Installed Win7 64bit - now no sound!

fjmeat

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2010
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I just installed a new SSD as my primary drive. I was running Win7 32bit, but now I installed the 64bit version to utilize all 4gb of RAM.

Everything works good and super fast as intended.

But now, I have no sound. I'm running a Dell XPS 710. The Dell website only gives me drivers that support XP and Vista.

What do I do to get my sound back?
 

fjmeat

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2010
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0
76
Does you system have the X-Fi XtremeMusic card?

The creative drivers for Windows 7 are available here:

http://support.creative.com/downloads/welcome.aspx?nDriverType=1#type_1

If for some reason Dell "tweaked" the card so that the Creative drivers don't work, there is a good chance the Vista 64-bit drivers will work with 7.

Thanks for your response. Yes I do have that exact card. I just installed the driver for this card and its corresponding updates... I have sound.... but its very crackly and not good sound. At least we are getting somewhere. Any additional suggestions for clear sound?
 

denis280

Diamond Member
Jan 16, 2011
3,434
9
81
This is what i found.From MS.
Also you may try to disable all the enhancements and verify if the sound works fine.

Follow the steps below to disable enhancements:

1. Access Control Panel
2. Click Sound
3. Select Playback tab
4. Select Speakers/Headphones entry
5. Click Properties
6. Select Enhancements Tab
7. Disable all enhancements

Restart the computer and verify if it works fine.http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...-710-h2c/5a20bb7d-ba83-4053-a304-c0671b616aef
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
619
121
I have a Dell laptop that was meant for Vista and I put Win 7 on it. I used the Vista drivers. So you might want to try the Vista sound card driver.
 

fjmeat

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2010
4,874
0
76
This is what i found.From MS.
Also you may try to disable all the enhancements and verify if the sound works fine.

Follow the steps below to disable enhancements:

1. Access Control Panel
2. Click Sound
3. Select Playback tab
4. Select Speakers/Headphones entry
5. Click Properties
6. Select Enhancements Tab
7. Disable all enhancements

Restart the computer and verify if it works fine.http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...-710-h2c/5a20bb7d-ba83-4053-a304-c0671b616aef

Tried these steps. Same effect... crackling sound.
 

fjmeat

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2010
4,874
0
76
I have a Dell laptop that was meant for Vista and I put Win 7 on it. I used the Vista drivers. So you might want to try the Vista sound card driver.

I originally tried this method. The sound was there, but it was crackling and not clear. Then I wiped that driver and had no sound. Now after doing the above, I'm back to crackling sound. Thanks.
 

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,559
248
106
Motherboard does not have onboard audio.

OK, have you dusted out the card and its connections lately?

Also, does everything have the crackling sound, or just certain things? Does the Welcome audio in Windows have that sound as well?
 

jkauff

Senior member
Oct 4, 2012
583
13
81
I have an M-Audio Delta Audiophile 192, and it has separate drivers for 32-bit and 64-bit Win 7. I wouldn't think that would cause your problem, but you might check to see if your driver is 64-bit specific.
 

fjmeat

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2010
4,874
0
76
OK, have you dusted out the card and its connections lately?

Also, does everything have the crackling sound, or just certain things? Does the Welcome audio in Windows have that sound as well?

Yes - did this over the weekend. Welcome audio has sound, but its a crackling sound. Youtube, my music files, etc. Nothing sounds good.
 

fjmeat

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2010
4,874
0
76
I have an M-Audio Delta Audiophile 192, and it has separate drivers for 32-bit and 64-bit Win 7. I wouldn't think that would cause your problem, but you might check to see if your driver is 64-bit specific.

The sound card is discontinued and no longer supported. It was designed for a 32bit XP machine. How can I confirm whether its 64bit specific? I'm concerned this might be the issue.
 

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,559
248
106
The sound card is discontinued and no longer supported. It was designed for a 32bit XP machine. How can I confirm whether its 64bit specific? I'm concerned this might be the issue.

Creative has the absolute worst software support of any hardware company I can think of. I was actually surprised there were as many driver updates as there were.

I am not saying to give up on the card, but with the searching I have done so far, must of the solutions were stupid ("I rebooted my computer") or giving up ("I just bought a new card").
 

fjmeat

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2010
4,874
0
76
**Solved**

Well for any future reference I did find a "fix." It is a Win7 64bit issue. Using part of the instructions provided to me above: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-pictures/crackling-or-no-sound-dell-xps-710-h2c/5a20bb7d-ba83-4053-a304-c0671b616aef

I did the work-around solution:

First run MSCONFIG
select the boot tab
select advanced options
under max memory select 3990 (or any value under 4 GB is fine IE anything less than 1024 * 4)

My PC is no longer running at 4GB RAM - bit 64bit is still installed and I have crystal clear sound.

THANK YOU EVERYONE for your time and suggestions!
 

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,559
248
106
**Solved**

Well for any future reference I did find a "fix." It is a Win7 64bit issue. Using part of the instructions provided to me above: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-pictures/crackling-or-no-sound-dell-xps-710-h2c/5a20bb7d-ba83-4053-a304-c0671b616aef

I did the work-around solution:

First run MSCONFIG
select the boot tab
select advanced options
under max memory select 3990 (or any value under 4 GB is fine IE anything less than 1024 * 4)

My PC is no longer running at 4GB RAM - bit 64bit is still installed and I have crystal clear sound.

THANK YOU EVERYONE for your time and suggestions!

That is pretty darn cool. Good job! Weird, but cool.
 

ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
31,516
167
106
Creative has the absolute worst software support of any hardware company I can think of. I was actually surprised there were as many driver updates as there were.

I am not saying to give up on the card, but with the searching I have done so far, must of the solutions were stupid ("I rebooted my computer") or giving up ("I just bought a new card").
FWIW I'm surprised to see the OP suffer this issue. I had an XtremeMusic card for years (before getting an all-PCie system and having to go Titanium); the card worked just fine on my 6GB X58 system for years. Issues related to 64bit addressing were solved back in the beta program in 2007.