x220 SmartAudio AppCrash / Choppy Recording Sound

[torsp32]

Hi All,
I got an x220 Tablet in June 2011 and sometime in August or September (probably after driver updates) I started getting this lovely message when the Conexant SmartAudio sound management program tried to launch: "Failed to initialize SmartAudio, The application will now exit." I ignored it for a while but now I notice that recording sound is choppy and I can't control any enhancements or the equalizer (because the control program crashes). Searched google for about 5 hours last night, nothing useful. Tried 2 different driver versions (8.32.23.0, 8.32.23.2), nothing. The newer drivrers also cause windows to register an AppCrash with Dr. Watson and the works, but the older ones just popup the error message and exit. From reading the SmartAudio Error log, it looks like it can't enumerate the AudioEndpoint Device, but I have no idea why. I also tried reinstalling the .net Framework (3.51 and 4) and all the VC++ Runtimes (2005,2008,2010).

I've seen a few other people with this error, but nobody had any working solutions.

So... If anybody has any idea how to fix this other than reinstalling windows, I'd love to hear it!

Here's some system information about my config:
Win7 x64 sp1, x220 tablet, 6205 wifi, Conexant 20672 SmartAudio HD, Dual Mic

Below are the SmartAudio Error Log and the AppCrash Report:

Here's the SmartAudio Error Log (found here: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Conexant\SmartAudio\SALog.xml

<LogEntry Time="20111112 13:24:08" Location="Failed to start the Volume Meter" Severity="WARNING" Message="Object reference not set to an instance of an object." Source="SmartAudio"> at SmartAudio.MainWindow.StartVolumeLevel()</LogEntry>
<LogEntry Time="20111112 13:24:09" Location="MainAudioControlPage::InitializePage() - _volumeLevelMeter is disabled" Severity="INFORMATION" Message="MainAudioControlPage::InitializePage() - _volumeLevelMeter is disabled" Source="">
</LogEntry>
<LogEntry Time="20111112 13:24:09" Location="MainAudioControlPage::InitializePage()" Severity="FATALERROR" Message="Attempted to read or write protected memory. This is often an indication that other memory is corrupt." Source="Interop.CxHDAudioAPILib"> at CxHDAudioAPILib.CxHDAudioFactoryClass.get_EndPointEnumerator(Boolean AddNotification)
at SmartAudio.MainAudioControlPage.InitializePage(CxHDAudioFactory audioFactory)</LogEntry>
<LogEntry Time="20111112 13:24:09" Location="Failed to initialize page 'Main Audio Controls Page" Severity="FATALERROR" Message="Attempted to read or write protected memory. This is often an indication that other memory is corrupt." Source="Interop.CxHDAudioAPILib"> at SmartAudio.MainAudioControlPage.InitializePage(CxHDAudioFactory audioFactory)
at SmartAudio.MainAudioControlPage.set_AudioFactory(CxHDAudioFactory value)
at SmartAudio.MainWindow.CreateTabPages()</LogEntry>
</SmartAudioLog>

