X-Fi Support Syndicate & Owner's Clubhouse

[Black Panther]

Hey guys I got a little problem.

I just recently went from XP x86 to Vista x64.

Now whereas in XP I used to play at good high volume on my X-Fi Xtreme Music sound card and Z-5500's using barely half the volume...
In Vista I have to even go into boost mode (ie full volume plus tweaking to get more) to get decent sound.

This is when I compare the same songs I used to play on XP and now on Vista, so it's not a problem with the song quality.
I've installed Vista Drivers for my x-fi.... they seem less... bloated then they were under XP but I'm sure I'm missing out something. I'm certainly missing out something because I have to up the volume a lot, and the Z5500's aren't exactly minuscule unpowered speakers either... so I think something is amiss?

 

[Wile E]

My volume is lower in Vista with my Audigy2 ZS as well. I thought it was just me. lol.

 

[DaMulta]

Hey guys I got a little problem.

I just recently went from XP x86 to Vista x64.

Now whereas in XP I used to play at good high volume on my X-Fi Xtreme Music sound card and Z-5500's using barely half the volume...
In Vista I have to even go into boost mode (ie full volume plus tweaking to get more) to get decent sound.

This is when I compare the same songs I used to play on XP and now on Vista, so it's not a problem with the song quality.
I've installed Vista Drivers for my x-fi.... they seem less... bloated then they were under XP but I'm sure I'm missing out something. I'm certainly missing out something because I have to up the volume a lot, and the Z5500's aren't exactly minuscule unpowered speakers either... so I think something is amiss?

mess with the pci latency in bios

if you have that setting.

and or make your motherboard redo it's irq and swap pci slots

 

[DaMulta]

also


control panel settings for vista


look there. it controls the x-fi differently

 

[Alex Clarke]

It's been a while since I've checked this forum... and yes, my X-fi is still knackered!

I was just wondering if anyone has found a way to reset the firmware on an X-fi card yet? I know that imperialreign was looking in to this at one point.

The 2.15.0006 drivers (for Windows XP x64) updated my firmware and caused major issues to my card.

Also, does anyone know the previous driver release (again for Windows XP x64) before 2.15.0006?

I'd like to try and rollback again, but can't find many old drivers online. I did contact Creative and asked for a copy, but they refused!

 

[imperialreign]

It's been a while since I've checked this forum... and yes, my X-fi is still knackered!

I was just wondering if anyone has found a way to reset the firmware on an X-fi card yet? I know that imperialreign was looking in to this at one point.

The 2.15.0006 drivers (for Windows XP x64) updated my firmware and caused major issues to my card.

Also, does anyone know the previous driver release (again for Windows XP x64) before 2.15.0006?

I'd like to try and rollback again, but can't find many old drivers online. I did contact Creative and asked for a copy, but they refused!

Sorry to hear you're still having issues . . . and it doesn't surprise me that Creative wouldn't cough up an older driver pack - their tech support, last I checked, is still ridiculously poor :shadedshu

as to the firmware, I don't know of any means to re-instate an older version . . . possibly, an older driver pack that updates the firmware, but there's a good possiblity it'll ignore the update if it sees a newer version installed to the card.

Possibly an RMA - but that can't guarantee that it hasn't already been updated at some point . . .

there are older driver packs available from various sources on the i-net . . . Creative doesn't leave them up on their site, though . . .

2.07.0004
2.09.0007
2.14.0001 beta

IIRC - 2.09.007 was the last official driver release before 2.15.0006 . . . almost everything in-between (aside from 2.14.0001b) are Vista alpha and beta drivers.

I'm not sure if they'll be of any help, though.


Just curious - have you tried the most recent driver update 2.18.0008? If you try to roll back to an earlier driver, and still have issues, it might be worth giving the most recent pack a shot.

Oh, and BTW, when rolling back, make sure you do a clean driver sweep, install and registry clean to drastically reduce any possibilities of driver version conflicts

 

[FreedomEclipse]

It's been a while since I've checked this forum... and yes, my X-fi is still knackered!

I was just wondering if anyone has found a way to reset the firmware on an X-fi card yet? I know that imperialreign was looking in to this at one point.

The 2.15.0006 drivers (for Windows XP x64) updated my firmware and caused major issues to my card.

