SB Xfi Extreme Music Soundcard - Big Problems

[Chip Fossa]

Just got around to installing this new soundcard this snowy day.

Not too happy.

NO SOUND at all. No matter if it's a .wav, .mp3 file, CD, YouTube - nothing.

As I type right now, I am waiting on the phone for Creative tech support.

When I tried to play a hard drive file a flag popped up and said: "Unable to open the necessary device(s) for playback. It may be in use or unavailable".

Some sound did come out during installation, but after installation was over, NOTHING.

I just hung up the phone. This just jerks me off.

I don't know if this matters, but I've had to reformat, and I'm slowly bringing things back. I'll start another thread on this fiasco, but it all had to do with not being able to remove parts of the old
Creative Media Source.

Any ideas, fellas?

Chipper

[Wiz Feinberg]

Since you have already gone through the format process, and presumably have re-activated Windows, be sure to set Restore Points after each successful installation of any hardware or software. You should allow the maximum System Restore disk space setting, until things have settled down, after which you can reduce it to half the amount of space.

Did you search Creative.com to see if they have a cleanup utility for uninstalling Media Source applications? If not, reinstall the old card, then boot up and reinstall the drivers, applications and Media Source application completely, using the same installation files as were used originally, then reboot, then uninstall all of it and shut down. Remove the sound card and reboot. Open the Windows Registry (Start > Run > Regedit) and search for anything named "Creative" that was left behind and delete those branches and keys. Then, look in Program Files for any Creative folders that were left behind and delete those.

It can be a headache to cleanup after a partial uninstall of a badly behaved program or drivers. Sometimes a Registry Cleanup tool comes in handy at these times. jv16 PowerTools, from Macecraft.com, is among the best, with their RegSupreme Pro having good reviews by Fred Langa and others. These are paid programs, but they do have 30 day trial periods, with pretty much full functionality.

Here is what they say about RegSupreme Pro, which you may find useful:

Remove hidden traces of software you thought you uninstalled ages ago.

[Jack Stoner]

On motherboards with the Intel chipset, you MUST install the Intel chipset drivers BEFORE installing device drivers such as the sound. The chipset drivers define what is on the motherboard and the PCI drivers. AMD also has a similar chipset driver.

On a reinstall on motherboards that require chipset drivers the sequence is (1) install the Operating system (e.g. Windows XP), (2) install chipset drivers (3) install device drivers (such as the sound).

As far as the Xfi sound cards, there are a lot of posts on the Dell forum of users with problems (more so with Vista than XP tho). The older Audigy series seems to be much more stable and reliable. I'm using an Audigy 2 Platinum Ex (has the external I/O console) in my Vista system and it works like it's supposed to.

[Chip Fossa]

Thanks Wiz & Jack.

That was my initial problem with AudigyII. The install CD got damaged and would not work. Missing files problems made it so 3 Media Source components in add/remove could not be removed.

So I tried to go back to a restore point and the restoration bar was moving along fine until just about finished when it froze up. What to do? I shut the PC down manually. But when it booted back up, I found myself going round and round in an endless loop. The Emachines big 'E' screen, then a black page with 4 or 5 different ways to re-start, then the Windows XP screen, back to emachines, back to the black page and on and on.

So I can put back the old card, but the CD is gone.

I heard back already from an email to Creative and they suggested a few things.

In Sounds & Audio Devices under volume it says "no audio device". X-fi only shows up in 'MIDI music playback'. In Device Manager Creative components are the only things listed.

Chip

[Jack Stoner]

Did you try downloading the drivers and accessories from SoundBlaster for the Audigy card? I've even added some extras to my Audigy sound card through the SoundBlaster downloads.

In ref to the Xfi card, have you tried reinstalling the drivers and accessories from the install CD? If not, that would be the first thing I would try.

Is everything else in the PC working OK after the reinstall? Did you install or check on whether you need the chipset drivers?

[Chip Fossa]

Hi Jack,

I don't know anything about chipset drivers or where to find them.

Can I re-load X-fi drivers right on top of the existing install? Or should I do an uninstall first?
Where do you find just the drivers?