Here's the AppCrash report:
Version=1
EventType=CLR20r3
EventTime=129655274438419024
ReportType=2
Consent=1
ReportIdentifier=3dd28bd0-0cbc-11e1-b9b9-ec55f9f9ca8d
WOW64=1
Response.type=4
Sig[0].Name=Problem Signature 01
Sig[0].Value=smartaudio.exe
Sig[1].Name=Problem Signature 02
Sig[1].Value=6.0.93.2
Sig[2].Name=Problem Signature 03
Sig[2].Value=4e8ba4a5
Sig[3].Name=Problem Signature 04
Sig[3].Value=WindowsBase
Sig[4].Name=Problem Signature 05
Sig[4].Value=3.0.0.0
Sig[5].Name=Problem Signature 06
Sig[5].Value=4ca2e281
Sig[6].Name=Problem Signature 07
Sig[6].Value=e4
Sig[7].Name=Problem Signature 08
Sig[7].Value=1b
Sig[8].Name=Problem Signature 09
Sig[8].Value=FatalError
DynamicSig[1].Name=OS Version
DynamicSig[1].Value=6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
DynamicSig[2].Name=Locale ID
DynamicSig[2].Value=1033
UI[2]=C:\Program Files\Conexant\SAII\SmartAudio.exe
UI[3]=SmartAudio has stopped working
UI[4]=Windows can check online for a solution to the problem.
UI[5]=Check online for a solution and close the program
UI[6]=Check online for a solution later and close the program
UI[7]=Close the program
LoadedModule[0]=C:\Program Files\Conexant\SAII\SmartAudio.exe
LoadedModule[1]=C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ntdll.dll
LoadedModule[2]=C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\MSCOREE.DLL
LoadedModule[3]=C:\Windows\syswow64\KERNEL32.dll
LoadedModule[4]=C:\Windows\syswow64\KERNELBASE.dll
LoadedModule[5]=C:\Windows\syswow64\ADVAPI32.dll
LoadedModule[6]=C:\Windows\syswow64\msvcrt.dll
LoadedModule[7]=C:\Windows\SysWOW64\sechost.dll
LoadedModule[8]=C:\Windows\syswow64\RPCRT4.dll
LoadedModule[9]=C:\Windows\syswow64\SspiCli.dll
LoadedModule[10]=C:\Windows\syswow64\CRYPTBASE.dll
LoadedModule[11]=C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\mscoreei.dll
LoadedModule[12]=C:\Windows\syswow64\SHLWAPI.dll
LoadedModule[13]=C:\Windows\syswow64\GDI32.dll
LoadedModule[14]=C:\Windows\syswow64\USER32.dll
LoadedModule[15]=C:\Windows\syswow64\LPK.dll
LoadedModule[16]=C:\Windows\syswow64\USP10.dll
LoadedModule[17]=C:\Windows\system32\IMM32.DLL
LoadedModule[18]=C:\Windows\syswow64\MSCTF.dll
LoadedModule[19]=C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\mscorwks.dll
LoadedModule[20]=C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.vc80.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_8.0.50727.4940_none_d08cc06a442b34fc\MSVCR80.dll
LoadedModule[21]=C:\Windows\syswow64\shell32.dll
LoadedModule[22]=C:\Windows\syswow64\ole32.dll
LoadedModule[23]=C:\Windows\system32\profapi.dll
LoadedModule[24]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\mscorlib\62a0b3e4b40ec0e8c5cfaa0c8848e64a\mscorlib.ni.dll
LoadedModule[25]=C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\microsoft shared\ink\tiptsf.dll
LoadedModule[26]=C:\Windows\syswow64\OLEAUT32.dll
LoadedModule[27]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\System\9e0a3b9b9f457233a335d7fba8f95419\System.ni.dll
LoadedModule[28]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\SmartAudio\76457b7c00d3a687f3fd11b57c242eb1\SmartAudio.ni.exe
LoadedModule[29]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\Interop.CxHDAudioAP#\9b7a126f8cc7115e2844980778e952c2\Interop.CxHDAudioAPILib.ni.dll
LoadedModule[30]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\Microsoft.VisualBas#\08d608378aa405adc844f3cf36974b8c\Microsoft.VisualBasic.ni.dll
LoadedModule[31]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\WindowsBase\cf293040f3a93afa1ea782487acae816\WindowsBase.ni.dll
LoadedModule[32]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\PresentationCore\2ad23de8284d4594aa658dfb5e667d97\PresentationCore.ni.dll
LoadedModule[33]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\PresentationFramewo#\bfaf8f86e69928fb2f67987c0203f603\PresentationFramework.ni.dll
LoadedModule[34]=C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.0\WPF\wpfgfx_v0300.dll
LoadedModule[35]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\System.Drawing\dbfe8642a8ed7b2b103ad28e0c96418a\System.Drawing.ni.dll
LoadedModule[36]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\System.Windows.Forms\3afcd5168c7a6cb02eab99d7fd71e102\System.Windows.Forms.ni.dll
LoadedModule[37]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\System.Runtime.Remo#\5cae93d923c8378370758489e5535820\System.Runtime.Remoting.ni.dll
LoadedModule[38]=C:\Windows\syswow64\ws2_32.dll
LoadedModule[39]=C:\Windows\syswow64\NSI.dll
LoadedModule[40]=C:\Windows\system32\mswsock.dll
LoadedModule[41]=C:\Windows\System32\wshtcpip.dll
LoadedModule[42]=C:\Windows\System32\wship6.dll
LoadedModule[43]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\System.Configuration\bc09ad2d49d8535371845cd7532f9271\System.Configuration.ni.dll
LoadedModule[44]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\System.Xml\461d3b6b3f43e6fbe6c897d5936e17e4\System.Xml.ni.dll
LoadedModule[45]=C:\Windows\system32\CRYPTSP.dll
LoadedModule[46]=C:\Windows\system32\rsaenh.dll
LoadedModule[47]=C:\Windows\system32\RpcRtRemote.dll
LoadedModule[48]=C:\Windows\system32\shfolder.dll
LoadedModule[49]=C:\Windows\system32\apphelp.dll
LoadedModule[50]=C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\mscorjit.dll
LoadedModule[51]=C:\Program Files\Conexant\SAII\en-US\SmartAudio.resources.dll
LoadedModule[52]=C:\Windows\syswow64\CLBCatQ.DLL
LoadedModule[53]=C:\Program Files\Conexant\SAII\CxHDAudioAPI.dll
LoadedModule[54]=C:\Windows\system32\WINMM.dll
LoadedModule[55]=C:\Windows\syswow64\SETUPAPI.dll
LoadedModule[56]=C:\Windows\syswow64\CFGMGR32.dll
LoadedModule[57]=C:\Windows\syswow64\DEVOBJ.dll
LoadedModule[58]=C:\Windows\system32\WTSAPI32.dll
LoadedModule[59]=C:\Windows\system32\DSOUND.dll
LoadedModule[60]=C:\Windows\system32\POWRPROF.dll
LoadedModule[61]=C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\Bluetooth Software\SysWOW64\BtMmHook.dll
LoadedModule[62]=C:\Windows\syswow64\PSAPI.DLL
LoadedModule[63]=C:\Windows\syswow64\WINTRUST.dll
LoadedModule[64]=C:\Windows\syswow64\CRYPT32.dll
LoadedModule[65]=C:\Windows\syswow64\MSASN1.dll
LoadedModule[66]=C:\Program Files\Conexant\SAII\CXHDMI.DLL
LoadedModule[67]=C:\Program Files\Conexant\SAII\SmartAudio.DisplayPort.dll
LoadedModule[68]=C:\Program Files\Conexant\SAII\SmartAudio.ForteMedia.dll
LoadedModule[69]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\WindowsFormsIntegra#\30b1d86571495ea86b9a19b13498aad3\WindowsFormsIntegration.ni.dll
LoadedModule[70]=C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\diasymreader.dll
LoadedModule[71]=C:\Windows\system32\version.dll
LoadedModule[72]=C:\Windows\system32\DWMAPI.dll
LoadedModule[73]=C:\Windows\system32\WindowsCodecs.dll
LoadedModule[74]=C:\Windows\system32\windowscodecsext.dll
LoadedModule[75]=C:\Windows\System32\msxml6.dll
LoadedModule[76]=C:\Windows\syswow64\urlmon.dll
LoadedModule[77]=C:\Windows\syswow64\iertutil.dll
LoadedModule[78]=C:\Windows\syswow64\WININET.dll
LoadedModule[79]=C:\Windows\syswow64\Normaliz.dll
LoadedModule[80]=C:\Windows\system32\uxtheme.dll
LoadedModule[81]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\PresentationFramewo#\2897c35bf2bc4ef171004bfc2909aaf3\PresentationFramework.Classic.ni.dll
LoadedModule[82]=C:\Windows\system32\WINSTA.dll
LoadedModule[83]=C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.0\WPF\PenIMC.dll
LoadedModule[84]=C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Ink\tpcps.dll
LoadedModule[85]=C:\Windows\system32\PresentationNative_v0300.dll
LoadedModule[86]=C:\Windows\system32\mscms.dll
LoadedModule[87]=C:\Windows\system32\USERENV.dll
LoadedModule[88]=C:\Windows\system32\icm32.dll
LoadedModule[89]=C:\Windows\System32\MMDevApi.dll
LoadedModule[90]=C:\Windows\System32\PROPSYS.dll
LoadedModule[91]=C:\Windows\system32\AUDIOSES.DLL
LoadedModule[92]=C:\Windows\system32\SXS.DLL
LoadedModule[93]=C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\CustomMarshalers\bf7e7494e75e32979c7824a07570a8a9\CustomMarshalers.ni.dll
LoadedModule[94]=C:\Windows\assembly\GAC_32\CustomMarshalers\2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a\CustomMarshalers.dll
FriendlyEventName=Stopped working
ConsentKey=CLR20r3
AppName=SmartAudio
AppPath=C:\Program Files\CONEXANT\SAII\SmartAudio.exe
ReportDescription=Stopped working

