New sound card install problem

[Ingeld]

I just did a fresh install of windows 7 and I decided to replace my older X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro Series that was in the old PCI slot with the PCI Express X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro Series. Problem is that windows install generic drivers for it and when I try to install creative drivers the software says it cant find the hardware. I found on Creatives site the Product Identification Module Update that from what I read if fixes the detection problem BUT it cant even find the hardware. Am I stuck using the default crap ass windows drivers or is there a fix for this? I am almost ready to try and take it back to the store I bought it from.

 

[Pauly]

You could try uninstalling the device/software then re-installing from device manager and when it wants drivers point it a the folder you downloaded should stop it loading the generic windows driver

 

[Crispy]

Uninstall the generic driver then run this program Guru3D - Driver Sweeper it will clean out left over files from uninstalls, then download the drivers and reinstall: http://www.sevenforums.com/sound-audio/21804-creative-sound-cards.html

 

[RST101]

Your not missing much anyway as all creative drivers are not much better(if they are at all).

 

[Ingeld]

I am really thinking of pulling the Titanium card out and reinstsll the older PCI version Xtreamgamer since I could get all the drivers working for it ..... I find it weird that that the PCI version gives me no probles at all but the PCIe version casnt even remotly be installed. I even tried installing the drives directly ... they would instsall but on reboot i get the red "X" and the card is disabled.

 

[Crispy]

Your not missing much anyway as all creative drivers are not much better(if they are at all).

I still have a Audigy2 ZS and its shits over my onboard realtek card compared to the quality off the audio its outputs.

 

[Ingeld]

Ive tried the latest driver from Creative "2.17.2007" and it cant find/detect the hardware so I tried the "Product Identification Module Update" from them that claims to "This update resolves the hardware/device detection issue for Creative Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ and X-Fi Titanium series of audio devices in Microsoft® Windows® 7."
Its ALSO cant find the hardware in the system. Its very frustrating to buy a $150 sound card and not be able to use it proper because Creatives driver dont work and the generic Windows7 drivers don't enable 5.1 or anything else ...... it makes it as worthless as on-board sound.

 

[stormy13]

Have you tried to manually install just the driver? First you need to extract the downloaded driver file using something like Winrar, then you can try it one of two ways,

1. Go into the extracted folder, locate the Drivers folder and run the setup.exe found there (not the one found in the main folder).

2. If the above doesn't work try to install the driver manually in Device manager,

Device Manager - Install Driver - Vista Forums

that is from the Vista tutorials but the same steps apply in Windows 7. The file you are looking for once you click on "Browse my computer..." is wdma_emu.inf located in the 'Drivers\wdm" folder.

If either method works, you can then run the regular installer to get the rest of the apps that you want (Audio Console, Console Launcher, etc).

P.S. That update from Creative is a fix for their own Auto-update program, not for detection issues in Windows.

 

[Ingeld]

I tried that. The driver installed but then I got the red "X" on the hardware and it said it was disabled and needed to reinstall the driver. I thought that maybe at that point I could use Creatives update to fix it .... didn't work .. the update claimed there was no Creative hardware installed. And even with the generic Windows 7 drivers installed there is no output from any of the audio jacks even tho I could see that little green bar bouncing with the music. I think Creative as a whole is a FAIL of a company .. I mean .. how does a company wait for a OS to be released BEFORE they start trying to create drivers for he OS? Hell ... I had the beta back in February 09' why didn't they ?

 

[kawi250]

X-fi fix

Creative Worldwide Support > PCI Express X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro Series


Go here and d/l first item it will fix your problem.

 

[Ingeld]

I tried that already. When I try and do that "patch" it also says it cant find the hardware in the system.

 

[Crispy]

Have you tried slotting into different PCI slot?

 

[Ingeld]

Yea .. i tried all 3 PCIe slots i have with the same result each time. Creatives tech support is worthless. Im just going to return the card and never use a Creative product again.

 

[WDAexodus]

Have you tried downloading the associated Daniel K drivers? Try them before you send it back. I think creative's drivers a total garbage for Windows 7 and use DK's drivers instead. They are safe and work great. Once again I fail to understand why Creative hasn't hired this guy. Instead they threaten him. Idiots.

SB X-Fi Series Support Pack 2.0 (05/15/2009) - Creative Labs

 

[Ingeld]

Yea I tried his drivers as well and still comes back with the "cant find hardware" ... tok it back to the store today ... could be a dead card ... dont know .. but at this point im giving up on Creative .... im using on-board sound

 

[kawi250]

X-fi

Before sending it back, could you try the card in another computer. It would help to know if it was just your computer that was maybe incompatiable or if the card was bad. It is not uncommon to recieve a dead on arrival electrical component. It certainly is unfortunate and discouraging but it does happen. So if there is any way to test in another computer it would let you know to change maker instead of requesting a working replacement. Sorry to hear of so much trouble and good luck no matter what decision you arrive at. P.S. one last thing to try is look for the latest bios for your motherboard. Good luck!

 

[kawi250]

Sorry--forgot to refresh before posting. You could try the Asus brand of sound cards. Alot of people really like them and the drivers seem to have less problems.