Diagnostics MFC Application does not work in X-fi. I get that flag saying: "MFC has encountered a problem and needs to close"...

Thanks - Chipper

[Jack Stoner]

I can't say "where" the chipset drivers are, if you have them, but one of the utilites or drivers CD that came with the PC would have them, again if that is applicable to your PC. Also check the downloads for your specific PC at the Vendor's support site to see if there are any chipset (or motherboard) drivers.

I'd try reinstalling over top of the existing install of the Xfi software first. If thst doesn't work then uninstll all the Xfi software, restart Windows and then do a new install.

One other thought, if you reloaded the PC and have Windows XP, make sure you have Windows XP, SP2 (Service Pack 2) installed FIRST before loading the Xfi drivers again. There were a lot of changes to XP with SP2 and a lot of the new drivers are written for SP2 and the Xfi line came out after SP2 was issued. That MAY be why you are getting the MFC error.

[Chip Fossa]

AH...

I am missing SP2. I have gone out to MS's Update page and it shows a place to download sp2, but it takes you round and round, too. No real download as far as I can tell. I went out to CNET. Same thing. Plenty of updates for sp2, tho.

My dumb emachines came with it's own install CD. There are only 2 options. Either restore (what they really mean is reformat) or choose to pick things out from the CD with like an A:\> prompt. I don't have a clue how this works. I did remember one time on another PC typing in FDISK. I tried fdisk, but, got nowhere.

Where can I actually download the sp2?

What a nightmare. Somebody shoot me; please.

Thanks, Jack

[John Roche]

Try this..the bottom one will start a download for sp2..http://www.update.microsoft.com/windows ... ankspage=5

http://www.soft32.com/Download/Free/Win ... 992-1.html

[Chip Fossa]

Thanks John,

That was a big help. I'll install it now, and see what goes.

Chip

[Wiz Feinberg]

Chip;
After you install SP 2 be sure to run Windows Updates - multiple times - until you have all current security patches installed. This will require several reboots.

It would be a good idea to download the latest drivers for your motherboard's chipsets and onboard devices, then burn them to a CD. When Windows starts asking for the source just insert the CD and point the installer to the various directories, or sub-directories, where the installers will be located. Note, that some installers are actually setup files, which you must run manually to extract and install the necessary driver files. Windows cannot install this type of driver automatically, without your help.

[Chip Fossa]

Wiz,

Where would I find these chipset drivers and motherboard and other device drivers? I'M LOST, really.

Listen to this. While I was looking for the sp2 download on MS Update, they scanned my PC to check on my update situation and found 2 updates. One was critical, so I dwnl/instl it.

Later on, I get a Windows popup warning that 59 updates are ready and necessary to be dwnl/instl.

So I did so; but something is screwy here.

After installing sp2 I reinstalled the entire X-fi CD, and it helped not one bit.

I got some email from Creative support that I haven't checked yet, so I'll sign off for now.
What a drag.

Chip

[Chip Fossa]

Wiz,

Instead of starting a new thread, and I may have to know this, as OWNER when startup is happening, am I automatically the ADMINISTRATOR.
Now - I don't don't have 2 users' accounts as I did before reformatting. I haven't done a thing in this regard.

Chip

[Wiz Feinberg]

Wiz,

Instead of starting a new thread, and I may have to know this, as OWNER when startup is happening, am I automatically the ADMINISTRATOR.
Now - I don't don't have 2 users' accounts as I did before reformatting. I haven't done a thing in this regard.

Chip

I'm here for you Chip!

When you reformat and install Windows XP afresh, the new account will always have full administrator privileges. You can create a Limited Account from the get-go and start using it after you have finished running Windows Updates and installing drivers and security programs. I advise using the administrator account for doing things that are difficult, or impossible for a Limited account to do. I urge you to only browse the Internet and read email from a Limited privileges account, for your own safety.

If you haven't read my latest article about 10 ways to secure your Windows computer, read it as soon as you have stabilized then new XP setup.

Are you having difficulty locating the drivers for your motherboard and onboard devices? If so, post the model of your computer and any revision details and I will try to find a page on the official web site where you can download the necessary files.

