HT Omega Striker 7.1 and Windows 7 Problem

[j03b0b]

Hey everyone,

I've been using Windows 7 x64 as my default OS since build 7000.
I have an HT Omega Striker 7.1 sound card that has worked fine from build 7000 to 7127. I used the Vista x64 driver for all these builds. I used 7127 for quite some time because when I tried upgrading to 7264, I encountered a problem.

After installing the driver, whether it's the Vista driver or the 7 driver, it won't let me open ANY applications besides explorer (not IE). It tries to open and then (I assume) it crashes, because nothing comes up and the icon fades back as if I never clicked it. (Although, if I open Task Manager, I can see *.exe running but only using 2mb of RAM...?) I can uninstall the driver, reboot, and all my applications work again.

I have no sound without the driver and no applications with the driver...

Also, this problem is still around in 7600, as I just tried it.

Can anyone provide any insight on what the problem may be?

 

[dornif]

Update:

The newest drivers are now working. Here are the steps to make sure you get a clean install and setup:

1) Uninstall any previous versions of the drivers

2) Delete C:\Windows\SysWOW64\HsMgr.exe if it exists

3) (Optional, but prevents lockup issues for many people) Go to Control Panel => Sound and disable the "Digital Output" device.

Everything should now work. If anyone is still having problems after these steps, then please post a reply. I've left the original solution below, but I wouldn't recommend using it.

Old Solution:

I had the exact same problem, but I was able to resolve it. It appears that the 32-bit sound manager from ht omega is causing this problem (HsMgr.exe). Anyways, here are the steps to fix the problem. These steps also include a fix for window volume control not controlling all speakers also:

0) If you have ever had an ht omega driver installed then uninstall it and delete the file C:\Windows\SysWOW64\HsMgr.exe.

1) Download the vista drivers for the sound card http://www.htomega.com/new/s81731ex.zip (this is a newer version than currently listed on the website) and the Windows 7 drivers http://www.htomega.com/new/striker81737W7ex.zip

2) Extract each set of drivers to separate folders (I'll assume they've been extracted to s81731ex and striker81737W7ex respectively).

3) Copy striker81737W7ex\Program to s81731ex\Vista\Program

4) Copy striker81737W7ex\SoftwareDriver\dll to s81731ex\Vista\SoftwareDriver\dll

5) Delete s81731ex\Vista\SoftwareDriver\dll\HsMgr.exe

6) Right click on s81731ex\Vista\Setup.exe and go to properties. Then go to Compatibility and select "Windows Vista (Service Pack 2)". Press OK.

7) Right click on s81731ex\Vista\Setup.exe and pick Run as Administrator.

When setup completes, reboot and your issues should be solved. Let me know if this fixes it.

 

[j03b0b]

Thank you for your reply, dornif!

I am eager to try your method out, but the night before you posted, I reverted back to 7127 to fix the issue until they released new drivers.

I want to try your method out so badly though, that I may install 7600 again tonight or tomorrow and I'll post back with my success or failure!

Thanks again!

 

[j03b0b]

I finally got around to reinstalling 7600 so I could try what you suggested.

It worked wonderfully. Thank you!

I now have sound and I can open applications!

I really appreciate it!

 

[dornif]

No problem! I'm glad it worked. Hopefully other people will run across this thread if they have the same issue. I think the most difficult part is just recognizing that the sound drivers are causing the issue.

 

[chev65]

My Asus Xonar drivers with the newer versions of Win7 had the same problem. It was the HsMgr.exe 32* what was causing the IE and control panel lock up problems.

At first I needed to use system configuration to keep it from starting but a few days later Asus put out a patch for Vista64 Xonar drivers which fixed the problem.

Must be some simularities between the Omega drivers and the Xonar drivers.

 

[gandal]

I just wanted to say thank you very much for this hotfix, i have a club-3d theatron dd(chip is the same c-media chip or close enough as the striker) and had exactly the same problem, so i tried your fix with the respective club-3d drivers and it worked perfectly.
2 days of searching a fix are over, thank you very much

 

[thichcoihphim2]

I followed the instruction of Dornif and it works with my Windows 7 x64 but I could not configure my digital output as pass through SPDIF
Can anyone have this problem?

I prefer pass through digital signal to my receiver than the real-time encoding DTS or Dolby 5.1 that would alter my orginal source signal

I got dual boot Windows XP and Windows 7.
My sound card works better in XP since I can get digital output as pass-through for DTS or Dolby signal source.

Thanks for any comment

 

[dornif]

I just wanted to say thank you very much for this hotfix, i have a club-3d theatron dd(chip is the same c-media chip or close enough as the striker) and had exactly the same problem, so i tried your fix with the respective club-3d drivers and it worked perfectly.
2 days of searching a fix are over, thank you very much

You're welcome, I'm glad it's helping! I guess the program isn't specific to ht omega.

I followed the instruction of Dornif and it works with my Windows 7 x64 but I could not configure my digital output as pass through SPDIF
Can anyone have this problem?

I prefer pass through digital signal to my receiver than the real-time encoding DTS or Dolby 5.1 that would alter my orginal source signal

I got dual boot Windows XP and Windows 7.
My sound card works better in XP since I can get digital output as pass-through for DTS or Dolby signal source.

