Windows 7: 5.1 surround sound help

I've recently found out that my sound card application (creative audigy) is not compatable with Windows 7 and have yet to find any creative programs that work with my computer. Is there a way around this to still be able to play music on 5.1 surround sound? Like a generic application to play music in 5.1? Or am i just being dumb?

That should be "x86" not "x84" in your system specs just to let you know for the 32bit.

Which Creative model are you running? If you have one of the Audigy 4 models or any X-Fi series card no problem on the drivers and audio console launcher! I've been through the Creative support site for those enough times. You system specs show SigmaTEl for the sound card.

Sorry mistype lol. Anyway, Right now its a sigmatel high definition audio but it only supports 2.1 when i look into it. The screen shots show what my problem is. i used to use my creative audio center to play in 5.1 surround sound but i cant seem to open it. I've been through Dell and they told me its not compatable with Windows 7 and creative hasnt given me any help either. I tried downloading all the beta drivers for like every audigy but they dont install because they arent compatable.

No problem! I've been doing some of that typo stuff lately! But since that was in your profile info I thought I would let you know about it.

The first problem right off since you are no longer running any Creative card is to remove all Creative software/drivers since the software part is likely the cause due to a clash with that for the SigmaTel card's own. You can't mix the softwares and drivers for two different brands without running into some type of problem.

You'll need to take a trip into the Programs+Features section in the control panel to see those uninstalled there. Also look in the device manager in the sound, video, and game controllers section for any Creative items left over.

Pssst...HT Omega products are the future. I have the Claro plus, it has Windows 7 x64 drivers....it's got the latest cmedia oxygen chip, it sounds FANTASTIC! I never, ever hear a snap, crackle or even a pop. Oh, DTS, no problems!

HT Omega - The Next Generation in Audio.

First of all you XPS M1530 never had a Creative sound card in it, so installing anything from Creative is a waste of time. What it has is the Sigamtel onboard audio, and what you are trying to get to work is the Audigy (or even possibly X-Fi) MB software. What this is is a software package that Dell and a few others bought/licensed from Creative so that the onboard sound can use some of the audigy or X-Fi software, it in no way means that you can install the Creative drivers or any of the software directly.

You have to have the updated MB package from Dell, and no Creative will not help you with this. Until Dell gets an updated version that works with Vista and/or Windows 7, you're stuck with just using the driver that is available from Dell,

Drivers & Downloads

Have a look on the dell forums and I'll bet you'll find quite a few people with the same problems. Time to start nagging on Dell to get it updated.

Going to look funny trying to jam one of those into his laptop.

If i used to use the SB audigy then is there another program i can use to play in 5.1 with the sigmatel audio hd?

Not that I can think off the top of my head. I can pretty much guarantee that there won't be any updates for it coming from Creative, that is unless enough people put enough pressure on Dell to get it updated. You could also get in touch with Dell and see if the version of the X-Fi MB they have is compatible with your card, and if so see about buying it from them (probably around $30.00 from what I have seen). If they do have it and it is compatible then you need to ask them when they plan on having a version that works with Windows 7,

X-Fi MB & Win 7 - DELL COMMUNITY

Have you checked in the Windows playback options (I assume there is zero software support that gets installed with the Sigmatel drivers), and see if there is an option for speaker fill (if there is it will be under the Enhancements tab, if the tab is even there)? Also make sure that you have it set to 5.1 in the Windows settings.

Another thing you can try after checking the above settings is if you don't have it, get Winamp (free version will do),

Winamp Media Player - MP3, Multimedia, and Music Player

and use this plugin,

VL Sound for Vista v1.0.0.5 - Customize Winamp Media Player

It works very well at playing stereo sources (all mp3's) in 5.1.

Ya but can you replace a laptops sound card?

Depends on what slot(s) it has, can be PCMCIA (if you can still find them, if that is what your laptop takes) or ExpressCard. This one is an ExpressCard,

Newegg.com - Creative 70SB095000004 24-bit 48KHz ExpressCard Sound Blaster X-Fi Notebook - Sound Cards

Another option would be a USB sound card something like this,

Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 SB1090 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz USB Interface Sound Card - Sound Cards