[Chip Fossa]

OK Wiz,

These figures are right from the front of the tower:
emachines T2984
Intel Celeron D Processor 340
2.93 GHz
256K L2 Cache
533 MHz FSB
80 GB HDD
1000+ MB RAM (actually 512MB; but I added another 512MB card)

I just got an email from a friend who sent me a video
(& I assume, audio with it). The light blue right- pointing SB arrow was the icon on the email.
So I clicked on it, not expecting anything; but the video played. The audio failed.

So part of SB is working, I guess?

Thanks again, Mr Wizard...

cf

[Jon Moen]

Chip,
I was looking at some specs for the emachines T2984.
It mentions an integrated sound card in all the info I saw. Maybe yours didn't have an integrated sound card, but if it does, did you disable the onboard sound card in BIOS when you installed the new card? This was never mentioned in this thread.

Jon

[Wiz Feinberg]

Chip,
I was looking at some specs for the emachines T2984.
It mentions an integrated sound card in all the info I saw. Maybe yours didn't have an integrated sound card, but if it does, did you disable the onboard sound card in BIOS when you installed the new card? This was never mentioned in this thread.

Jon

Therein probably lies his problem! Chip! Reboot and tap on whatever key will open your BIOS screens (DEL, F1, F2, F10, etc). This is usually printed out during the initial boot screen, along the bottom somewhere.

Once in the BIOS, find the screen that mentions Onboard Devices. Use the arrow keys to move up or down the list of devices and highlight the audio chipset device. It may be called "onboard audio," or "AC97," or a similar name. Disable the onboard sound device, using the key legend on the bottom or side to change the options. Sometimes just pressing Enter will open the options for a device, then the arrow keys can be used select a new option, and Enter will make it so. Find the key to save the changes (often F10), exit the BIOS and restart. Your sound may start functioning when you enter Windows. If not, we will pursue other solutions (eg: speaker plug in wrong jack on soundcard).

[Chip Fossa]

Just getting up and checking the forum, and I'm very familiar with the BIOS. Forgot about that.

Gotta go to work, but will check on this later.

Thanks again Wiz, and you also, John M.

Chip

[CrowBear Schmitt]

i got one of these X-Fi Xtreme audio cards from SB too.
the problem i have w: it is that there's a delay between the moment i pick & the moment it comes outta of the speaker
matter of fact the sound only comes out if i check the "record" box on the mixer, otherwise, no sound comes outta the speakers
i've looked all over the mixer & the rest of the effects & options it has in order to get rid of this delay & get a straight sound
the input i use for my rig ( yamaha mixing console w: my steel, guitbox, rythm box, etc) is the right one
(stereo mini jack)
otherwise when i play cds & dvds from the PC, the sound card works fine
any help would be appreciated

[Wiz Feinberg]

CrowBear Schmitt;
This is a different problem than Chip is having and deserves to have it's own thread started.

[Chip Fossa]

Well I got my work finished around 1:00PM and I'm back at the PC and I just went thru my BIOS.

I think we all went thru this "wierd" BIOS of mine in the past. I say it's wierd because it doesn't tell or show you much.

There are 6 sections in BIOS SETUP UTILITY:
[/b]Main; Advanced; Security; Power; Boot; Exit

In Advanced I found: IDE Controller HDD Pre-Delay - Disabled.
In Peripheral Configuration was AUDIO and it, unfortunately, was disabled; this was the only thing I could find in BIOS dealing with audio. There's not much info in this particular BIOS.

Sorry for the BOLD screwup. I didn't intend for it to come out the way it did, but too much effort & time to go back and edit.

Thanks Wiz...we're getting there.

Chip

[Chip Fossa]

Just went thru an hour or so of some Creative support recommendations. It had to do with a clean boot procedure.

They weren't clear in one part. Whether to put the card back in before installing the software or after. I went by their initial instructions and put in the card. The friggin' screen froze up in the "WELCOME" mode. So somehow (NOT SURE) I turned off the PC and pulled the card,rebooted. then I puit in the software, shut the PC down, stuck in the card, rebooted, and got this: CT SPK WZD The audio device supported by this application is not detected. The application will exit.

