Hi, X-Fi user here.

I have X-Fi Xtreme Music. Quick question. How am I supposed to install the latest creative driver.
I have installed X-Fi driver from installation CD. Been very good playing games.

Now playing GRID game. Can run fine, except I have to turn off hardware sound acceleration in dxdiag.
If paly DIRT, have to set full hardware acceleration. If not, can not launch.

I tried to install the latest driver for X-Fi, but ended mess up with current driver. Not improving, rather causing more problem.
Rear and center speaker do not ouptut sound. Retried and reinstall many times.

Using XP.
So, how is exactly to install the latest firmware?

Thanks a lot

First of all, thank for the help (got pics also). I'm going to try it again.
Before this, I dont how many times, I need to do the procedure all over again.
I even disable everything - antivirus, firewall..
Really frustrating

Now I know why no sound in rear and center speaker. I try many settings, restart many times. No luck at that time.

I tried to install the official driver, problem occur with no sound in speaker. Then, try to install the beta, the problem still persist.
During the installation, a prompt asking me to install newer Audio CS. One time I said yes, then all modes are gone.
2nd time, I said no, mode available, but got prob with speaker - no sound.

You're right. Tried using add/remove program, got BSOD. Need to go to safe mode, only can uninstall.
Anyway, I'll try to uninstall using your method.

After I uninstall the driver, what's the next step.
So, I install the offical driver first, then the beta driver. Correct?
Just double click the driver installer, and follow the instruction?

I'm using XP with 4G ram, the official driver should fix this, according to the details.
Then, the Beta should fix the problem with crash while playing certain game, like GRID.

Hopefully, I'll get it fix this time

Thanks a lot. Thanks2

This post has been edited by kerollowyat: Jun 11 2008, 04:37 PM

Owh I see.
I thought that's the procedure.
Because the official driver address issue with 4G ram. Thought need to install that one first, to fix the issue.
So, the latest one will cover all the issue and fix it. No need to install official driver first. OK.

So, uninstall only the driver (not SB X-Fi at Add/Remove Program), then install the beta driver.
Double click, and follow the instructions.
Alright

Thanks a lot


EDIT.

I just installed the latest beta driver.
But, it seem the problem still there. I have to manually adjusted manually for the rear and center sound, every time I changed the volume.

EDIT

Rear sound heard from center and rear speaker. Weird
Uninstall everything. Install using the latest official driver. Work fine. No rear and center sound. Fixed it. Contorl the volume using Windows sound panel.
Can not play GRID with full hardware sound acceleration, though.

IMO, beta driver is a totally no. It's not even solve the problem that it claimed, it make it worse.
No improvement / fix. Totally mess up.
Anyone plan to install the beta, strongly recommend you to not.

Thanks a lot.

This post has been edited by kerollowyat: Jun 12 2008, 05:11 AM

In X-Fi card already comes with Dolby surround and DTS decoder?
What type connection you use?

I'm using Edifier R51, and connected with the cable provided (surround,subwoofer,center).
You mention SPDIF and Digital output. This is the best connection for the best quality?

Where I can find someone who offer mod service. You do?

If modding is so easy, then, there would not be only 3 of you in this thread

Hm..need external decoder. So, If I play like Bluray movie or DTS / Dolby movies, I need external decoder, although X-Fi already has built in decoder.

Yea, that's why I ask for the masters.
I already have AC3 filter. ATM, I consider myself satisfied with the sound quality. Not sure If I heard yours.
My X-Fi XtremeMusic already cost RM400 when I first bought it.
Off course, afraid of modding.

Half modded also a mod. Need steady hand
Have you updated your driver with the beta driver. What's your opinion.
Mine didnt bring any good at all. Even make it worst.
Heh. Sorry lor.. Can not discuss modding only. Dont know much.

Yes, the driver doesnt affect the SQ.
As for me, the Beta driver cause a problem, that I cant play game in Game mode, as this will cause the game to crash. Have to play in Entertainment mode.
Althought, in details, it supposed to fix it, but somehow not successful.
I did uninstall, use driver cleaner. Reinstall, no luck.
It is beta driver, so I understand.

I can play movies with sound in 5 speakers, but the rear speaker is slow.

If I use Media Player Classic the sound is much lower than using PowerDVD. I fix the volume of my speaker Edifier R51.
I need to lower the volume of the PowerDVD. Not sure if this normal

Which one better - Stereo surround or expand. I read in a forum, better use expand and make it 100% as this will dedicate each sound to each speaker. Where as surround mirror the sound to all speaker.

I do not wish the sound to travel to other room, so use expand (this is suggested by a person in a forum. Dont remember which).

Please advice. Thanks.

I'm using X-Fi XtremeMusic.

