Use two PCI soundcards on W7

brreaker · 16 Apr 2014

Already reinstalled the chipset drivers, didn't help, unfortunately.
I am running, according to AIDA, BIOS AMI 1101, which appears to be about 2 years old, shouldn't I flash a new one ? (even though I doubt it will help this problem I have)

Okay, let's go and see step by step the things you asked me for ^^

1. First of all, thank you for that tip, I was not aware you could do that!
Here we go:
XP:

Windows 7:

What strikes me as rather unusual is that under XP there are more PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI bridge drivers, while under 7 there is only one. Also, the Location of said PCI Standard bridge is different on 7 than on XP.

2. I attached the txt file.

Thank you for your time!

ComputerGeek · 16 Apr 2014

I've only skimmed your data once so far. But went looking for one thing i was curious to find out....

Run DevManView again. Scroll down through the Device Names column until you see a line item for...... SB Audigy!

That means the SB Audigy card was detected at some earlier point in time. (Not surprising, the data shows its NOT being detected now.) The SB Audigy's driver was also installed back when it was detected. I'm not 100% how to interpret the Registry Time in DevManView's report, but, maybe, the last time Win 7 detected the SB Audigy card was back in Sept, 2013? Would that make sense? Or ring any bells? (i.e. bring back any memory of seeing it before? Or what you may have done or changed around then?)

In any case, update the BIOS next step. After update, look in DevManView again for SB Audigy. Note the column "Connected". Does it still show Connected=No? (Our goal is Connected=YES!)

brreaker · 16 Apr 2014

I am going to update BIOS tonight, as I am not at home atm, then update the post ^^
Yes, I do remember, this one time, I booted up my PC and w7 saw the card and asked for the drivers, I installed them, all seemed alright, it asked for the restart after the drivers were installed, I restarted, and it was gone.
Removing the drivers for it didn't seem to work.
Note: I managed to use it for a while on w7, about 1.5 years ago, and then it suddenly disappeared after a restart. I thought the card had broke, however, when I saw it on XP, I realized it was not the case.
As you see, the nVidia card shows up as active, even thought no HDMI cable is plugged in, thus not allowing w7 to find the next card (in this case, the SB) -At least from what I got till now-. I talked to the guys from Creative, they told me to talk to nVidia. I talked to nVidia, they said they are aware that a whole range of GPUs have this problem (--however, they do not even think about releasing a patch or anything--) and told me to talk to Creative. When I told them I did, they told me that the only thing they can do is change my GPU for another one, with only one condition: that it would be the exact same model. (So why the hell would they offer it, I have no idea)

Thank you for your time!

brreaker · 17 Apr 2014

I am terribly sorry for doubleposting, I am not sure if updating a post makes it as Unread again.
The BIOS Update did nothing..

ComputerGeek · 17 Apr 2014

Darn! I was hoping it would be an easy BIOS fix (I bet you did too! :) )

What strikes me as rather unusual is that under XP there are more PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI bridge drivers, while under 7 there is only one. Also, the Location of said PCI Standard bridge is different on 7 than on XP.

That's a good question. (p.s. just a nit: There are 2 PCI-PCI bridges listed for Win 7) But that's still a significant difference in number

There's a procedure called "Plug and Play device enumeration" (implemented via Windows + BIOS + chipset and drivers and the connected device). Don't know if any subtle difference between Windows and chip set drivers might cause the difference between XP and Win7? That's just a wild a** guess.

In any case, I have have 2 things in mind still to try. First, re-seat the card. (skimmed through the thread. Not sure if you tried before) Remove the card, then re-insert with a good push to make sure connections are tight.

If that doesn't work, give me a DevManView file from XP. Then I'll take you what i also have in mind.

brreaker · 17 Apr 2014

Reseating it doesn't help, unfortunately

It might be because of said differences, I honestly have no idea.
Here you got the DevManView file from xp ^^
Thank you for your time!

ComputerGeek · 19 Apr 2014

Ooops! I just downloaded the XP DevManView. Looks like you forgot to select all (only one device is listed in the report).

No prob (done that myself, before!). Run again and Ctl-A to select All before saving. Thanks!

brreaker · 19 Apr 2014

You are right! I'm sorry! It slipped my mind! Here you go! sorry once again!
Thank you for your time!

ComputerGeek · 19 Apr 2014

Hmmmm, new thought.... Go into BIOS. Check setting options for Integrated or Onboard Audio. What are the options? How do you have it set? Let's also make sure it's not a BIOS settings issue

brreaker · 20 Apr 2014

The settings I have for the onboard Audio are Enabled and Disabled. If I disable it, I get into windows with no sound at all, the pci one is still not detected...
Thank you for your time!