Also, does anyone know the previous driver release (again for Windows XP x64) before 2.15.0006?

I'd like to try and rollback again, but can't find many old drivers online. I did contact Creative and asked for a copy, but they refused!

a huge 'archive' of drivers >Here< - pick your poison.

on the subject of Creative 'refusing' to give you a copy - you shoulda just make you position clear that you will send their card back to them in peices as well as discontinuing to recommend them to friends & family & also that you will be investing a huge amount of money into the top model Asus Xonar - a great product that actually works & is made even better by Asus's own drivers/support.

Obviously your not investing in a Xonar but you want them to call your bluff & see you as a potential 'valued' customer & not some guy thats fallen into their 'idiot' trap.

if they they laugh in your face then, ask for the RMA address where you can send the broken card back to.

if they hang up on you - then do as you wish i suppose...Asus Xonars are nice cards.

If they are still on the phone, then just continue to rant on about their shoddy customer services & if possible that you will be launching some sorta online petition & sending the results to & getting some governing body or commitee involved to make sure to make them learn that Customers dont like to be treated like shit.

there are quite a few places where a consumer can write to & complain such as UK's own Office Of Fair Trading.

& if the governing body does pick the case up & launch an investigation into it, im sure with the amount of complaints they have already had or are still recieving. they maybe faced with Legal action which Id think they would wanna avoid.

there really should be some sorta board or comittee that monitors Creatives 'customer satisfaction' ratings.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Sorry to hear you're still having issues . . . and it doesn't surprise me that Creative wouldn't cough up an older driver pack - their tech support, last I checked, is still ridiculously poor :shadedshu

as to the firmware, I don't know of any means to re-instate an older version . . . possibly, an older driver pack that updates the firmware, but there's a good possiblity it'll ignore the update if it sees a newer version installed to the card.

Possibly an RMA - but that can't guarantee that it hasn't already been updated at some point . . .

there are older driver packs available from various sources on the i-net . . . Creative doesn't leave them up on their site, though . . .

2.07.0004
2.09.0007
2.14.0001 beta

IIRC - 2.09.007 was the last official driver release before 2.15.0006 . . . almost everything in-between (aside from 2.14.0001b) are Vista alpha and beta drivers.

I'm not sure if they'll be of any help, though.


Just curious - have you tried the most recent driver update 2.18.0008? If you try to roll back to an earlier driver, and still have issues, it might be worth giving the most recent pack a shot.

Oh, and BTW, when rolling back, make sure you do a clean driver sweep, install and registry clean to drastically reduce any possibilities of driver version conflicts

damn you!!! I was ranting for so long u beat me to the crunch

 

[imperialreign]

a huge 'archive' of drivers >Here< - pick your poison.

on the subject of Creative 'refusing' to give you a copy - you shoulda just make you position clear that you will send their card back to them in peices as well as discontinuing to recommend them to friends & family & also that you will be investing a huge amount of money into the top model Asus Xonar - a great product that actually works & is made even better by Asus's own drivers/support.

Obviously your not investing in a Xonar but you want them to call your bluff & see you as a potential 'valued' customer & not some guy thats fallen into their 'idiot' trap.

if they they laugh in your face then, ask for the RMA address where you can send the broken card back to.

if they hang up on you - then do as you wish i suppose...Asus Xonars are nice cards.

If they are still on the phone, then just continue to rant on about their shoddy customer services & if possible that you will be launching some sorta online petition & sending the results to & getting some governing body or commitee involved to make sure to make them learn that Customers dont like to be treated like shit.

there are quite a few places where a consumer can write to & complain such as UK's own Office Of Fair Trading.

& if the governing body does pick the case up & launch an investigation into it, im sure with the amount of complaints they have already had or are still recieving. they maybe faced with Legal action which Id think they would wanna avoid.

there really should be some sorta board or comittee that monitors Creatives 'customer satisfaction' ratings.

although I agree with your post, in general . . . the better idea, instead of sending it back in pieces, is to send the whole thing via RMA . . . if you get another, and it still acts up, RMA it again, and again, and again if needs be

If they refuse, explain to them that you're entitled to an RMA until the product works as intended - if it's something that could've been solved with an older driver, they should be more than willing to cough it up.

