7720 BIOS issue & no sound!

I've been reading some of the threads which has made me hopeful that perhaps BigOzone or some of the other technical gurus can help me. Firstly, I wish to use my laptop as a DAW, Digital Audio Workstation. One problem though. My audio "card" (MOTU828mkII) isn't being totally recognized somehow.

I have downed to XP and everything seems to be fine. All standard functions work A-OK!

The MOTU audio drivers are loaded (same drivers I use on my desktop PC) and viewable via the CONTROL panel in the SOUNDS section. I get absolutely NO Windows sounds at all. If I change back to the REALTEK, it works just fine.

I have added an ExpressCard Firewire card for the MOTU interface and it uses the T.I. chipset that MOTU advised me to use. Yep, I am using the same cable that I use on my desktop PC.

I was also advised to disable the RealTek sound in the BIOS, but when I accessed the BIOS I found there is NO system settings tab at all. I have also been told to uninstall the integrated Firewire port via the BIOS. What gives here?

I have used the SYSTEM/DEVICE MGR/ to "disable" most every item listed (one-at-a-time) then tried the sound test again, but nothing has helped.

So, my current plan is to flash the BIOS to 1.43, it is currently 1.44 InSydeH2O v3.0. So, I am not sure if I can use the 1.43 Bios code. Please advise.

If tweaking something in the bios does not help with the audio problem, then I really need your help!

 

Welcome to NBR.

You tried to disable the Realtek from the device manager? This will leave you with your external sndcard only and will avoid possible conflicts.

 

Thanks for the welcome, ATG!

Yep tried that!

 

Yeah I missed that sorry. Hmm I don't think BIOS flash will solve this but I also have no idea what to advice you.
I don't remember if you can disable the soundcard from the BIOS(on my old Asus it's possible) but if you can you might try that too.

 

What I really need to do is disable the Firewire port. Possibly the Realtek too, but not sure if that will help.

Something is NOT getting "connected" when the MOTU driver is selected. Sounds like something fairly simple to me, but just gotta find it!
RT

 

Tried to switch the devices from Control Panel->Sounds?

 

Of course! That's how I get back and forth from the RealTek & the MOTU. Works great on my desktop PC and has for the past 4 years. I just need portability now.

The MOTU drivers all appear to be installed correctly. If I boot up (with the RealTek selected) and then power up the MOTU, I get the sound that you get when Windows finds a USB/FW device going active. So, I know that part is communicating just fine. But there is something still not quite right.

MOTU says it is a Firewire conflict & to remove the integrated Firewire port via BIOS. But all I can do is disable it in SYSTEM/DEVICES. I want to completely remove it via the BIOS, but alas, no BIOS SYSTEM SETTINGS tab.

Surely, someone can help me get through this. I need it for a recording session in about 2 weeks too.

Come on guys! Gimme ideas.
RT

 

welcome to ACER's crappy bios,,, if the MOTU people say it is a firewire conflict then i'm not sure where to point you next....

a custom BIOS is an option, but not COST-EFFECTIVE for a single PC opperation.

i've beta tested almost every version of BIOS for this ACER,, but they (acer) do not want to enable the section of the BIOS that allows the user to enable and disable common features (it keeps thier development and support costs lower) but i have heard of other users having custom BIOS files written just to gain access to such features...

just to clarifiy abit...

1.) your system has firewire built-in,, but it's chipset isn't compatible with the 7720

2.) you added a TI based Expresscard that has it's own FireWire,, in hopes of using MOTU but you are having hardware conflicts using XP.

have you tried the TI based card under XP??
right now that's the best i can come up with.

 

Hi BigOzone! I was hoping for some of your expertise with this! Thanks!

Yeah, in my opening comments I mentioned that I have already downed the 7720 from Vista to XP. So, I'm not sure about your comment.

I feel almost certain that if I could get to the settings tab in the BIOS I could maybe overcome this issue. But then I may also be wrong.

Question... Will I be operational if I load the version 1.43 bios? (I am at 1.44) Will doing so, even help? Or is the 1.43 just like the 1.44 (missing the settings tab)? Sounds like from your comments above that all Acer bios's are crippled.

Is there a hardware method for a jumper to disable the on-board firewire?

Is there a non-Acer bios somewhere (custom???) that I can try?

Another clue leading me to think this way... If I remove the 6-pin firewire cable from the ExpressCard and the MOTU, then power up with the 4-pin cable to the integrated firewire port & to the MOTU, I get completely different symptoms. (Yes, the ExpressCard was removed too.) These new symptoms are NOT friendly either. The MOTU drivers seem to load and then immediately begin unloading.

Perhaps someone that is good with Registry entries could help!?

I have loaded Everest and Sandra in an effort to spot something meaningful, but I don't have enough experience with either of these to know just what I am looking at in the results. Would a copy of the Everest dumps provide you with any direction? If so, I will be glad to forward same!

If you can spare the time, please keep helping with this. I cannot afford yet another laptop.

Thanks,
RTwinkie

 

Hi RTwinkie,
Can I ask you where you got BIOS v1.44 from?
Thx

 

Boruta... Came installed in my Acer 7720! But it has NO system settings tab, so it worthless.
RT

 

Yep, you sure can, Boruta! It came with the Acer when I bought it. it's not very helpful though since it has NO system settings tab in the BIOS.

Do you know of any Acer Bios' that have the system settings tab?
RT

 

I’m running now 1.43 and it doesn’t have that tab. Don’t remember of an previous, who has it.
Now my question is if you can upload yours 1.44 or maybe send me via email. (I can’t seem to find it anywhere) I’ve lately upgraded my system with Intel T9300 and it performance is kind of disappointing.

 

boruta... I really don't think you want this Bios as it has NOTHING to offer. There are NO system settings available at all. I cannot even turn off the COM port!!!!

I am in the midst of yet another XP Pro install. This time I am saying NO to anything that is not relevant to the DAW world.

I'll post any results once finished. Should be done in a few hours, or so.
RT

 

Well, if anyone is still following this thread, here is my last effort.

I installed XP with NO SP's and only no other drivers than what was installed during the XP install. Installed the MOTU drivers with the exact same results! I uninstalled the MOTU drivers and went thru loading all drivers that would be necessary for a DAW application. Installed the MOTU drivers, same results!! I am convinced that unless I can get into the BIOS of the ACer, I will never be able to make the drivers work. So, at this point I am giving up. Unless one of you offers up something new to attempt.

The laptop is functioning now with all XP drivers installed.

My next plan is to build a MATX chassis based system. It will be small enough to be somewhat portable. It even comes with a handle on it for carrying it around. Unfortunately, you also have to carry around a monitor, but I have an older 19" LCD I can use for that.

Any ideas??? I am all ears!!