Dell Dimension 4550 when sound off in bios drivers show as installed when sound

[billy02]

I'm trying to load AC'97 realtek drivers. Actually they're already loaded but the box won't show them as installed unless the sound is turned off in the bios. Either way control panel shows no audio devices. The box is a Dell Dimension 4550 running XP Pro.

 

[soundguruman]

the thing about a dell is, that first you load their "download manager" and then you can load their drivers. you look up your computer by service tag on the dell website to find the audio driver download. once you have installed the dell download manager, you will probably have an easier time downloading and installing the audio driver from dell.
you check whichever audio was installed:
click start, control panel, add remove programs, look at the list...
which audio software is shown on the list? delete it, restart the computer.

now visit the motherboard manufacturer or computer manufacturer's website
download the latest audio drivers, save on the desktop...
turn the antivirus off,
if you have multiple security programs installed, turn them all off
(your driver may not install if security systems are turned on)
now load your new audio driver, restart, turn the antivirus back on.