Windows 7: CT audio service

jebuchanan · 17 Jul 2010

I am having issues with the CT Audio Service. It won't start/keeps crashing at bootup.
This was discovered when taking a look at my Reliability History, and is keeping my score down.
Even a manual start fails. The three services required to run this service are all running properly.

Any help would be appreciated.

fireberd · 18 Jul 2010

A google search for "CT Audio Service" does not turn up any hits. Can you give us more info on this? Some "CT" applications can refer to "Creative Technology" (SoundBlaster) but you don't list SoundBlaster as the sound device. Did you happen to have a SoundBlaster installed and then remove it?

jebuchanan · 18 Jul 2010

My mobo uses a daughter card based on the Sound Blaster X-FI, giving me their CMSS3D, Crystalizer, and EAX features, along with the basic Mixer, Volume Management, EQ features, and separate headphone volume.
So yes, SB software has been installed.
The sound driver itself is a VIA Audio Driver.

stormy13 · 18 Jul 2010

Open Services and disable the "Creative Audio Service" as it isn't needed for anything. You don't have an actual Creative card, but everything software-wise should still work. I know it does on any Creative card I have used over the years as I have always disabled that service (used to just be a process listed in msconfig till they changed it), and everything has just worked.

mickey megabyte · 18 Jul 2010

i agree with stormy - i have no idea what this creative service does - everything still works without it. disable it and forget it.

the same goes for 'Creative Audio Engine Licensing Service' and 'CTxfiHlp' in msconfig startup tag (if you have them).

stormy13 · 18 Jul 2010

The licensing service one is required if you have/use Dolby Digital Live (DDL) and/or DTS Connect to function properly (if at all if the service is disabled.

The second CTxfiHlp and is the X-Fi version of the old CThelper from the Live Audigy cards, as mickey said isn't needed.

There is one more Creative process that if you use the Console Launcher/Volume Panel in the notification area called CTxfispi, that if disabled causes both to not work. So if you use the Console Launcher/Volume Panel, leave this one alone.

mickey megabyte · 18 Jul 2010

thanks stormy.

i have the x-fi xtremegamer with the latest june 2010 drivers, and don't use ddl nor dts.

with my card, the ctxfispi doesn't run at startup, but kicks in itself once you run the launcher/control panel. after you've shut them down, ctxfispi quietly exits a few seconds later and disappears from task manager.

i guess all the creative cards work slightly differently.

stormy13 · 18 Jul 2010

mickey you're right it does come and go as needed, just tested it and at least now it does. Don't remember which driver set it was, but the last or the one before it it didn't. With that driver set if you stopped it manually or stopped it manually, the Console Launcher wouldn't run.

Guess Creative finally made it so that it only runs as needed. Been killing those Creative processes since my first SB Live, and it looks like they have at lerast this one working as it should.

jebuchanan · 18 Jul 2010

Thank you. I disabled CtAudio Service.
The second, CTxfiHlp, is not started on my setup, so I left it alone.

Windows 7: CT audio service

CT audio service problems?