I find it in extreme bad taste when every other MAJOR hardware manufacturer routinely keeps an ongoing archive of outdated drivers publicly available - but Creative doesn't. One of my few "real" gripes with the company. It's not that users are entitled to outdated drivers, as we're really not (besides, the companies in question don't fully support outdated drivers) . . . it's the fact that it's been standard industry practice for at least the last 10 years, from software companies to hardware companies.

damn you!!! I was ranting for so long u beat me to the crunch

s'all good

 

[FreedomEclipse]

it amazes me. With the amount of bad press that creative gets/recieves, dont they ever step back & wonder what their actually doing or why so many of their customers are pissed off?? even my main source for hardware are very very reluctant to sell creative products due to the amount of complaints & returns they get.

 

[Alex Clarke]

Thanks for the information FreedomEclipse and imperialreign.

When I contacted Creative Support they basically told me that my card was out of warranty. They eventually offered me a discount on one of the new Titanium cards.

Quotes from some of their emails back to me...

If the sound card is faulty we won't be able to replace it anymore as based on your first email, you purchased it on 02/23/2006. Sound card warranty is only 24 months from date of purchase.

So, I guess I can't simply RMA this again, and again and again... until it works.

We can offer you X-Fi Titanium - Fatal1ty Champ Series for only £143.99inc VAT and X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro Series for only £107.99 inc VAT.

At the time, this discount worked out to be around £12 or £20!

I've had around 3 or 4 of Creatives cards over the years, never experience problems and always recommended them to others. But since this little saga, I might have to change my mind! Yes, I've told Creative Support this, but they just don't care... :shadedshu

At the moment I'm testing out every single driver release I can get my hands on. Uninstallation and installation is being performed as detailed below.

Uninstallation:

1. Uninstall all Creative items from Add or Remove Programs
2. Reboot
3. Run the driver uninstall utility (on the X-Fi CD)
4. Reboot
5. Reboot into Safe Mode
6. Run Driver Sweeper
7. Reboot

Installation:

1. Run the driver setup (e.g. SBXF_PCDVRBETA_LB_2_14_0001.exe)
2. Reboot

Currently I'm finding that all the drivers I install work until I reboot my computer for a second time.

For example...

Uninstall (as per above) -> Install (as per above, inc. the reboot) -> Drivers work great!

Now, if I reboot again, I get the usual pop/cracks and broken sound in general. Some drivers give different results. For example, the SBXF_PCDVRBETA_LB_2_14_0001 drivers cause constant left channel static.

So, this pretty much confirms that the card itself (hardware wise) is fine... I guess!

What I don't understand is why the drivers fail after this second reboot.

Does anyone know of a way to monitor files (or maybe the registry) to see if anything major changes before/after this reboot?

Once again, thanks for everyones help.

 

[Tatty_Two]

Have just got the Elite pro so I am in, still tinkering with it at the moment but initial impressions are good, i read in many places that going from my old Audigy 4 (non pro) to this would give little or no audio improvement, i have gotta say thus far that i can hear the improvements already!

 

[imperialreign]

Thanks for the information FreedomEclipse and imperialreign.

When I contacted Creative Support they basically told me that my card was out of warranty. They eventually offered me a discount on one of the new Titanium cards.

Quotes from some of their emails back to me...



So, I guess I can't simply RMA this again, and again and again... until it works.



At the time, this discount worked out to be around £12 or £20!

I've had around 3 or 4 of Creatives cards over the years, never experience problems and always recommended them to others. But since this little saga, I might have to change my mind! Yes, I've told Creative Support this, but they just don't care... :shadedshu

sorry to hear it's out of warranty - but Creative's response seems typical . . . pathetic.

From this point, I'd recommend that if you were to get a new card, and if you were to consider another X-Fi . . . go to a local Best Buy, or PC parts store, or somewhere that has a "no questions" return policy; purchase a card, try it out, if you have issues or aren't happy with it at all - take it back and get yourself a Xonar or Auzen. Although they have their share of problems, their customer and tech support is far superior to Creative's . . . and if need be I'm always willing to help as I can as well.

Curious, though - do you have another computer you can test your card in?

At the moment I'm testing out every single driver release I can get my hands on. Uninstallation and installation is being performed as detailed below.

