ac97 "soundman.exe" setupapi.dll error

[toolmystr31]

error message appears on screen on start up that soundman.exe could not locate setupapi.dll. what should i do?

 

[bcastner]

This is a classic case of Windows system file corruption. The pressures on impressionable young system files are very intense, you see. When they start, they are all idealistic and honest, determined to do their part, in awe of the senior figures such as kernel.exe and commdlg.dll. But then after a few short months they realise that the life of a junior dll is actually very hard and the temptation to take back-handers from badly-written applications can be overwhelming. We can understand their plight, we can even sympathise with the circumstances that drive them to stray but we must never show mercy for their actions. For mercy is weakness. So it is with heavy heart that I must name the guilty parties as Setupapi.dll and soundman.exe All good files once, playing a vital role in the smooth running of the operating system. Now they are worse than dead wood, they are a cancer and must be excised. Delete them and extract more dependable replacements for setupapi.dll from the Windows CD. Consult Microsoft Knowledgebase article 129605 for instruction if you must but shed not a tear for the old files for they have broken the solemn oaths they each swore when they were installed.
Comment by Luis Villazon

Soundman.exe is part of the Realtek Ac97 sound driver. Go to the Realtek site and update your drivers.