Failed to Install Realtek HD Audio Codec Driver

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A couple days ago, I was replacing the motherboard for a customer’s computer because the one he had was dead. The system couldn’t even POST with the original motherboard. Because my customer didn’t want to reinstall Windows (this often happens when replacing the motherboard), so I found him a new board that is using a similar chipset as the original motherboard. The one he had was Intel’s 945GZ. However, I could only find him a 945GC motherboard. The two chipsets are very similar so I expected the Windows to be working after the replacement.

Unknown Audio Device

The system was able to boot into Windows after the change of motherboard. I was able to install the Intel chipset drivers, including the driver for Intel GMA 950. Everything seems to be functioning well except for the audio. When I tried to install the Realtek HD audio drivers, it gave me a “driver installation failed” message. When looking into Device Manager, there was an unknown device under “sound, video and game controllers”. I could neither remove it nor update its driver. The only thing I could do is disabling it. I was thinking whether there are conflicts between the old motherboard and the new one.

Solution

After Googling about the problem and testing different suggested solutions, it came to be an easy fix. In order to install the Realtek HD audio drivers, I had to first uninstall the “Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio” device under System Devices in Device Manager. After this, I was able to install the Realtek driver without problem. Reboot the computer and everything was detected and installed properly.

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18 Comments »

Comment by jackey
2008-02-17 03:24:20

Thx, u saved my day

Comment by Vince
2008-04-07 17:57:53

I had the same problem, but i was unable to get it going no matter how many times i disabled them removed the device untill i tried something new…This time when i did a scan for new hardware after removing the UAA hardware, i let the computer re-install the UAA then i did not click on finish! If i did that, the computer tried to install the realtek autamatically and that was where the stuff up was. So instead of clicking finish i did another search for new hardware and it found the realtek HD audio device, and from here it allowed me to install the drivers correctly.

After this happened, i clicked finish on the realtek install then the UAA device install and it worked perfectly!

YAY!!

Comment by LeBokov
2008-04-07 23:25:57

I guess the trick here is to block the UAA before installing the Readtek audio device. Thanks for sharing your method with us.

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Comment by Alex
2008-04-23 09:37:04

Thanks man, this was giving me a headache too… Your tip helped a lot. Cheers!

-Alex

 
Comment by Joel Subscribed to comments via email
2008-04-23 13:57:48

The trick is to disable them both and uninstall the UAA thing first. This post helped me loads, thanks!

Comment by Chris
2008-05-05 13:14:18

Removing the UAA, then a quick reboot located the Realtek drivers. I have spent 3 days trying to fix this and fixed it after reading the article. THANKS!!!

 
 
Comment by danskio10
2008-05-12 07:34:36

Thank you very much, I also had the same problem
This thread is very great and helpful
I hope others that would the same problem could read this

 
Comment by Dhruv
2008-05-25 06:04:04

Thanks a lot..it worked!!
i hd ths prob. since a month..may b more thn tht but finally done..
thanks again..
just desabled UAA thing & scaned hardware..thn installed n started working..
ws so easy..until i know :)

 
Comment by Clandestino Subscribed to comments via email
2008-06-04 01:11:35

Thank you very much!! It worked. I disabled the UAA, then uninstalled it… then install audio drivers.
Greetings from Greece.

 
Comment by Moodygang
2008-06-18 18:07:29

Thank You very much!! I beat my head against a wall for 2 days with this. I wish I found this post 2 days ago. disable the UAA- Uninstall worked on my asus m2n-mx se plus board. We all appreciate this post. thanks again:)

 
Comment by M3kT3k
2008-06-30 14:31:37

Worked for me with a different order. Disabled the audio driver. Then when the UAA was removed the audio drivers went away. Scaned for chnages and then all went well.

Thanks for the tips.

 
Comment by servanis
2008-07-05 06:41:47

Thank you mate, you saved me a bit of heartache on a new system that i was building for my parents. That UAA driver was being annoying by not letting me install the realtek driver.

Again, thank you mate.

 
Comment by Chuck
2008-07-12 18:03:51

As with others, this thread saved me a lot of time!
I had a MSI 945 chipset MOBO failure and replaced an with the Intel 945GCNL without doing a WinXP Pro reinstall.
The symptoms were pretty baffling: All MOBO drivers installed except the Realtek High Definition Audio drivers. It failed on multiple attempts. I checked to be certain BIOS had the onboard audio enabled. I uninstalled previous Realtek software. I tried an updated driver from Intel website. All no-go.
The clues in this thread were the trick. Device Manager would not let me unistall the MS UUA Bus Driver or the old Realtek HD Audio driver, so I disabled them, rebooted, installed the audio driver from Intel and then re-enabled the drivers in Device Manager. Rebooted. Presto!
Thanks for posting!

 
2008-07-15 13:06:46

[...] little while, but I stayed up until 3am to fix them - With the Power of Internets, I figured it out from others just as frustrated, it was just a simple driver [...]

 
Comment by abhinav
2008-07-27 05:40:13

tanks very much man your this thing seems to be totally helpful

 
Comment by Nick
2009-03-14 16:16:11

The following steps work form me:
1. disable UAA
2. uninstall UAA
3. scan for new drivers
4. install Realtek HD Audio Codec Driver

Thank you very much!

 
Comment by Vignesh
2009-04-18 21:44:14

you are simply great.i had a big headache with that audio drivers,now every thing is working fine.Thanks a lot(I followed the steps posted by Mr.Nick thanks a lot sir).

 
Comment by Amat
2009-06-27 14:58:05

Thanks Guys, I was just on the way to reinstall OP, (which wouldn`t helped)now even sound is working, after following Mr. Nicks advice.
This made my day

 
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