Windows 7: Sound too low

I had XP installed a week ago, and now I installed 64 bit Windows 7 Ultimate. I installed the drivers for my sound card, otherwise my sound wouldn't work. Well, now my sound isn't that loud. I adjusted the volume to the maximum on the taskbar. What should I do to make the volume louder. When I used to turn my speakers all the way up, it used to be so loud that the whole apartment would vibrate. But now, if I turn the speakers all the way up, it really isn't that loud. What can I do? And if there's any other information you need, what is it?

Dell DOES NOT support Vista or Windows 7 for this model - just XP and DOS. You are in "uncharted territory" and basically on your own to try and find something that will work. In most cases the Retail SoundBlaster Audigy 2ZS drivers will work on the custom Dell model card. Most of the SoundBlaster's need Windows 7 specific drivers even though Windows 7 is basically Vista "improved". Check www.creative.com for a Win 7 driver for the this card.

If you can't find workable drivers for the SoundBlaster you will probably have to install a new Win 7 compatible PCI sound card. However, whatever you install, you will most likely lose the front panel headphone and mic connections as the connector on the Dell version is proprietary.

I do a lot of hardware support on the Dell forum and don't recall anyone posting about attempting to install Win 7 on this model.

Windows 7 has built in Neighbor Noise Control software (NNC) So that you can't turn your speakers up that lound unless you live in a detached house.

Actually Windows 7 ( like vista) has seperate volume controls for all sound devices in addition to a master control. Open the full volume mixer and make sure that your main audio device is maxxed out as well as your master volume and see if that makes any difference.

haha. I actually checked that already, but thanks. Everything is maxed out.

I do have the Windows 7 driver installed for this sound card though. Here is the link to the driver so that you can see what I have installed.
http://support.creative.com/Products...T=CategoryID:1

Before you try any different drivers, with the PC powered off, reseat the SoundBlaster sound card and see if that makes any difference. If no, uninstall the Audigy 2ZS in the Device Manager - RIGHT click on the entry for the Audigy 2ZS and then LEFT click on "uninstall". DO NOT check the box to uninstall the drivers. Then restart the PC and when Windows starts the sound card will be detected and reinstalled.

If neither of these help, there is a Beta driver listed on the linked downloads. Try that and see what happens. I know that Beta driver has been used by some with other model Dell SoundBlaster cards and that seems to work in Win 7.

Vista and Win 7 handle the audio functions differently and the reason the XP drivers will not work.