Uninstallation:

1. Uninstall all Creative items from Add or Remove Programs
2. Reboot
3. Run the driver uninstall utility (on the X-Fi CD)
4. Reboot
5. Reboot into Safe Mode
6. Run Driver Sweeper
7. Reboot

Installation:

1. Run the driver setup (e.g. SBXF_PCDVRBETA_LB_2_14_0001.exe)
2. Reboot

Currently I'm finding that all the drivers I install work until I reboot my computer for a second time.

For example...

Uninstall (as per above) -> Install (as per above, inc. the reboot) -> Drivers work great!

Now, if I reboot again, I get the usual pop/cracks and broken sound in general. Some drivers give different results. For example, the SBXF_PCDVRBETA_LB_2_14_0001 drivers cause constant left channel static.

So, this pretty much confirms that the card itself (hardware wise) is fine... I guess!

What I don't understand is why the drivers fail after this second reboot.

Does anyone know of a way to monitor files (or maybe the registry) to see if anything major changes before/after this reboot?

Once again, thanks for everyones help.

hmmm . . . it sounds like there's still stuff left over after the uninstalls - which would be why the card seems to work fine until the next reboot when WIN digs some fluff out of the pantry.


My thoughts - use the setup utility to remove all driver files, then go into Add/Remove Programs, remove all Creative software still listed. Open WIN explorer, expand Program Files, and manually delte the Creative\ folder. If there's a file or two that won't delete, you might have to kick it in Safe Mode.

Reboot into safe mode - run driver sweeper and remove all Creative traces. You might have to run the utility a few times to get everything. As long as the only things it still sees are folders listings, you should be good.

Next - remove the card from the mobo. Reboot into WIN, run a good registry cleaner (e.g.
System Mechanic, RegistryFix, etc), and have it search for any errata (make sure to do a backup prior to cleaning) and clean it. Reboot again, without the card - rerun the cleaner again, just to make sure there are no issues.

Power down, if you have another PCI slot, try installing the card there, if not re-install the card and boot up - install the drivers from your installation CD first.

Test it out - if everything seems fine, leave it at that. If there are some issues, move to the next oldest driver update and install that, etc.


At the very worst, maybe a re-install of the OS on a freshly formatted drive . . . but I won't ask you to go that route unless you're willing to do so. It's a PITA, no matter what.

Have just got the Elite pro so I am in, still tinkering with it at the moment but initial impressions are good, i read in many places that going from my old Audigy 4 (non pro) to this would give little or no audio improvement, i have gotta say thus far that i can hear the improvements already!

Nice to have you on-board, Tatty! Not sure what reviews you were reading, though, but there's a major difference in hardware alone between an Au4 and the Elite Pro. I'd be shocked if you couldn't hear the difference!

 

[Tatty_Two]

Well thats why I got the Elite pro (at a 65% discount also ) because a lot of the reviews Iread said that there was no great leap forward between say an Audigy 4 and a Xtreme gamer.

 

[eidairaman1]

well i downloaded the latest driver set and also the latest console, i was wondering, the new driver put in 2 services

Creative Audio Engine Licensing Service
Creative Audio Service

are they needed for proper operation, if there is the Creative Audio Service do i even need Windows Audio (service) enabled anymore?

can i disable both the above services?\

also another question, is there anway of switching the channeling of my speakers because my Control Speaker is on the Left of my monitor and the console says that's my right speaker, i want to switch them for proper audio distribution in games (improper detection of enemies can cause a headache)

i have the Logitech X230 speaker set

 

[FreedomEclipse]

is there anway of switching the channeling of my speakers because my Control Speaker is on the Left of my monitor and the console says that's my right speaker, i want to switch them for proper audio distribution in games (improper detection of enemies can cause a headache)

i have the Logitech X230 speaker set

make sure you have the 'right' & 'left' speakers plugged into the correct places on sub.

 

[Alex Clarke]

sorry to hear it's out of warranty - but Creative's response seems typical . . . pathetic.

From this point, I'd recommend that if you were to get a new card, and if you were to consider another X-Fi . . . go to a local Best Buy, or PC parts store, or somewhere that has a "no questions" return policy; purchase a card, try it out, if you have issues or aren't happy with it at all - take it back and get yourself a Xonar or Auzen. Although they have their share of problems, their customer and tech support is far superior to Creative's . . . and if need be I'm always willing to help as I can as well.