I can't continue on. Somebody help me! Should I get my money back and start over? Cuz this is just nuts. With all due respect, nobody can figure this out.
Just amazing. I've had it. What a joke.

[Chip Fossa]

Or should I demand that some local SoundBlaster rep come out and figure out what's going on? (If there is such a person (doubt it).)

What about takingn the PC to some local "tech". They may know what to do with Windows, OK, but I've found in the past when it comes to 3rd party software, they're clueless.

I'm really at a deadend here. This just bugs me to no end. I payed hard earned money for this piece of junk - $120+.

I really hate PCs. Now more than ever. You spend half your damn time keepin' the friggin' things running right. The fun is gone. They are nuisances.

Never mind getting rid of the soundcard; I'm about ready to get rid of the whole shootin' match.

FOSSA

[Jon Moen]

In Peripheral Configuration was AUDIO and it, unfortunately, was disabled; this was the only thing I could find in BIOS dealing with audio. There's not much info in this particular BIOS.

I have only a little experience with this but, maybe you could toggle through the options for Audio in BIOS. There perhaps is Audio(a) which could be the AC97 integral card. Which you would want to disable. Perhaps you should enable Audio(b) which may be the option for a different soundcard. As long as you remember the settings you can always restore. Could you advise what BIOS system you have?

I have learned pretty much everything I know on my own. I had a few problems when I got my 1st computer and I paid someone by the hour to learn what was wrong with it. I realized that they didn't know and were learning on my dime. I knew I could do the same for free.

If your onboard sound is disabled in BIOS, then have a look at the Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices. Choose the hardware TAB and click on the new soundcard, which hopefully is listed. Click it once and choose properties. Choose the properties tab, expand the Audio devices, choose your new soundcard, click properties, and make sure that "Use audio features on this device" is checked.

If none of the above works, go to the system box by holding the window key and hitting the pause key, push the Device Manager button, scroll down to Sound, video and game controllers. Expand that and look for yellow warnings on the left hand side of the window. You can enable and disable things there to test.

[Wiz Feinberg]

Chip;
Cut your losses and remove and uninstall that sound card and try to enable the on-board chip. Before installing any new hardware you may have to uninstall all remnants of the failed SoundBlaster card, most importantly, the drivers. Then run a Registry cleaner to detect orphaned entries and manually look over the results for anything having Creative, or SoundBlaster in the name, or path and delete those entries.

The on-board sound can be turned on in the BIOS, but must have the drivers and mixer applications loaded from the CD that shipped with the computer, if any did. If you don't know if the drivers are loaded, enable the on-board sound, plug in the speakers to the green mini jack, turn on the power to the speakers and reboot. If the drivers are installed you'll hear The Microsoft Sound, as Windows loads.

If there is no sound follow this procedure to troubleshoot it:

1: Check the connections to the speakers
2: Ensure that the speakers are powered on
3: Click on the volume icon and make sure it is not off, or muted
4: Open Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices (or whatever it is labeled in your Control Panel Icons)
5: There will be at least 5 tabs on the Sounds and Audio Devices properties box. Go through them all and make sure that nothing is muting the sound.
6: Go to the "Sounds" tab and make sure that you have actually selected sound events or a theme and test the assigned sounds, using the little arrow between the Sounds select field and the Browse button, near the bottom. If you change any settings hit Apply.
7: Go to the "Audio" tab and see if the on-board sound chip is shown in the "Default devices" fields. Mine says Realtek AC97 for playback and recording.
8: On the same tab, click on the Sound Recording Volume button and make sure that you select at least one checkbox, if not all, as sources, and bring the volume sliders up between a third and halfway. Do the same for the Playback Volume.
9: Go to the Hardware tab and double click on the Device that represents your sound cip (eg: Realtek AC97), which opens the device properties. See if the device has been enabled or disabled and if the drivers have been loaded for it (use the "Driver" tab and Driver Details button). If there is a problem try using the Troubleshoot button for help.
10: If the drivers are not loaded search for them on your hard drive, or any driver disks that shipped with the computer. If you lack the audio driver and utility files visit the manufacturer's support pages and download the correct version for your computer make and model and OS.

I hope this helps.