How exactly the right ways to install new driver.
First, I run the update wihout uninstalling the old driver. The setup uninstall it. Restart and install new driver. Everything is good, except, I can change any mode, ie Entertainment Mode to Game Mode, vice versa. The Volume Panel at the taskbar didnt allowed me to change the mode. It said, no support for the application.

Secondly, I uninstalled the old driver from device manager, restart to safe mode, run driver cleaner, restart, and install new driver. Restart, still the same prob.

Now, install back old driver from installation CD.

Care to share some tips

Ops..sorry.. I missed type. I cant switch to any mode.
I'm using XP.

Usually I switch between modes using the Vol Panel at the taskbar. But, after I install new driver, I cant do that anymore. Try to start it from start menu, also can not.
When I try to change mode, the program ask me to select audio device. When I want to select it, only "windows default audio" option appear. No SB X-Fi Audio [1000]. The SB X-Fi Audio appear when, I'm using the old driver.

Sorry for the bad explanation. Hope you understand. Thanks for the help

This post has been edited by kerollowyat: Aug 19 2008, 02:31 AM

Thanks. But, how is the right way to uninstall the old driver and install new driver.
Is it right to uninstall it from device manager. Care to share how you do it.

Which one you uninstall. There are only two that related to Creative.

1. Creative system information
2. Soundblaster X-Fi

If I uninstall the 2nd one - Soundblaster X-Fi, install new driver. Then I have new driver, but no mode. Only the driver.
I tried this before.

I've tried removing both before. But, when I remove the SB X-fi and install new driver, everything that I had with old installation is gone. ie, VolPanel, mode. Simply put, in the start menu, creative folder, there will be only audio console. It's like only the driver install and all the feature from old installation are gone.

If I tried remove the Creative System Information, error by windows will come out.

I also need to uninstall in safe mode. If not, BSOD will appear.

I tried many2 times. I'll try one more time. Thanks

Yeah, it is really pain to have install it back, and I did this many times.
I tried many possible ways.

Alright, I've tried remove the driver using the setup.exe. restart, install new driver by double click it.
But....... still same problem

when I click Mode Switcher, this error appear

"The current selected audio device is not supported by the application. Do you want to select another audio device now?"

I click yes, but only one option to select, and that is "Follow Windows default".

And now I cant change to any mode.


When I click Audio Console, these error appear

"The audio device supported by this application is not detected. The application will exit"


I think I have to reinstall back everything and forget updating the driver forever..

EDIT:

I've checked through google, and seems there is someone with the same prob. But, no solution, though

EDIT:

Just spend time about 5 hours. Finally, I got it right. I don't know exactly what's wrong. But, when I disable Audio Emulator from startup. Restart again. Everything just fine at this moment.

I'm not sure which one that fix it, either 2nd restart or disable the Audio Emulator.

EDIT

I've done couple of experiment. It seems that the disabling the Audio Emulator is not the fix. The same problem arise. I cant switch mode again.
I noticed the problem vanish after I start the pc twice (1st start - got problem. 2nd start - no problem)

Sorry for making this thread long because of this

This post has been edited by kerollowyat: Aug 21 2008, 12:36 AM

Installed the new console launcher.

Everything is fine, except I need to disbale UpdReg.exe, which is belong to Creative (I checked it from Google). If not disable, can not change / switch between modes.

Yeah, I know someone will eventually said that.
Maybe, I need to format my hard disk. Going to change to Vista.

Anyone here know how to tune the Creative soundcard, to get more bass. I'm using Edifier R51. I'm feeling the speaker is lack of bass.
What's redirect bass do actually.

Thanks

X-Fi Xtreme Music is not the same as X-Fi Xtreme Audio.
If I'm not mistaken, many user do not recommend Xtreme Audio.

A friend of mine pair his Xtreme Music with 2.1 Eacan speaker. It sounds great.

So, if I have an old amplifier that support DTS, it's better to select option to use external decoder, right?
Or, is it still better to have the sound card to decode the sound.

My amplifier support surround sound for the sound output. But, for input the only connection is the red/white cable.
When I select 5.1 config in Entertainment/Game mode, during channel test, only left and right speaker output the sound.
But, when I play game and watch HD movies, I can hear the sound from all speaker, including the rear.
The only problem is, during game, the speech voice is low. I'm thinking the center speaker is not doing its job.

I did the same procedure using 2.1 config, the result is the same.
So, now, I'm not sure which one is better to choose - 2.1 or 5.1.

So, RCA cannot send DD/DTS digital signal. That mean, I dont get full surround sound?

My amp model is Dynaco AV-991. I tried to search it through google. No result.
But, the specs state it support digital DTS.

Looking to buy Yamaha AV receiver. No one here willing to sell