driver with a web search, probably leaving off the dash and three characters after it.  For reference, mine reads CX20549 (-12Z), and that is the only HD audio-only chip I saw on Conexant's website, but unfortunately they offer no driver for it.

Hp does offer a couple CX20549 drivers (though I am not certain that's your chip but it's the only one I've seen as mentioned above),

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&swItem=ob-515...

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&swItem=ob-515...

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&swItem=ob-572...

^ That last link looks like the closest match I've found (after you edit the DEV & SUBSYS string in the INF file), but most of all I would try a different bios before any and/or all of the drivers again.  Someone also mentioned bypassing ACPI when booting windows by pressing F7 but I have no further details about that other than to try it then install some driver that has the right DEV & SUBSYS id.

... and with that, I am out of ideas.  It would be nice if Compaq had better ways of finding drivers and used official chipset names and version numbers for files instead of service pack numbers.  I wonder if the forum code is going to strip this message of all the formatting like it kept doing over and over last time.  I'm liking this forum less and less since it not only is slow, it's mangling basic things like text spacing.

Message Edited by James_Cummins on 11-25-2008 05:30 PM

[Klondike_Bob]

James,   Thanks again for all your help.  I'm not comfortable messing around with the bios, so I'm going to take your suggestions (and links) to a friend of mine who is more knowledgable than I am in these things.

Thank you for your time and effore.  it is really apreciated. 

[CherylG]

Bob,reading back trhough your first post I take it to mean that your audio/sound is working? If it is only the Mic that isn't working,I have seen this on other XP downgrades and especially on the C700 series. SP3 also causes more issues with HD Audio than SP2.

Bottom line though_we need XP drivers from HP or MS for many of the late model laptops to funtion 100%_and that doesn't seem to be an option as far as they are concerned.

[James_Cummins]

I blame Conexant, if they can make a buck selling chipsets they could at least grow a spine and reserve the right to release (and sacrifice a bit of bandwidth)  drivers to the general population like most do, even if they have a "no support" disclaimer".  IOW, I'd always prefer to go to the source for the latest driver instead of expecting OEMs to play keep-up on the latest versions and support for those, which they almost never do anyway.  Laptops are the worst in this regard, I can't remember the last time I wanted to visit an OEM's site for a(n old) desktop driver.

[CherylG]

Consider Nvidia,as huge as they are..don't offer Graphics or Chipset drivers for laptops either(other than a small list) .Not sure what the problem is with these manufacturers and laptop support.Intel and Realtek both post drivers that work on laptops...

[James_Cummins]

yes, I'm dissatisfied with nVidia in this respect too, but at least there is an active community that modifies video drivers so my lapotop is running a 180.series driver, while the OP in this topic can't even get any old Conexant driver to work.  To some extent, I feel the opposite of what you implied, that the larger the company is, the less they have to go the extra mile to provide support.  nVidia has fewer ties to the community, moreso to those OEMs who like systems to stay in the default factory shipped state.

Conexant on the other hand, would be wise to work closer with developers and the community since hardwiring an audio chip and plugging in a windows driver is quite a bit easier than integrating an entire chipset a system is built around, and supporting everything from 'nix to windows games.

[marciotrix]

heloo... :-)

I am sorry my English is bad, I'm using the google translator.
I was having problems with the sound ( conexant high audio-smart audio) HP C762NR.
solve the problem after days of searches. and found.
Resolution:
go to Windows Update and enter an administrator's options and find the conexant high audio series....

in my case did not work the microphone.
manually install the windows to get the driver to paste it!

good luck to all

marciotrix@hotmail.com

[Hazarika]

Yes. They do exist.

The microphone probelm is resolved for c700. I have a perfectly working sound driver for XP SP3. Download this from here.

http://webpages.charter.net/mmooglemirror/Compaq%20C751nr%20Audio%20XP32.zip

For any more help needed please let me know. 

Regards,

Hazarika

[Dzung-Vegastar]

Thank to Hazarika - The driver you uploaded did resolve the problem of SP3 and HP - Compaq. My computer is C767TU; Although i'm a skilled computer installing person, I had spend a lot of time finding the driver for the High definition Audio for my Laptop and Called for direct help from HP supporter guys (over online Chat) but can't find the working driver until i download it from your link.

This is Driver for Conexant High Definition (HD) SmartAudio 221 , works well with Windows XP professonal SP3 , (Audio HW to checked Compaq C767TU)

[TechyManoj]

Here are the

Conexant High Definition Audio Drivers  for XP.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericSoftwareDownloadIndex?lc=en&cc=us&softwareitem=ob-40619-1