BleepingComputer.com: Drivers

I have a Sony Vaio PCV-RZ34G desktop. I reinstalled Windows XP Pro w/SP3. Under device manager there is a question mark next to multimedia video controler and unknown device. I chatted with Sony tech support. They said the computer would need to be reconfigured for the drivers and software. But I would need to pay for a service plan. I'm broke right now and would prefer to fix it myself. I'm fairly knowledgeable with computers but can't get this solved. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I attached a screenshot of device manager. Thank you in advance.

There is a way to find out what the device is.

Go to Device Manager, right click on the unknown device. (It could be anything-this is where things with no drivers are listed. I once had a system with a Sound Blaster card in it. It would show as unknown device until I installed the drivers. Using the method below allowed me to find out what the device was.)

Choose Update Driver Software.

In the next pane, choose Browse my computer for driver software.

Another pane will open, choose Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer. Click Next.

When the next window opens, you *should* see what the device is.

At that point, you can close out the window without doing anything UNLESS you want to install the driver, which will be a generic Windows driver. It would be better to download the driver from the device manufacturer.

If it's something you need help finding a driver for, post the device name here and someone will assist you.

For your multimedia driver, there is no need to pay for anything. You should have been told to go to Sony support to find what you need.

Start HERE:Sony Support

Enter the model number for drivers for your system. Sound should be the first one listed.

This post has been edited by Queen-Evie: 09 April 2011 - 04:14 PM

Thank you for your reply. I can choose from a list but it doesn't tell me what it is. There is just a list of hardware to choose from. I don't know if this will help but the hardware id is ACPI\WEC0515.

I forgot to add I've downloaded all drivers from Sony's site but they each say not for use with my model when I try to install them.

The only thing I found about your unknown device worth mentioning was a topic HERE at another forum. (from 2008)

Post #2 says it is associated with Sound Max.

Post #6 is something the poster received from Sony about it and states it is related to power management.

Since I only know the basics about drivers and I've posted general info in my first post I will put out a call for someone else to help you with this.

Did you try this driver?

Yeah. I tried every driver that was available on Sony's site.

I just had another thought.

You have a desktop system. Do you have a separate sound card in addition to on-board sound?

Look under Sound, Video and Game Controllers.

Post a screenshot of what is listed there.

It's late for me, I am about to get off the computer for the night. I'll check back here in the morning.

I do have a separate sound card. I disabled the on-board in the bios. Here's a screenshot too. Look forward to your response. Thanks for your help.  untitled.JPG (153.19K)
Number of downloads: 5

Thank you for the info and the screen shot. They have told me what I needed to know.

The multimedia controller listed under Other Devices is your sound card. The reason it's listed where it is: no drivers installed for it.

You will need to install the drivers for that card. Sony drivers were for the on-board sound, which is why they didn't work for the card.

If you have the cd that came with the card, the drivers can be installed from the disk.

Don't have the disk? Go to the card manufacturers website and get them from there.

Hi bruddahshark,

I'd like you to have a look in Add/Remove Programs and look for an update from Microsoft with the number KB888111. This is the Microsoft Universal Audio Architecture driver for anything having to do with "sound".

If it's not installed, you can use the Microsoft "fix it" that is located at the link above to get this update.

If that does not take care of your issues, can you post screen shots of the Hardware ID's of the Unknown device and the Multimedia Video Controller listed under Other Devices.
Below is an image of where the Hardware ID's can be found.