HOWTO: get Vista 64, 4gb(+) of RAM and an X-FI to play nicely

[dangel]

I've finally cracked it - my X-FI gave me 5 channels of glorious static the first time I tried creative's awful drivers but now.. it works.

So, in the hope that this is useful to someone else here's how to do it:

Download these modded auzentech drivers - they'll install on your X-FI. This will cure the 4gb issue and should resolve popping too. Uninstall previous drivers first (and reboot).

http://files.filefront.com/Drivers+X...rar/;8661284;/
http://files.filefront.com/SBXF+AudC...rar/;8619338;/

Now, you'll have one more problem - you'll only get sound from some of your speakers in 5.1 (just the fronts) - set them to 7.1. Yes I know it's crazy but just do it.

Now download (if you haven't) the X-FI Vista CD (it contains all of the creative apps - you probably got an XP with your card).

http://files.filefront.com/SBXF+SIVI.../fileinfo.html

Start the installtation but ONLY INSTALL the THX utility. Run this up and you'll be able to remap your speakers - you need to do this because in 7.1 mode your rears will be configured as the side speakers (so they don't work) but remapping them will get the rears working.

Sit back and enjoy

Hope that's some help - it's been driving me nuts for a while. Backing up your system is always wise and i can't be responsible for any damages. This worked very well for me

[dangel]

Just an update: Creative finally released a new set of drivers (5th of Nov) which may also cure this problem - please post if tested

[0iD]

Yeah, beacuse we're to chicken to do it If it works...

[dangel]

lol indeed

[med2003]

Nice HOW TO: dangel.

I'll be updating to the new Creative drivers tonight, probably, so will update if I have any success getting 5.1 sound working.

[dangel]

Cool - let us know how you get on. I suspect (or hope) that this indeed does fix the 4gb problem and with a little luck you won't need to do the speaker remapping fudge.

[med2003]

Success!

Though not fully tested, sorry, didn't get the time.

So following Creatives instructions I de-installed the old drivers and installed the new (5th November) drivers. I then used the Creative Console to set everything up and ran the brief test you can run to test the speaker set up to get every speaker making a noise. Got a distinct sound from each speaker, and also noticed that the rear speakers were now discernably louder than peviously.

I'll update again next time I get to have a play with the system.

[0iD]

Nice one chap

[dangel]

Cheers - that's good news. Hopefully they've finally got a handle on how Vista's new sound system works (at long last)

[ikonia]

could someone post a link to these new creative drivers.

the creative site only shows the XFi cards drivers as of the 4th October.

I'm I have an X-Fi XtremeGamer card and I can't find the link to the drivers you mention, only old ones.

[dangel]

Here ya go:

"http://uk.europe.creative.com/support/downloads/download.asp?DriverLang=1033&searchString=SBXF_PCDVT_LB_2_15_0004.exe&x=20&y=10"

Weird how you can't find it through their main page though! Your card is listed as supported. This is for 32bit and 64bit Vista - all XFI cards.

EDIT: sorry about the link but the board is screwing it up for some reason but that'll take you to the page!

[0iD]

http://uk.europe.creative.com/suppor....exe&x=20&y=10

Should do it

need to 'go advanced' & untick the 'Automatically retrieve titles from external links box'. A pain in da butt tbh.

[ikonia]

thank you both.

If you can't find it through the main page, I did look, how did you find it ?

[med2003]

I found it via the Creative main page, then:

->Support
->Downloads
->X-Fi
->Sound Blaster
-><Pick your Card>
->Next
-><Pick your OS>
->Next
-><Pick the drivers/software you want to download>

Edit: Hang on I think I see your issue. It doesn't list the Xtreme Gamer as a product. If you pick the Xtreme Music then that should do, as the driver is the same for all X-Fi Sound Blaster products, except the Xtreme Audio, which has it's own driver.

[dangel]

Originally Posted by ikonia

thank you both.

If you can't find it through the main page, I did look, how did you find it ?

Found out the filename from the forums (on the creative site) then did a search for it in the downloads section. Creative er.. suck

[dangel]

Originally Posted by 0iD

Should do it

need to 'go advanced' & untick the 'Automatically retrieve titles from external links box'. A pain in da butt tbh.

aha! Well we live and learn (but why?) thanks for that - i'll (of course) instantly forget this and have the same problem again