Cannot install X-Fi

[bigboxes]

Help me fix my sound card problem! Here's my setup:

* AMD Athlon 64 3200+ skt 939 cpu with Zalman CNPS7700Cu cpu cooler
* Cooler Master ATC-200 case
* Antec True Power 550W psu
* Corsair 1gb kit (2 x 512mb) Value Ram
* Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb/256bit (modded to 9800XT) with Zalman VF700Cu vga cooler
* Vantec 80mm stealth case fans (x 4)
* Asus A8V-MX Socket 939 VIA K8M800 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
* Maxtor 200gb 7200rpm PATA HDD
* NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A
* Creative X-Fi Extreme Music sound card

Everything is put together and is working good, so far, except for one thing... the X-Fi sound card is not working! It's driving me bananas trying to get it to work. I heard of the horror stories of it not working with NF4 mobos, but I figured that VIA boards were a safe bet. Here's what I have done so far to "fix" the problem:

* Downloaded and installed VIA Hyperian chipset drivers
* Updated drivers from Creative's website
* Turned off on-board sound (AC '97) in the bios
* Completely uninstalled drivers & devices as per Creative website advice
* Reinstall software & drivers after the above
* Change pci slots (the mobo only has two)

The "found hardware" wizard keeps showing a "multimedia device", but cannot load any drivers. Surely I am not losing my mind and this is a chipset or sound card issue. Anyone out there that can help boxes out???

 

[Navid]

What operating system?
I hope not Vista!

If you have XP, try the drivers on the CD that came with the card. After you get sound, you can use the drivers from the Creative web site to update them.

 

[bigboxes]

It's Windows XP Pro and no sound. I've been using the Audigy 2ZS with no problem with my main rig.

 

[Navid]

Have you tried the drivers from the CD that came with the card?

 

[bigboxes]

Yes. That was my first step. After that I attempted the above.

 

[Navid]

So, after a reboot when you get the hardware wizard, if you navigate to the X-Fi CD and to the WDM folder, where the .ini files are, and let it install will you still get the hardware wizard after the install and reboot?

 

[bigboxes]

It says "Cannot install this hardware"... "the hardware was not installed because the wizard cannot find the necessary software". Yes, I tried it one more time just to make sure. I've tried letting windows find it, pointing windows to the X-Fi CD, pointing the wizard to the wdm folder in both the CD and the files installed on the C: drive.

 

[Navid]

Are the speakers OK?
That tells you that I am out of ideas!

Just for reference, I have the same card, different motherboard.
After a fresh XP install, I open the device manager, right click on multimedia audio controller or something like that and click on update and navigate to the CD/Audio/Drivers/wdm/, and let it install. It then asks to reboot. After reboot, I have sound.

 

[bigboxes]

It's maddening I tell ya! Someone HELP!

 

[Navid]

You may want to post here too.
http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board?board.id=soundblaster

This may be relevant.
http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs...board.id=soundblaster&message.id=72104

 

[myocardia]

It sounds to me like you have a bad X-Fi.

 

[Blain]

How much for the X-Fi shipped?

 

[bigboxes]

Update for those that care (and I know there are a lot of caring peeps on AT ): I called Amazon this morning and requested an RMA. No problem. They put it into their system that my card was defective and shipped out a new one without charging me before returning the old one. I told the rep that made it relatively painless. She said, "thank you" and that was it. I should have the new card by around Wednesday and will ship the defective card out on Monday. Hopefully there will be no problems with the new card or you will be reading another post!

Thanks guys!

~bb

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

:thumbsup:

 

[Auric]

I would have tried it in 'nutha rig (image/restore) thus confirming defective hardware or simply a queer incompatability.

 

[bigboxes]

Originally posted by: Auric
I would have tried it in 'nutha rig (image/restore) thus confirming defective hardware or simply a queer incompatability.

You are so right. I am hoping that is not the case. If so, I guess I will just swap the X-Fi for the Audigy ZS2 and be done with it. I'll keep you guys informed. Thanks for the advice.

 

[PianoMan]

It's probably a moot point, but have you used Driver Cleaner Pro? It cleans out Creative drivers as well as vid card drivers (used it to clean out my RealTek sound drivers before I slapped in my x-Fi [BTW, you'll love the card - dunno how much of an upgrade it is to your Audigy (also very good), but coming from onboard sound, it's outstanding]).

I'm assuming you never installed the onboard sound drivers since you disabled them. If so, you'll need to add a cleaning step for your old onboard sound drivers.

- Uninstall Creative drivers (using Control Panel Add/Remove or Start Menu uninstall, not via the system hardware listing).
- Start up in Safe Mode
- Apply DC Pro to your Creative drivers (and onboard, if orig installed and available in DC Pro)
- Restart
- Cancel any Windows auto-detect installations
- Run/install updated Creative drivers

Again, could be moot point w/defective drivers, but you can probably try this (if not tried already) while you're waiting.

