Creative XFI Xtreme problem

[Ellebrius]

Had a hard time getting my sound card to work properly when I installed it 2 years ago but finally managed and it was working just fine.

Yesterday I needed the microphone and found out it wasn't working when plugged into my soundcard. I enabled High definition audio device and plugged the mic in the front of comp and it worked fine so I saw it wasn't the mic who had the problem.

I was then told to update my drivers and that might fix the problem with the mic which I did but now nothing works anymore. The mic doesn't work (which at this point I don't care at all about) but most important the audio console gives me the message "current selected audio device is not supported by the application do you want to select another audio device" and I also get the very same message if I go to sounds---playback devices---properties---sound blaster---configure your audio settings. So I can't access Bass Boost, Bass Management, EAX, EQ and the rest. My sound is tinny and has no punch or volume.

I tried to roll back the driver, checked on other drivers did a system restore... same.

I then realized I should disable High Definition audio device which I did... same.

Then when I could't sleep last night I thought maybe I should go in the Bios and disable it there even if it says it's disabled in system devices. Sure enough it was still enabled so I disabled it and said to myself: NOW it's going to work again. But no.

Anybody have any ideas please before I spend another sleepless night.

 

[fireberd]

You didn't fill in the "My System Specs" which helps.

But, if you are not using the integrated audio (on the motherboard) it should be disabled in the BIOS. It can cause conflicts with an added sound card.

Since you have it disabled in the BIOS, go to the Control Panel/Hardware and Sound and finally the Sound Panel. Click the Recording Tab and the "What You Hear" should be set as the default playback device. RIGHT click the microphone and if disabled, enable it. In the Playback panel, your "Speakers" should be set as the default playback device.

If all of this looks OK, go to the Device Manager, RIGHT click on the entry for the Xfi then LEFT click "Uninstall" - DO NOT uninstall the drivers. Then restart the PC and the sound card will be detected and reinstalled. If there were some corruptions between Windows and the sound card this will fix it (and there could be since you had the Integrated Audio enabled).

 

[Ellebrius]

Went to the sound panel and under recording tab I disabled the microphone and then enabled it, under the playback tab I did same for the speakers.

I went to system device and right-clicked on SB X-Fi Xtreme Audio and the on properties and Uninstall. I did not check the ''Delete driver software for this device" box.

I restarted the comp and Windows 7 detected and re-installed the drivers. I tried the audio console... same message "current selected audio device is not supported by the application do you want to select another audio device". Also got it again in the Sound Blaster Properties panel.

Should I take the sound card put and put it back in?

 

[RonLane]

The only way I have got this card to work well is to reinstall everything from the disk and then run the updater. The audio console will let you change line-in to microphone. Jack is on the card and plugs in in the back of your computer.

 

[Ellebrius]

Ok so uninstall everything and check box Delete diver Software for this Device?

Next I guess I don't re-start comp since I don't want Windows to detect and re-install the software?

So next I take my CD out and install the original drivers? Then run updater?

Did I miss a step, is there something else I need to make sure I do to really uninstall everything and start new?

 

[Ellebrius]

I uninstalled and reinstalled using the CD that came with the sound card and I still have the same problem. Any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[Sardonicus]

Are you able to do a system restore?

 

[Ellebrius]

Yes, I tried the system restore but it didn't fix it.

I feel confident that if I succeeded in re-installing the original software I could get it to work again since that's how I got it to work the first time. The problem is Windows 7 wont let me install the original software.

I uninstall everything but I need to restart the comp to finish the process and when the comp reboots Windows 7 detects the new hardware and searches and installs the drivers it finds.

I can't stop it from doing so. After doing a search I found I could go to Computer--- Right Click on properties---System Protection---Hardware tab---Device Installation Settings--- and select "No let me choose what to do". There I find 3 options but not one of them says "Don't do anything" All 3 suggest a different way of installing the driver software.

If anybody can tell me how to remove the old driver and install the original driver off the CD I would really appreciate it.

 

[BugMeister]

Ok so uninstall everything and check box Delete diver Software for this Device?
** run a Registry Cleaner here - CCleaner will do the job (for free)
Next I guess I don't re-start comp since I don't want Windows to detect and re-install the software?

