SB X-fi Fatal1ty Pro issue.

Just spent the last hour surfing around XFi problems and boy, I am not alone :rolleyes:
Here's the rig shoot1st
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-065-OE
I substituted a Velociraptor for the primary drive, left the other for storage, and just installed Win7 64 which all went OK and as it should. I chose the standard case as I have a good case here already, and installed a 5870 which came separately.
When I have enough enthusiasm I'll try to install the card again but I'm not sure I will have the patience I had last week ;)
I have my FSX/FS9 set up and frankly I have been without for so long I can't leave it alone - it's so good compared with what I had before :D:D.
Thanks for staying on the thread - it's good to have a confidence check :)
 
I won't produce my list of checks here but I am now convinced it's a Creative software for Win7 error. It will work after a fashion but with loads of distortion.
I simply replaced the card with an Audigy2 which was in my box of bits, and that works fine - all speakers :confused: I let Windows install the driver for it and that was that.
I will set up the XFi onto a spare rig (XP) just to confirm if the card is OK - watch this space :rolleyes:
 
From what you say there it does seem to suggest a fault with the X-fi - is the X-fi new, have you had it working previously?

I'm on tenterhooks waiting on this X-fi verdict :p :D
 
Cheers for the support :)
I have my wife's computer on the desk (XP Home French) with my XFi installed and it's belting out Chet Atkins & Mark Knopfler Neck & Neck as we speak -- perfect on my speakers (Creative THX GigaWorks G500) 6/1 :cool::cool::cool:
Good job the neighbours are not in :eek:
It's so good I'm gonna make a coffee and sit back and listen :cool:
So I'm a happy puppy but I still have to install the card on my rig but at least I know it works.
Hopefully with my next post I can wrap it all up with an informative conclusion.

PS: Card about 4-5yrs old and worked perfectly under my old rig (XP)
 
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Been through all the drill again and it has to be a driver issue :mad:
Even Windows tells me there is something wrong with the driver. There is no "roll-back" facility as there Is nothing to roll back to.
The problem is, there is no way to install a driver other than the latest - either Windows does it for you or the Auto-Update does it. The driver on the card install CD is no good as it's for earlier OS (I've tried it).
The driver I am using is 2.18.13 - anyone?
Can it be I am installing with my AV running? I have heard this can cause problems. Having said that, the Audigy2 card and driver went in OK :rolleyes:
Off topic:-
Got my GTR2 up and running this afternoon and with this system it's a Blast
Off topic2:- What's that black dot on my envelope mean, by my thread?
Off topic3:- Why can't I upload an Avatar?
Anything but 'blinkin sound cards...;)
 
"Out out damn Creative..."
No Creative cards, no Creative software, brilliant on-board so time to play :D.
Thank you everyone for taking the trouble to read and marvel at the efforts of this aging juvenile trying to get his smokin fast new kit to hackle with his X-Fi (or should that be Ex-Fi :rolleyes:).
Thanks particularly to shoot1st who, with his encouragement, stopped me trashing the card with a lump hammer some days ago ;).
Both my Audigy2 and XFi cards are AOK in separate rigs running XP - what more can I say :confused: Win7 is the way to go so we must move on.
 
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I don't imagine the AV being responsible for the problems but it has happened in the past, so maybe try disabling it and giving it another go, it can't hurt to try anyway.

As you've proved the card is fully working and that your system accepts your old Audigy 2 card, the only real thing left is that the problems you had right back when you first tried to get it working have caused a knock-on effect which is interfering with things now. I have seen this scenario before and usually the best/easiest way to correct it is to just reinstall Windows. Maybe someone else has a suggestion that might fix the problem, but for me, as Win7 takes hardly any time at all to install (compared to some older operating systems), if things start going pear-shaped for any particular reason I just re-install and save myself the hassle.

Windows Update can be a complete pain, so a lot of people just disable it from doing anything automatically. You can stop Windows Update from doing its thing by going to Start Menu >> All Programs >> Windows Update >> Change settings (on the left) and then just change the drop-downs to whatever you prefer. I have mine set to ''check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them'' which means I am informed when updates become available but more importantly, I can also decide whether or not to install them. I have the same sound card and the same operating system as you, and am just using the drivers from Windows Update. Once they have installed and the system has restarted it tries to run the Creative Update thing, which I always stop and then I uninstall it.

The black dot just means you have posted in the thread, I think it's just to remind you which posts you've posted in. The avatar thing is only for when you reach a certain number of posts, I think it's 100 posts. You don't get to choose your own, apart from a selection of pre-defined gangster avatars. The number of posts you make determines which gangster avatars are available for you to choose from. You can find the full frequently asked questions section here.

Even though (as of yet) we haven't arrived at a wholly satisfactory conclusion I have both enjoyed reading your questions and trying to answer them. I have found your post-style to be quite refreshing if I'm totally honest. :)

I don't think I've missed anything there but if I have or you have any other questions then feel free to fire away, hopefully we'll get to the bottom of the problem before long. :)
 
