X-FI drivers possibly causing explorer.exe crash?  

i'm trying the modded drivers from that link. i will repost with with results.

Couple of threads here,

Problem with Vista and Control Panel - Tech Support Forum

win 7 control panel crahes

Wonder if the persons that removed the Realtek driver are they same person, just with a different name.

also found this one,

Windows Explorer has stopped working CTMLFX32.dll - Creative Labs

that links back to the Technet post, and the final post in it the solution from th Technet thread worked.

thanks. i'll check those, too!

i already did a system restore to before the drivers were installed and control panel works again...but i already knew that.

now firefox wont open in regular mode. only in safe mode...and i even reinstalled it.
but that's not the issue i'm concerned with at the moment.

Viralmind said:

i DID put this in the audio section, but it got redirected here.

That's odd

At any rate good luck on finding a solution.

i checked the link for those other drivers and have not been able to download them, so i have not had a chance to try them.

does anyone know if they are hosted at another location?

You try the Filefront link?

Download XFI_SupportPack_2_0.exe

thank you. it didnt work yesterday, but it is downloading now!

ok, i tried the drivers from that link.
still the control panel crash persists.

hmm guess windows doesnt like creative. guess ill have to get a different brand of card or switch back to xp

Viralmind said:

hmm guess windows doesnt like creative.

More like it doesn't like something in your setup. I have the same Xtreme Music and have never seen the issue you are getting.

Did you try any of the suggestions on the two links I posted?

Also,

now firefox wont open in regular mode. only in safe mode...and i even reinstalled it.
but that's not the issue i'm concerned with at the moment.

Have you fixed that it is it still ongoing? If still ongoing it could suggest that there are other things causing the problem(s).