So next I take my CD out and install the original drivers? Then run updater?

Did I miss a step, is there something else I need to make sure I do to really uninstall everything and start new?

** when you restart the PC, it should automatically detect "new" hardware, and prompt for drivers..

EDIT: what's the make/model of the mobo..?

 

[Ellebrius]

Yes it automatically detects the new hardware but it doesn't prompt for drivers, it automatically installs the drivers it finds.

Where do I see what my mobo is?

I have an Intel Core 2 CPU 660@ 2.40 GHz 2.39 GHZ
4.00 GB
64Bit operating System
Windows 7

 

[Ellebrius]

Found it:
ASUSTek Computer in.
P5K SE
Intel P35/G33/G31

American Megatrends Inc.
Version 0901

 

[stormy13]

Would also help to know which X-Fi. There is essentially three different series,

1. Xtreme Audio

2. Original X-Fi, which includes the Xtreme Music, Platinum, etc.

3. The new Titanium series.

all of which use a different driver.

 

[Ellebrius]

Found this:

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Model P5KSE
Chipset Intel P35/G33/G31 Rev' A2
Southbridge Intel 8280 1B (ICH9) Rev 02

American Megatrends Inc. Version 0901

 

[Ellebrius]

SB X-FI Xtreme Audio, Version Driver 1.4.90

 

[Ellebrius]

If we can't get this card to work properly again could someone suggest a soundcard that is compatible with Windows 7 and my system because that one sure isn't.

 

[stormy13]

Let's try something completely different. If you haven't seen or heard of them give this modded driver/app package a try,

SB P17X Series Support Pack 2.7 (04/01/2010) - Aud... - Creative Labs

It is a self-extracting exe, so after downloading run it to extract. Do not install anything from it yet.

Next hope you're up for a bit of a challenge because first is to get rid of any drivers you have already installed and to stop Windows from re-installing upon startup.

1. Manually create restore point before beginning.

2. Look in Programs and Features and if there are any entries for Creative or X-Fi, uninstall them; do not restart yet.

3. Download this,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html

and install it. Very useful for what is next, but only use it on the specified folder(s).

4. Next open Windows Explorer and navigate to,

C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository

what you are looking for is the folder that Windows creates when you installed the driver for the first time, unfortunately it doesn't remove said folder when you uninstall the driver and that is why it gets re-installed upon startup. I also can't tell you specifically what the folder is called as I don't have one of those cards. Based on what it names it for my Xtreme Music for you it should be called (assuming 32 bit Windows),

P17.INF_x86_neutral_ (followed by a random string of numbers and letters)

If that isn't it do a search in the DriverStore folder for P17.INF. There may also be more than one depending on how many different driver files you have installed.

5. Once you have found the above folder(s), now right click on it and use the "Take Ownership" shortcut that was added from 32 above, and only use it on that folder(s), not the DriverStore folder itself.

6. Now delete the folder and restart. Now Windows won't automatically re-install the driver for the card.

7. Next go back to the extracted driver folder and run setup.exe there, that should get the driver installed.

If the driver won't install post back and I'll give a couple of methods to install it manually. Don't use the disk that came with the card unless you got it after Windows 7 came out as at best it will have an older Vista driver on it.

 

[Ellebrius]

OK! Thank you for all this and it does seem a bit of a challenge, but heck I love those.

I'm gonna go try it now but I might take a while.

Will post back as soon as I get results one way or the other.

I am assuming you want me to also uninstal the Audio Console, Alchemy... etc ?

 

[stormy13]

Yes, uninstall anything and everything you can find in Programs and Features to do with the card. All of those are included in the modded package so you will get them back.

 

[Ellebrius]

I uninstalled everything and deleted the P17 folder.

Gonna restart comp now and try to install the downloaded Support Pack.

Be right back!

 

[Ellebrius]

It took a while to install but it said it did. I got the final message 'Successfully installed you must restart your computer' but when the comp rebooted there was no sound. If I go to control panel---sound---It says no audio device installed.

You said to post back if it didn't work. I'm here and wont try anything else till I hear from you.