Low Audio on Bootcamp Windows XP

July 22, 2009 10:03 AM

I have a few Macbook Pro systems at work that we've installed Windows XP via Bootcamp on. We've done this with previous Macbook models in the past. This time, however, there is an audio problem: the audio on the XP side is so low it's close to non-existent. Is anyone familiar with this problem? Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix it?

I've been googling this and checking the Microsoft help but have come up short.

Some pertinent information:

Macbook Pro
Windows XP
Audio Hardware: Cirrus Logic 4206
Current Audio Driver: Cirrus Logic HD Audio

posted by strangememes to computers & internet (11 comments total)

Could it be this problem?
posted by jmnugent at 10:07 AM on July 22

It isn't that problem, jmnugent. The audio exists, but at less than half the level that the OSX side outputs
posted by strangememes at 10:11 AM on July 22

I did find this thread, but there doesn't seem to be a solution in there for XP users. Maybe team metafilter can solve this problem...
posted by strangememes at 10:20 AM on July 22

Which model MacBook Pros? Are you sure you've applied the latest Boot Camp updates on the Windows side?
posted by joshrholloway at 10:54 AM on July 22

You did use the OS X disk that came with this model laptop to install the drivers right? The Windows driver install on the disk is not the same across different hardware. I had an issue with that where I had been using an OS X disk from an iMac for notebook installs and while it worked with a Macbook it blue screened the Macbook Pro.
posted by genial at 11:10 AM on July 22

Josh, This is model 118. We are using the latest Boot Camp 2.1

It seems that in W7 and Vista the drivers .inf file can be edited to override amplifier settings, restoring volume. I can not locate the same capability in the XP cirrus drivers. I'm hoping there's a solution in a different driver or editing a driver.
posted by strangememes at 11:11 AM on July 22

Odd, I just installed Windows XP in Boot Camp on one of those models a few days ago. The audio is just fine for me, and I didn't have to do anything extra or special. I just installed the drivers that came on the included Leopard disc.
posted by joshrholloway at 11:25 AM on July 22

Josh, do you know what version of Boot Camp it was? Or what the audio driver is?
posted by strangememes at 11:32 AM on July 22

It was definitely Boot Camp 2.1. I specifically remember trying to download the installer and it wouldn't run, but then I put in the Leopard disc and it installed fine. Here are the details for my audio driver:

Cirrus Logic High Definition Audio

Driver Provider: Cirrus Logic

Driver Date: 5/4/2009

Driver Version: 1.0.0.13

Digital Signer: Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\clhdaud.sys
posted by joshrholloway at 11:59 AM on July 22

I have the same driver version, 1.0.0.13. The OSX disc is 10.5.7 with bootcamp 2.1. I wonder what could be different? You don't notice diminished volume in Windows mode? Which Service Pack do you have installed? Do you know the audio hardware? Mine is the Cirrus Logic 4206A.
posted by strangememes at 12:47 PM on July 22

I don't see anything specifying an audio hardware model. My Windows installation is still SP2, I haven't updated it yet. I guess maybe the volume on the Windows side is not quite as loud as on the OS X side, but it's really not a very noticeable difference, and it's certainly not "so low its close to non-existent" as you describe. The only thing I can think of is the XP disc I used to install Boot Camp had a bunch of extra drivers slipstreamed into the installation. But considering we both have the same driver version actually installed, I doubt that has anything to do with it.
posted by joshrholloway at 12:56 PM on July 22