Re: Tutorial: How to update a driver that Windows just doesn't want to update

On Sat, 3 Oct 2020 19:53:11 -0000 (UTC), Arlen Holder wrote:

> 12. Win+R > devicemanager > 
>     "Browse my computer for drivers"  > 
>     "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer" > 
>     [Have Disk] [Browse]
>     But the only things you can select are the 114 INF files; not the sys file.
> 
> Well... all that failed.
> o Back to googling....

13. You'd think it would be simple to find a driver on the Realtek site.
   <https://duckduckgo.com/?q=windows+10+driver+Realtek+High+Definition+Audio+6.0.8988.1+-codec>
   Scroll pretty far (multiple pages) before you give up.

14. Try the search at the Realtek web site itself:
   <https://www.realtek.com/en/>
   "windows 10 driver Realtek High Definition Audio 6.0.8988.1" 
   Press "Q" to search all you want, the search appears to be broken.

15. Just try their search engine directly:
   <https://www.realtek.com/en/search?>
   "windows 10 driver Realtek High Definition Audio 6.0.8988.1" 
   That finds nothing.

16. Search the Internet for how to update realtek audio drivers:
   o How to Update and Reinstall Realtek HD Audio Manager
     <https://www.maketecheasier.com/update-realtek-hd-audio-manager/>

   Win+R > %comspec% /k dir "C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA"
    BlackSkinImages64.dll
    DarkSkinImages64.dll
    EP64.exe
    GrayJadeSkinImages64.dll
    PremiumBlack2SkinImages64.dll
    PremiumBlackSkinImages64.dll
    RAVBg64.exe
    RAVCpl64.exe
    RtkAudioService64.exe
    RtkNGUI64.exe
    RtlUpd64.exe
    vncutil64.exe
   The article says to execute "RtkNGUI64.exe" but on my system
   that does not open up the Realtek HD Audio Manager.
   Clicking on each executable in turn, only 2 bring up a GUI:
    RAVCpl64.exe brings up the "Realtek HD Audio Manager"
     Clicking the "I" (info) button says:
     Audio Driver Version: 6.0.8967.1
     DirectX Version: DirectX 12.0
     Audio Controller: HD Audio
     Audio Codec: ALC888S
    RtlUpd64.exe brings up access control acceptance for the 
    "Driver Setup API for Realtek HD Audio", but nothing happens.

17. The aforementioned article says we have to go to tenfourms:
   (even though I'm _not_ seeking a "codec" - I'm seeking a driver.)
   o Latest Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs
   <https://www.tenforums.com/sound-audio/5993-latest-realtek-hd-audio-driver-version.html>

   Which brings you to here:
   <https://www.tenforums.com/sound-audio/135259-latest-realtek-hd-audio-driver-version-2-a.html>
    Last Updated: September 22, 2020
    HDA DRIVER VERSION: 6.0.8978.1 FF00 (For: Windows 7, 8, 10)
    Download at: Microsoft Update Catalog
    Direct download links from Microsoft Update Catalog:

   Which brings me right back to where I had started:
   <https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=6.0.8963.1>
   <http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/driver/drvs/2020/09/fa0cd2ef-98a8-4455-a98c-6883344fa806_72b92e2bb97699f35f8875d2042090dd48464d03.cab>
   Name: fa0cd2ef-98a8-4455-a98c-6883344fa806_72b92e2bb97699f35f8875d2042090dd48464d03.cab
   Size: 153178945 bytes (146 MiB)
   SHA256: 57199A5CB0642BFA47E91B571B06DFC1DBCD32D2454BE7F457517C94B9230F0A

   Note: That's a slightly older version and cab file than what I had
   downloaded previously from the Microsoft Catalog earlier today.

   Tenforums has a link to how to install the driver from a cab file:
   o How to Install a CAB File in Windows 10
   <https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/66346-install-cab-file-windows-10-a.html#post873775>

   NOTE: A lot of advice in that thread is dead wrong; but some is good.

     Which warns: "The options in this tutorial will not work to install 
     Realtek HD audio drivers from a .cab file. 
     For that, see: Install Realtek CAB file in Windows 10
   o Another way to install a cab file (Realtek Audio driver as example)
   <https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/66346-install-cab-file-windows-10-a.html#post873775>
     But that simply explains what we've been doing all along.
     And, of course, they all get the same DISM errors we had all along.
     (Every single person who uses DISM gets the same errors.)

   Expand -F:* c:\tmp\cab\1.cab c:\tmp\cab
   What's different is this expands to 287 files and one directory.
    
   There is no "setup.exe" although there are 10 executables:
    CreateRtkToastLnk.exe
    DTSAudioService64.exe
    EP64.exe
    ICEsoundService64.exe
    RAVBg64.exe
    RAVCpl64.exe
    RtkAudioService64.exe
    RtkNGUI64.exe
    RtlUpd64.exe
    vncutil64.exe

   Win+R > devicemanager 
    Sound, video and game controllers > 
    Realtek High Definition Audio > 
    [Driver] > [Update Driver] > Browse my computer for drivers > 
    Search for drivers in this location > C:\tmp\cab > 
    [x]Include subfolders > 
    [Next]
     Searching cab for drivers
     Installing drivers...
     Windows has successfully updated your drivers

18. Check the version using the device manager:
    <https://i.postimg.cc/fR8yW1WS/driver13.jpg>
    Win+R > devicemanager > 
     Realtek High Definition Audio
     [Driver]
     [Driver Details]
      Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
      Driver Date: 6/23/2020
      Driver Version: 6.0.8978.1

19. Check the version using any device updater software:
    <https://i.postimg.cc/wMYTbp2Z/driver14.jpg>
     Taskbar > menu > hardware > drivers > dumo
      Realtek High Definition Audio 6.0.8978.1 update available 6.0.8988.1

20. The question is why isn't this the latest version?
    <https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=6.0.8988.1>

We're closer, but not yet where we want to be... 
o Back to googling for the solution...
-- 
Solving problems so that everyone can benefit takes perseverence.