Windows 7 Audio Drivers For Gateway MX7525

Same as with the graphics drivers, I am having problems with the audio driver too. It has AC 97 2.3 Compliant Audio. Complete specs here Gateway Support - MX7525 Notebook Specifications I tried with the drivers from Realtek (Vista/Windows 7 (32/64 bits) Driver only (ZIP file)) Realtek The driver installed to completion, but it didn't work. Still showed a question mark in Device Manager and a red cross in the speaker icon in taskbar.. Followed salaadin19's method from here ZV6000 Audio x64 solved on the above driver. Couldn't figure out the appropriate inf file to edit (it has a zillion inf files), so uninstalled it. Followed his advice from here ZV6000 Audio x64 solved and downloaded the AC 97 driver from HP's website. Installed it as it is. It also installed to completion but showed the same question mark in device manager and a red cross in the speaker icon in taskbar. I then edited the inf according to his advice and now the question mark is gone in device manager and the red cross in speaker icon has disappeared in taskbar. Now comes the funny part. As in a successful driver installation, I can see all the audio devices on double clicking the speaker icon in taskbar. I can play any audio file. The equalizer sort of bars dance up & down in the speaker icon in taskbar as it should be when some audio is output, but I don't hear anything from the speakers. Tried maximizing the volume