Like the title says I set 5.1 and full range speakers and full range surround. Everything sounds good and then on restart it reverts back. It's really frustrating.
What OS and what version of the drivers? I remember having strange sound issues with the 8.1 drivers they had out and had to revert to the Windows 8 drivers with my SB-Z.
drivers:
Driver
Creative Sound Blaster Z-Series Software
Filesize : 157.49 MB Download
Show Details
Release date : 12 Dec 14
This download contains the software(s) and application(s) for Sound Blaster® Z-Series. For more details, read the rest of this Web release note.
Application
That looks like the latest driver. Only thing I can suggest from here (work) is try uninstalling it and reinstalling the driver. If it still persists then try the version prior to it as I had to do.
I figured out the answer. It's the creative software. Whenever it loads it resets it back. All you have to do is disable all creative processes in msconfig. That includes anything in the startup AND services tab.
I know this is a stupid question but some time it is the stupid things we over look. Have you saved your custom profile? You need to save all your sett8ngs to a custom profile for them to save.