Curious, though - do you have another computer you can test your card in?




hmmm . . . it sounds like there's still stuff left over after the uninstalls - which would be why the card seems to work fine until the next reboot when WIN digs some fluff out of the pantry.


My thoughts - use the setup utility to remove all driver files, then go into Add/Remove Programs, remove all Creative software still listed. Open WIN explorer, expand Program Files, and manually delte the Creative\ folder. If there's a file or two that won't delete, you might have to kick it in Safe Mode.

Reboot into safe mode - run driver sweeper and remove all Creative traces. You might have to run the utility a few times to get everything. As long as the only things it still sees are folders listings, you should be good.

Next - remove the card from the mobo. Reboot into WIN, run a good registry cleaner (e.g.
System Mechanic, RegistryFix, etc), and have it search for any errata (make sure to do a backup prior to cleaning) and clean it. Reboot again, without the card - rerun the cleaner again, just to make sure there are no issues.

Power down, if you have another PCI slot, try installing the card there, if not re-install the card and boot up - install the drivers from your installation CD first.

Test it out - if everything seems fine, leave it at that. If there are some issues, move to the next oldest driver update and install that, etc.


At the very worst, maybe a re-install of the OS on a freshly formatted drive . . . but I won't ask you to go that route unless you're willing to do so. It's a PITA, no matter what.





Nice to have you on-board, Tatty! Not sure what reviews you were reading, though, but there's a major difference in hardware alone between an Au4 and the Elite Pro. I'd be shocked if you couldn't hear the difference!

Thanks for the detailed response.

I plan on testing this over the weekend. Hopefully I can get it to work!

I'll report back in a few days.

 

[imperialreign]

Thanks for the detailed response.

I plan on testing this over the weekend. Hopefully I can get it to work!

I'll report back in a few days.

hope you can too . .. it'd be a shame otherwise. Good luck!

well i downloaded the latest driver set and also the latest console, i was wondering, the new driver put in 2 services

Creative Audio Engine Licensing Service
Creative Audio Service

are they needed for proper operation, if there is the Creative Audio Service do i even need Windows Audio (service) enabled anymore?

can i disable both the above services?\

also another question, is there anway of switching the channeling of my speakers because my Control Speaker is on the Left of my monitor and the console says that's my right speaker, i want to switch them for proper audio distribution in games (improper detection of enemies can cause a headache)

i have the Logitech X230 speaker set

like any WIN service, be advised that enabling or disabling something could cause various effects. That being said, if you disable a service, and something no longer works right, you can always re-enable it.

Creative audio engine licensing service, IIRC, can be disabled if need be - this is only used with Dolby encoding/decoding and some other 3rd party functions

creative audio sercvice - I'd leave this one alone . . . IIRC, it's needed for proper functioning of the different hardware modes and channel mixing.

As to WIN audio service, I believe that still needs to stick around - there are some kernel operations that WIN needs that service for. Although, having both enabled, I'm fairly certain, is the cause of Creative's volume panel and WIN's volume panel not playing nice together . . . I might be wrong, though.


As to switching the speaker channels - aside from double checking your connections, first, as Freedom pointed out . . . IIRC, you can go into the console launcher, then click on the THX button to bring up the THX dialouge. Here, you should be able to set channel assignment and output polarity.

 

[eidairaman1]

well, heres the deal i have a XFi Extreme Music (2006) my speakers are Logitech X230 (Sub hooks into Right Driver via Dsub Serial connector) which is currently on the left due to room setup), so they are hooked up properly, i just want to change the polarity of them if possible and there is no setting to do that i can see.

 

[Kursah]

well, heres the deal i have a XFi Extreme Music (2006) my speakers are Logitech X230, so they are hooked up properly, i just want to change the polarity of them if possible and there is no setting to do that i can see.

I have the same card, and the same speakers...and I do not have that issue...what version of drivers you using? I am using the most recent release w/o issues. Something's going awry on ya if the LH sound is coming out of the RH speaker and vice-versa. I just powered them up to verify...I primarily use my Turtle Beach HPA2's for gaming, movies, music, etc...but sometimes I fire up the 230's for some good n' loud tunes.

That is just an odd issue...but alas I have never found a reverse polarity for X-Fi's...I needed it back when I was using my LTB Magnum AC97 5.1 headset as the center/sub needed to be reversed...ended up giving those to the G/F where her onboard would reverse polarity on that channel.