PM

 

[bigboxes]

Thanks for the suggestions PianoMan (and to everyone else that has tried to help). I sent off the X-Fi today to go back to Amazon. I'm supposed to get the new card on Wednesday and will have a go at it again. I didn't know that Drive Clearner Pro could do sound card drivers. I have it, but just used it on my ATI cards. Learn something new everyday.

 

[bigboxes]

Well, I received my replacement on Thursday (wasn't in when UPS attempted delivery on Wednesday). I put it in Friday night. First, Windows showed a "multimedia controller" then that changed to Creative X-Fi (little yellow balloon in system tray). Windows then requested the disc for driver. I inserted disc and windows did it's thing and there was sound! Windows requested to reboot. Upon shutdown there was sound. On startup there was sound. I then installed Creative's bloatware and am a happy camper! Unfortunately, the installation of WMP11 has hosed any association I attempt with Media Player Classic (my preferred video player) and I am probably gonna format and reinstall windows in both my main rig and in this computer (my new HTPC). But that is another thread. LOL

Big time props to Amazon for making this as painless as possible. Upon talking to me on the phone they immediately sent out a new card without charging me or receiving my defective card first. I then printed out a shipping label online, taped it to the box and shipped it back to Amazon on Monday. No cost to me. Thanks Amazon!

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: bigboxes
Well, I received my replacement on Thursday (wasn't in when UPS attempted delivery on Wednesday). I put it in Friday night. First, Windows showed a "multimedia controller" then that changed to Creative X-Fi (little yellow balloon in system tray). Windows then requested the disc for driver. I inserted disc and windows did it's thing and there was sound! Windows requested to reboot. Upon shutdown there was sound. On startup there was sound. I then installed Creative's bloatware and am a happy camper! Unfortunately, the installation of WMP11 has hosed any association I attempt with Media Player Classic (my preferred video player) and I am probably gonna format and reinstall windows in both my main rig and in this computer (my new HTPC). But that is another thread. LOL

Big time props to Amazon for making this as painless as possible. Upon talking to me on the phone they immediately sent out a new card without charging me or receiving my defective card first. I then printed out a shipping label online, taped it to the box and shipped it back to Amazon on Monday. No cost to me. Thanks Amazon!

Why not just go into WMP options and deassociate it? Or via the "Set program access and defaults" page?

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: bigboxes


Big time props to Amazon for making this as painless as possible. Upon talking to me on the phone they immediately sent out a new card without charging me or receiving my defective card first. I then printed out a shipping label online, taped it to the box and shipped it back to Amazon on Monday. No cost to me. Thanks Amazon!

Amazon is great. I've had nothing but the best experiences with them in the almost 6 years I've been shopping on their store

 

[bigboxes]

Originally posted by: PurdueRyWhy not just go into WMP options and deassociate it? Or via the "Set program access and defaults" page?

Cuz Windows will not let me select my choice. I am assuing that WMP11 is the culprit. Yes, I have been into WMP settings to "unassociate" it from every file known to man, but Windows still will not allow me to associate any video file with Media Player Classic. There is something evil about this program for sure. At the very least it's a bug, but I will place $$ that it is done on purpose. With WMP it is so deeply dug into the OS that you can never fully remove/disable it. Not only that but any wmv embedded video crashes my browser (Firefox), but not IE. You do the math. WMP11 is evil.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: bigboxes

Originally posted by: PurdueRyWhy not just go into WMP options and deassociate it? Or via the "Set program access and defaults" page?

Cuz Windows will not let me select my choice. I am assuing that WMP11 is the culprit. Yes, I have been into WMP settings to "unassociate" it from every file known to man, but Windows still will not allow me to associate any video file with Media Player Classic. There is something evil about this program for sure. At the very least it's a bug, but I will place $$ that it is done on purpose. With WMP it is so deeply dug into the OS that you can never fully remove/disable it. Not only that but any wmv embedded video crashes my browser (Firefox), but not IE. You do the math. WMP11 is evil.

right click on the file with the file type you want to associate...click open with then choose program. Pick yours and then click always open with that program.

 

[bigboxes]

Originally posted by: PurdueRyright click on the file with the file type you want to associate...click open with then choose program. Pick yours and then click always open with that program.

Windows will not let me do that. I choose the program and it is not listed when I click on open. It has something to do with WMP11. It's happened to two machines so it's not my imagination.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: bigboxes

Originally posted by: PurdueRyright click on the file with the file type you want to associate...click open with then choose program. Pick yours and then click always open with that program.

Windows will not let me do that. I choose the program and it is not listed when I click on open. It has something to do with WMP11. It's happened to two machines so it's not my imagination.

Listen, I don't doubt that something could be messed up. But you blaming it incessantly on WMP 11 is not very logical. I myself have installed WMP 11 and I have continued to use WMP classic and VLC as I am sure many people have.

Now, I didn't say the program would be listed...but there is a browse button...why can't you go to it that way?