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Thanks for the kind words.
I haven't even activated my OS yet (20 days to go) and only have my 3 games installed (FS9/FSX/GTR2) so it would be easy to re-install like you say and it may well come to that. It's just that I had to re-install XP a few times over Christmas/New Year on my ailing rig and frankly it's a bit tiring going through the recovery and transfer of all the contacts/favourites/emails/AV etc, but if we have some sunshine who knows :eek:. I'm deliberately not installing additional software for a few days in case it comes to that. Also, with problems I am like a Terrier with a Rat - can't leave it alone 'till it's finished LOL.
I am convinced it's a driver issue. Lurking in the driver cache is a rogue calling itself "the most recent" and the system goes for it every time, so I may try to find a way to weed it out before the final option.
I'm set up the same as you with regard to MS updates.
Thanks for the info on the other questions :)
 
shootf1rst, or anyone else not too bored at following this thread ;) I will have another go at installing the card over the weekend. I have been into the system32\driver cache and binned everything Creative also Program files (there was a lot left behind). I have also run CCleaner to get rid of anything Creative remaining in the registry.
Just one question before I do however; if you are running with the driver Win7 provided, how do you set up your speakers? What I mean is, where is the speaker wizard which is normally provided with a Creative CD/download install :confused:
 
I never need to configure my speakers to any great extent as I only use either two speakers or headphones, and everything at default. I don't really know if you get different options or wizards becoming available depending on the number of speakers you have connected tbh.

There are more configuration facilities available from within Windows Control Panel >> Sound, then right click on Speakers and select Properties, I don't know if that's what you're looking for? Is this speaker wizard something to allow you to select speaker size and distances, things like that, for multi-speaker systems?
 
shoot1st said:
I never need to configure my speakers to any great extent as I only use either two speakers or headphones, and everything at default. I don't really know if you get different options or wizards becoming available depending on the number of speakers you have connected tbh.

There are more configuration facilities available from within Windows Control Panel >> Sound, then right click on Speakers and select Properties, I don't know if that's what you're looking for? Is this speaker wizard something to allow you to select speaker size and distances, things like that, for multi-speaker systems?
Click to expand...

the Sound app above is the place where you configure your speakers if not using the Creative App.

BTW I have Win7 64 and same card and my sound is fine without distortions. I also get the loud whump too (its from the subwoofer) but I consider it down to my Creative 5.1 speakers.
 
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I have a "speaker manager" with the on-board sound (Realteck HD Audio Manager) - (right click the speaker in the work bar and click Manager) (may not work if on-board sound is disabled) and a similar thing comes with the Creative CD. Just a picture of your "room" with the speakers - click on a speaker to test it etc. Right Front, Right Left and so on. You can also set up different effects for the room - theatre/concert hall/garage/toilet/bathroom/broom cupboard etc..:eek: Maybe it's not necessary - it's just a utility really.
 
Ah right, I know what you're referring to now, I never bother installing any of the extra Creative stuff myself, only the basic drivers (with the console).

Is the one you're after not available on Creative's website? iirc, didn't Creative make you install the stuff from the CD first before it would let you get any updates (except drivers that is) for the additional software, I don't know if they still do that or not?
 
I guess it's because I grew up that way; never known anything else :)
My first PC came with the Audigy2 and the "manager". Then I moved on to the XFi and that had one too. Because I had to resort to the on-board sound, and that had one too, I just assumed it was a necessary part of the whole so to speak. Until now I never realised it wasn't necesary :D:D
So I'll go ahead, maybe tomorrow, and put the card in and see what happens. :cool:
 
Did some more checks yesterday evening.
Took my hack rig, XP, never been fitted with a sound card:-
Installed my Audigy2 with everything which came on the CD.
Connected up my 5/1 speakers and - very good - AOK :)
Substituted the card for my X-Fi and everything which came on the CD and - very, very good - AOK :):)
Card and speakers and speaker amp proved OK right!
Now to tackle the problem again.
I have perfect on-board sound so it has to be mobo (PCI slot) and/or Creative driver.
I will do more tests tomorrow, but I would like to know which driver you guys are using. I am trying to use 2.18.0013 Dec 09 downloaded from Creative site.
My first test will be the functionality of the PCI slot. I will install a WiFi card and see how I get on. I am reluctant to simply re-install the OS in the hope it resolves the problem, as it's some extra work and I am not certain it will prove successful at this stage.
Have a nice day and I hope you didn't forget the rose :cool:
 
Can I just check to make sure which sound card you have, is it this one?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-058-CL&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

That's the one I have and I just use the drivers from Windows Update.

When I look at Creative's driver page for the sound card above though, I don't see the driver you listed there, I only see the 2.17.007 drivers, from 20/07/09. I'm just wondering if you've maybe downloaded the wrong drivers?

Saying that though, I think you might have the non-Titanium version; i.e. the PCI one, not the PCIe one (?), if that's the case, have you tried using a different PCI slot?
 
Hi shootf1rst.
My card uses the PCI not PCIe slot and it's possible I am trying to use the wrong driver. It's not the one you provided the link too, it's this one:
http://support.creative.com/Product...SET=prodfaq:PRODFAQ_15854,VARSET=CategoryID:1
To check the only other PCI slot I will have to change my VGA card as that occupies too much space, but I have a spare VGA to take it's place temporarily.
I'll get on to it tomorrow and post my findings.
;)
 
Ah right, I was thinking you had the PCIe one - so you are using the correct driver - but definitely try the card in another PCI slot as that just might shed some light.

If it doesn't though, I know you probably cba reinstalling windows but it's getting near to the stage where you have no other alternative - the card works in another system and another card works in your system.

The initial problems you had when you were trying to install the card, but hadn't disabled the on board sound, could well be causing the problems now. If you do have to resort to reinstalling Windows then see if you can use the driver that Windows Update provides.

If after all that and it still isn't working then you have my permission to chuck the card out of the nearest open window :D
 
Yes, the OS re-install is very close and a last resort like you say. Anyway, here goes with the last lot of checks I can think of.
Hopefully I can report something positive later today :)
 
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