Thanks for any comment

Two possible suggestions here. First, go into Control Panel => Sound and make sure your default playback device is Speakers not Digital Output (the drivers will wrap this to digital out). Second, if that doesn't work: try using the Windows 7 drivers only, but with HsMgr.exe deleted.

Just a little extra information: The mixing of the Windows 7 and Windows Vista drivers was actually to fix a problem I had with volume control (only non-surrounded speakers were being controlled by windows volume at the time). If you don't have this problem or are using a different sound card, then deleting HsMgr.exe is likely the only fix you need to make your system stable.

 

[hairen]

Thanks for the post, very helpful. I have been pulling my hair out trying to figure out why my computer would not run 32-bit apps anymore. It was leaving a very sour taste after trying 64-bit OS for the first time.

 

[Grem135]

dornif
Thank you very much! Thought I was losing my mind there. Last thing I wanted to do was put that nasty CL audigy4 back in (removed all CL products when i read about them purposely crippling the Vista drivers) .... was accually thinking of using the onboard audio!
Again thanks lots

 

[hairen]

I would submit that the relatively complicated procedure described above is not required for most. My HT Omega Striker 7.1 is working perfectly in Win7 Pro x64 and all I had to do was delete the HsMgr.exe file from the extracted files before running the setup program.

 

[Scorg]

It would seem this issue is effecting a lot of the c-media based cards.
Mines is a generic one mady by A-Sound using the cmi8768+ and within x64 apps would work, but ddl would remain stereo. And in x86 I had the issues as in here with no apps running ontop of the ddl still in stereo.
Still since I have killed the task everythings as it should. I'd rather not replace it since if using other ones sticks it back to stereo again, then thats a bit of an issue still.

Maybe something about the thread title can be changed to it highlights c-media cards can be done ?

 

[Heinz Getwellvet]

Thank you thank you

I researched the Omega before i bought it and i was hoping that this thread was going to work for me and it did. awesome! im beginning to like this forum alot. My only issue now is figuring out how to force surround sound all the time even when i listen to music.

 

[Scorg]

I researched the Omega before i bought it and i was hoping that this thread was going to work for me and it did. awesome! im beginning to like this forum alot. My only issue now is figuring out how to force surround sound all the time even when i listen to music.

If you mean so the music will be on all speakers, seems you need to select 2 channel in DDLive mode to get it playing on 5.1. Leave it in 6 speaker mode then it will just come out as stereo.

This is all a bit different to XP, thats for sure!

Of course, if you arnt using DDlive but via the analogue outs, then im not sure whats what there, never used them!

 

[Heinz Getwellvet]

Wow

Thank you so much. I couldn't figure it out. That's great. Now, when i am watching a movie that has real surround sound will it effect the quality becuase its in 2 channel?

 

[Scorg]

Assuming the film has a Dolby Digital or DTS soundtrack then it should switch to passthru and preserve the 5.1.

One thing I have noticed about the control panel, to play games it suggests to switch it to 8 channel mode.
This is all a bit different compared to the XP version, thats for sure.

 

[datarecoil]

wow its finally fixed DORNIF YOU are the man! 1mil thx

I had to register to let dornif and all others looking for the fix know!! IF you follow his instructions to the T. Then Boys and Girls its BLUE SKIES nothing but BLUE SKIES do i see.....

OMEGA STRIKER IS 100%!..Win 7600 final is very very happy, and that makes me feel sooooo good.

I am in your debt for this borrow dornif. Glad i found this forum and your fix. Now all is smooth sailing w/ 7 final and my beloved Omega Striker

Note: Striker icon appeared in tray after installing/rebooting, no more AVG alerts on the SysWOW64. I was getting false alarm on that as though it was some sorta Trojan? odd? really bugged me that did.
Also during the boot i can hear the 7 boot sounds, before the fix it was at such a low faded level, i thought i was hearing things.

My gaming box now runs like a Billion bucks! This bug fix even seems to have helped the boot speed on 7 ,and smoother running as well! My Windows 7 was acting slightly sick prior, and the Volume Mixer-Speakers window it would flutter and fade, parts would disappear had to close and open to fix. Now Volume Mixer-Speakers window its acting totally normal, had to be the Omega Striker/Windows7 bug!


Maybe, something minor you might fix to the instructs? for some that might get confused, its on step 3 concerning (PROGRAM): Copy striker81737W7ex\PROGRAM to s81731ex\Vista\Program.

I understand you mean (PROGRAM FOLDER) some could, might get fouled up, and not see that "PROGRAM" you mean is the Program Folder. I had to ask myself if i was copy/paste/replace to the right place, sorta stalled me for a sec. HA!

EXCELLENT BUG FIX BY dornif YOU ARE A SUPER HERO!

 

[Crispix396]

SO i thought I followed to the T, went back 2x and redid each step (so i thought) and each time, i get to the end of the driver install, and it hangs up for a long time, and then tells me to plug in the card.

I did research and it says that if this happens, it is because it is trying to install a 32bit driver or something like that. any help is appreciated.

 

[chev65]

You don't need to bother with this procedure anymore because Omega has released new drivers for Windows 7. HT Omega - Driver Downloads