Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer stopped working after installing GTX 970

7r1bb1e

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Jan 16, 2011
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Hello guys!

I have just upgraded my videocard and memory(i dont think its relevant) from GTX 570 to GTX 970. BUT, the moment i installed the new Nvidia drivers, my sound was gone...
My rig is:
CPU: Intel 2500K
MB: Asus P8P67 Pro
GPU: MSI GTX 970
Memory: 2x4GB Gskill 1600
Audiocard: Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer
OS: Windows 8.1 64BIT

I did google this problem and it seems that NVIDIA Audio HD driver is at a conflict with Creative X-Fi driver.
I tried:
1)Removing NVIDIA driver completely with Driver Sweeper and installing it without the HD audio.
2)Removing Creative drivers and reinstalling them.

No matter what i do, it just wont work... And one more thing - i get this error in device manager when i click on Creative X-Fi Audio Processor - This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use. (Code 12)

If you want to use this device, you will need to disable one of the other devices on this system.

Also, if i click to uninstall the creative driver from device manager, the pc will give error of IRQL not less or equal and then restarts...

I am dealing with it for the last 4 hours with no sucess. I hope you guys can help me to solve it.

BIG THNX IN ADVANCE!!!
 
Solution
That is too bad. It sucks how the card acts sometimes. I can't live without the clarity and options my XtremeGamer provides. When you do a clean install next time don't forget to pop it back in and see if it works.
I had this issue when using the Windows 10 Tech Preview. Never did figure it out and had to switch to onboard sound. When I went back to 8.1 it worked fine.

Try uninstalling the driver again and remove the card from the system. Make sure the system still works when it is removed.

When you put it back in use the other PCI slot and see if that helps.
 


Ill try that in a an hour. Do you mean that i should remove the sound card while the PC is working?

 


I am sorry, but what is CMOS?
 


ASUS_P8_P67_PRO_CLRTC.jpg
 
Well, i tried everythin you told me guys. Nothing works... The only progress i got is that i dont get the blue screen when i mess with Creative X-Fi Audio Processor and i got a new error when i enter the properties of Creative X-Fi Audio Processor(This device cannot start. (Code 10)

{Operation Failed}
The requested operation was unsuccessfu)

This is the most frustrating thing that ever happened to me... Damn you Creative!

If i wont solve it in the next 2-3 hours, then i'll have to fomat and reinstall Windows.
 
That may or may not work.

I do love my XtremeGamer but man it is finicky sometimes. I've had cases of moving around HDDs and it stops working. When this happened with Windows 10 it refused to work even with multiple re-installs of W10. However I believe the issue was caused by installing an older build then updating to most recent.

Whatever the outcome let us know!
 
UPDATE

I got the following response from official Creative support:

Thank you for contacting Creative.

We would like you to perform a full uninstall of your soundcard's driver and applications. For instructions, you may refer to the following link :

Uninstalling Sound Blaster Drivers and Applications (Windows 7 and Windows 8)
Solution ID: 55438
http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=55438

Upon performing the above, we would like you to install the latest driver for your Soundcard.

For the download link, you may refer to the following web-directions :

1. Go to the Creative support site. ( http://support.creative.com/ )

2. Select Sound Blaster and scroll down to the bottom of the page,
- Click on “If your product is not listed above, please click here.”
- Select X-Fi Series from the list, then select Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer from Current Products list and click on "Next".

3. On the right panel under Quicklinks, click on the "Downloads" option. Scroll down to the manual selection at the bottom of the page, select your operating system and click submit

4. Choose the following:
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi series driver
File Name : SBXF_PCDRV_L11_2_30_0004.exe
*You can click on "show details" for more information.

5. Click on "Download" and follow the instruction to complete the installation.

Once you have installed the above, select your soundcard as the default playback device and monitor if there is sound. For instructions, you may refer to the following link :

Setting your Creative Device as the Default Playback/Recording Device in Windows or Mac
Solution ID : 64868
http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=64868

In order to ensure optimal performance from your Creative speaker set, kindly ensure that you have the correct settings. To do this, click on the "Configure" button on the lower-left portion of the panel, then select the speaker setup respectively

We look forward for your reply upon performing the above.


Regards

Raja
Creative Worldwide Customer Response


Which is exactly what you guys told me to do... =)





 
I decided to remove this shitty Creative X-Fi once and for all and used the onboard Realtek soundcard.

CONCLUSION:

Never buy a Creative product again.

Thank you guys for your help, but i believe the problem was unsolvable even if would have formatted the windows.
 


This solved the problem for me. After resetting the CMOS, windows picked up a couple new PCI bridge range drivers and installed the creative sound card without the code 12. Sound is now working, and that's with everything enabled in the BiOS as well.

Thank you!