Windows 7 - X-FI drivers possibly causing explorer.exe crash?

I can open control panel fine at any time and windows 7 will never crash using on board sound, but when I install the newest x-fi drivers from creative, explorer.exe will crash whenever control panel is opened.

i'm not sure if this is the correct sub forum, but i hope that my problem can be resolved as i need to be able to use my x-fi sound card and on board sound just doesn't cut it.

read about another user being suspicious of the same issues, after removal of the driver system was stable and sound card still worked may want to try that until we can get more information on this issue.

link?

and anyone else?
the sound card doesn't work without drivers...

Welcome to seven forums Viralmind. You have disabled onboard sound in the bios yes? Then installed the drivers for yourXFI card. Which driver are we talking about? Fabe

thank you, im glad i found this place!

i have tried with on board sound disabled from bios and enabled. there is no difference. control panel works with winxp both ways. here is the error log i got from the control panel when i turned off the "automatic solution" from windows.

by the way the driver is SBXF_PCDRV_LB_2_18_0013
that is creative's newest x-fi sound card driver for windows 7.

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: explorer.exe
Application Version: 6.1.7600.16404
Application Timestamp: 4a765076
Fault Module Name: CTMLFX32.dll
Fault Module Version: 1.0.4.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 483f9682
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 000094c5
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: a7aa
Additional Information 2: a7aa91f17ea749d42a4de3b390fa5b3d
Additional Information 3: a7aa
Additional Information 4: a7aa91f17ea749d42a4de3b390fa5b3d

anyone? please?

Try disabling the CTMLFX32.dll running process in task manager and see if anything changes. Usually when you can't open the control panel it's because of a conflicting sound driver file. Check in task manager for any running processes related to X-fi.

There may be two running processes related to X-fi, disable them one at a time in msconfig and restart. Check to see if the Control Panel will open each time.

First off, this issue would be better served in the Sound & Audio Section. With that said, have a look at this thread here as I believe is discusses what drivers to use with what card, and also some compatibility issues (?) Creative Sound Cards.

Good luck.

yes, i had an idea it was that .dll causing a conflict. i will try disabling it.

ok...i tried it.
it is not in the task manager anywhere.
neither processes or services.

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

i'll read it. thank you.