[erik]

uninstall the driver and use the WHQL sound driver provided through windows update.

you don't need smartaudio for your speakers to work correctly or to have control over them.

[torsp32]

Thank you for the reply Erik.

You're right, I could do that and have sound, but I have concerns that the beamforming for the mic wouldn't work properly, and the spatial stereo (3d effects) and VOIP configurations would likely also not work.

Since I posted, I saw tons of threads on the Lenovo forum about these problems and some interesting solutions. At the moment I have control by using a much older Gui from some older drivers, and have the driver files loaded from a more current release.

Smart Audio still crashes when I adjust the volume, but at least I can specify what spacial and beamforming mode to use. I do however believe that working audio drivers (full functionality) ought to be achievable for Lenovo and Cmedia, but I have the feeling it will take a lot more complaints before we see a resolution.

The most interesting thing I saw about this issue was from a .Net developer. He debugged the driver package and traced the problem back to the repackaging of the Cmedia drivers by Lenovo.

Has anyone had any luck obtaining the drivers from Cmedia directly? I used to get ATI drivers directly from ATI to avoid the Dell repackaging. Although I had to mod the inf files slightly, they ALWAYS worked better and were more feature rich than what Dell felt like providing.

[zevekar]

Solution:

CPanel->Programs&Feachues on or off->Enable Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1

DO NOT INSTALL IT FROM MS SITE - DO IT FROM CPANNEL!

No reboot is needed!

Enjoy!

P.S. I'm always fill scared when words Microsoft & Feature goes together in one sentience!!!

z