I just rebuilt (reinstalled XP) son's computer. What I thought was the sound/audio driver wouldn't install - told me there was no compatible device. So I did some hunting around, and it looked like it needed a Sigmatel driver. Downloaded it, it installed fine, and I got sound from the speakers. I only tested with Windows Media Player though.

Son (who lives away from home) now tells me the audio is all screwed up: in some apps, he's only getting left channel. In other apps, he says it sounds like the sound is coming from underwater. And it turns out the mic doesn't work (I never tested that).

I've done some further research, and I've now convinced myself I've installed the wrong driver. But here's what's not intuitive. I really thought you couldn't do that. If the driver doesn't find appropriate hardware, it just won't install - no? Let alone work somewhat/partially...

The motherboard in question is an Intel D975XDX - and the only thing I can think of is that Intel have used at least enough Sigmatel technology in their audio implementation for the driver to be 'close' - but not close enough.

The driver I've now found - and I don't know how I missed it originally - is the Intel IDT audio driver. I plan to pop round to my son's tomorrow evening and uninstall the 'wrong' driver and try replacing it with this one.

I assume I just uninstall the audio via Device Manager and then install the correct driver? Does anyone have any guidance on that?

And: does anyone have any insight into how it's possible to install the wrong driver?