How to Download and enable x64 Conexant ac97 audio for XP and Vista

CONTENT FOR VISTA X64 DRIVER UPDATED 12/15/07 For anyone with a Conexant Sound card who has installed XP Professional x64, (or Server 2003 x64,Vista x64) It doesn't take long to realize that your audio no longer functions under 64-bit windows(x64). Conexant in their great wisdom, decided not to supply a 64-bit audio driver, and most OEM's dont support XP professional x64 either. But if you are lucky enough to have an ATI chipset then chances are you can install a work around driver that will enable sound for XP x64. Vista x64 drivers are available from HP, and do not require a work around (see step 6)

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Determine whether you are running ATI chipset and have the Conexant ac97 sound card installed.
   
   Download Driver here:
   http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=648316&action=summary
2. This package installs the ATI Chipset/ Southbridge Driver/sm bus controller/Digital Audio Driver for x64 Conexant ac97 sound card in xp professional x64 and server 2003
3. The driver is not signed.(Hence It will fail to load on a 64-bit Vista
   platform)
   
   .
   
   Allow the Installation when Windows notifies of the unsigned driver status
4. Restart.
5. * This driver is "sound on suspend" which means you will have to put your system to sleep, and when you resume from suspend it will activate the audio card.
6. UPDATED 12/15/07
   
   Conexant ac97 x64 Vista audio driver version 6.14.10.670 (5 Mar 2007):
   
   http://www.64bitdrivers.com/driver.php?id=1375
   or
   ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp35501-36000
   (download sp35558.exe)