I doubt you will find something for the primary output. I'd say mess with everything tho...set it to 5.1, then back to 2.1, etc. You sure you have the speakers in the right locations? The RH speaker should be the one with the power button/volume switch/headphone jack, you probably do and know that, but just checking.

Also, if it continues, just switch speaker locations, verify the jack connection (try onboard sound to verify, etc).

 

[eidairaman1]

No no, physically the speaker is on the left but the CL Driver (latest version) which has its own audio ctrl pnl and then i installed the latest CL Console, i did a test in the console and it states the driver that is physically on the left (Control speaker) is the right speaker and same with the speaker on the right is the left speaker< i just want to switch polarity is all because the cable for the sub is not long enough to be placed on the right side, and i cant find that setting in the Audio Control Panel or the CL Console.

If im not mistaken the speaker that is on the left side of me is actually the right side speaker (labled that way i believe)

I have the same card, and the same speakers...and I do not have that issue...what version of drivers you using? I am using the most recent release w/o issues. Something's going awry on ya if the LH sound is coming out of the RH speaker and vice-versa. I just powered them up to verify...I primarily use my Turtle Beach HPA2's for gaming, movies, music, etc...but sometimes I fire up the 230's for some good n' loud tunes.

That is just an odd issue...but alas I have never found a reverse polarity for X-Fi's...I needed it back when I was using my LTB Magnum AC97 5.1 headset as the center/sub needed to be reversed...ended up giving those to the G/F where her onboard would reverse polarity on that channel.

I doubt you will find something for the primary output. I'd say mess with everything tho...set it to 5.1, then back to 2.1, etc. You sure you have the speakers in the right locations? The RH speaker should be the one with the power button/volume switch/headphone jack, you probably do and know that, but just checking.

Also, if it continues, just switch speaker locations, verify the jack connection (try onboard sound to verify, etc).

 

[razvan_day]

today i have just bought a x-fi extreme music sound card from a friend. i have reinstall windows vista on my computer (64 bit) and install the cd drivers and softwar. after that i have downloaded from creative the latest driver update for my x-fi . no problem with that . after a restart i wanted to change my 2.1 configuration to 5.1 because i have a z5400 logitech system . so here is the big problem i cannot select 5.1 speker setings . at the speker configuration it is set on 2.1 and cannot aplay any changes. sory for my poor english but i am romanian . hope you will undestand an replay back. have a good day . i have also send an e mail to imperialreign

 

[eidairaman1]

go thru the regular sound properties and make the change thru there, the Creative Labs Console ties in with the windows audio system.

 

[razvan_day]

where can i find the regulator saund properties?

 

[Kursah]

No no, physically the speaker is on the left but the CL Driver (latest version) which has its own audio ctrl pnl and then i installed the latest CL Console, i did a test in the console and it states the driver that is physically on the left (Control speaker) is the right speaker and same with the speaker on the right is the left speaker< i just want to switch polarity is all because the cable for the sub is not long enough to be placed on the right side, and i cant find that setting in the Audio Control Panel or the CL Console.

If im not mistaken the speaker that is on the left side of me is actually the right side speaker (labled that way i believe)

I've yet to see a CL driver for my X-fi that didn't have the standard panel which I despise using due to the lack of an EQ which is vital to tuning these cards to connected speakers/headphones imo.

So which speaker has the power/volume/headphone jack for you? Left or right?

You're trying to swap the speaker placements for ease of connectivity is what I got out of what you said there, and assuming such, I have yet to see a solution in Creative's software to alleviate your situation...you'll have to arrange the speakers as intended for proper audio output. There might be a hack or reg-edit somewhere that you can do..I dunno because I've yet to need to swap polarity on the primary out channel...as I said before I wanted it for the Center/Sub which is common on many onboard sound devices...yet on X-Fi is also non-existant as an option..but I no longer need it at this point.

Unless Imperial has a solution or "fix" for ya, I'd say you'll have to set up your speakers as they were designed to be setup to get the sound output correct...maybe you could craft an extension cable of sorts to the sub/amp? Maybe contact logitech? If they have one I'm sure it'll be a pain to get or overpriced as I've never heard of one...but it might be possible and worth a shot.

Keep me posted if you find a solution, definately interesting issue you have here!