SB Live 5.1 Not recognized.

[Endeffect]

I recently purchased a Soundblaster Live 5.1 for an old computer I am putting together for my gf. I've built several computers so I'm very familar with the procedure. When I first booted up the machine, it recognized there was new hardware but just claimed it was 'multimedia audio device'. It wasn't able to detect what it was. So I went to www.creative.com and downloaded the appropriate drivers for it. The drivers said "Setup could not detect any Sound Blaster audio device on this system. Make sure the hardware is installed properly" or something to that effect.

So then I tried it on every PCI slot available to no avail. Windows and the Creative drivers refused to recognize the card. So I thought perhaps the card is bad. I then installed it on my machine and it immediately recognized it and installed it.

My old machine is:

Windows XP
Celeron 433mhz
ABIT motherboard

I had a Soundblaster Live when I used to use this computer several years ago and it worked fine. I made no changes to the BIOS or anything. Why on earth is this occuring? Any ideas anyone?

 

[johnjkr1]

You are likely using the wrong drivers. Creative has update sets, and full sets.

 

[thaneboy]

Even i had a problem when i downloaded drivers from creative , i also got same error message and it refused to recognised the Soundblaster Live 5.1 . But luckily i found my lost cd and the drivers supplied in the cd worked . It's true that creative have driver UPDATE ONLY and full driver different download . Or try website driversguide.com

 

[Endeffect]

No, that's not it. Windows recognized it immediately on my other computer and it is not recognized no matter what drivers I use. Frustrating. I don't have a CD as it was purchased OEM. Any other ideas?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Probably the version for Dells and Compaqs they had that required particular drivers, I would take the model number off the card and check it out.

 

[Endeffect]

Yeah, I just tried the Dell drivers from www.creative.com and it didn't work either. I found a friend who had a Soundblaster Live 5.1 CD and installing the drivers off there didn't work either. It continues to only see it as a "Multimedia Audio Device". I'm about to flash the BIOS and see if that helps at all.

I just don't get it. I used to have a Soundblaster Live installed on this machine, until I moved it to my new computer. Then I ran this machine without a soundcard for a couple of years. I then reformatted and installed XP and now it won't recognize this new Live 5.1. My other computer recognized it immediately. Bizarre. More ideas are appreciated..

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Have you tried musical pci slots with it yet?

 

[Endeffect]

Yep, I've tried every PCI slot on the board. I just flashed the BIOS to no effect. Sorrow.

I guess I will try my Soundblaster Live Value from my other machine next in it and see if that works. I tried an Audigy here at work and that didn't work either. It seems like the motherboard can't read the PNP information off the card. Just so weird since I had an SB Live on this same exact computer a few years back. The identical card that I had in this machine is in my new one, so it'll be interesting to see if that works. I'll keep ya posted.

 

[imported_Phil]

Have you tried "forcing" the driver in instead of letting Windows install it itself? Works sometimes.

 

[johnjkr1]

If the card shows up in device manager as a multimedia audio device, then your motherboard is working fine. You have a driver problem.

 

[Endeffect]

Yes, I've tried forcing the drivers in Windows to the exact device. It appears to accept this, but then it won't work as a sound card at all and installing the full LiveDrvUni-Pack (which includes some nice mixer stuff..) it will not recognize there is any Sound Blaster card installed.

I assure you this is not a driver problem, but understand why you would insist it is. I've now tried every driver from www.creative.com that is a Soundblaster Live driver (both the normal drivers and the LiveDrvUni packs) and NONE recognize there is a Sound Blaster card installed.

Please keep in mind I can also take this exact card, place it into a PCI slot in my new computer, reboot Windows, and this computer immediately recognizes it as a Soundblaster Live 5.1 Digital and installs the drivers and it will work.

N O T H I N G seems to work on the other machine. I will now take out the Soundblaster Live Value card in my current machine, and try to put that in my old machine. That is the EXACT same card (literally the same one) that I used to use on this old machine several years ago. I don't have faith it will work since the new SB Live 5.1 works fine in this computer (so its not faulty) and the Audigy I tried at work also did not work.

Bizarre bizarre.

 

[Endeffect]

I thought you all might be interested in what ended up resolving the issue. First I just want to sincerely thank everyone who gave their two cents since there was nothing in it for you . I really appreciate that.

I put my old SB Live Value from my current computer into this old one and it immediately recognized the card. I was then able to install the driver pack I wanted to just fine. I guess that old ABIT BH6 motherboard can't recognize new sound cards, even after a BIOS and chipset update. Very odd. Something to keep in mind though..

And I get a bit new SB Live 5.1 Digital for my new comp, so it works out .

 

[imported_Phil]

That's very strange. I wonder if it was a PCI-compliance issue, i.e. PCI 2.1-compatible card in a non-2.1-compatible board?