HELP: Updating to new Beta OpenAL Audigy 2 ZS drivers has permanently screwed my PC

Question

WHY I AM IN THIS MESS:
Here is something silly I did: I tried to use the latest Beta drivers for my Audigy 2 ZS. I followed the Creative procedure, and as expected, I lost the functionality of the EAX console etc. I couldn't see any increase at all in any games (framerate was the same) so I immediately used System Restore to go back to my previous driver set.
Guess what? EAX and the other apps wouldn't work there either! SO basically, it had ruined my entire creative installation, even though I did exactly what they said and took precautions (system retore) to make sure everything was okay.
So, of course, I think 'I'll make sure I put this right, I'll use the Creative 'CleanSweep' procedures to remove and then reinstall my drivers'.
I did this, and guess what now? It wouldn't let me install the Driver CD apps, as the 'cleansweep' has left dozens of bits of junk littering my hard disk and registry. Eventually, after much much work I finally get the apps to install. Everything appears hunky-dory...
Guess what? It isn't. I now get a 'pop/click' sound at the end of sound effects in games. Not all sounds, but enough to make them unplayable. For example in Unreal 2004, I fire the assault rifle and there is a click at the end, in IL2 I fire the guns and every round has a crackle at the end. In any game that plays speech (like NASCAR, Indycar, IL2, Combat Flight Sim 3) there is a click.static at the end of the speech sample. Also, when games load and the soundcard is accessed for the first time there is a burst of static or clicking, also when games close down - not all games however. The problems do not ocurr in Counterstrike Source, unless I play for about an hour and then when a lot of sound effects are playing it gets all crackly and static-filled. None of these effects existed in any of these games before. There are no sound problems with MP3s, video, midi etc (although there is sometimes a click at the end of playing an MP3 - this was also not there before).
This is NOT an EAX problem, as in Unreal 2004 even in 'safe' sound mode (and every other setting) the noise is still there. Same in IL2, all settings same noise.
Needless to say, I am highly annoyed, especially as EXACTLY THE SAME THING happened on my old computer with an Audigy over two years ago after a driver update. In that case, I had used system restore and everything had been okay.
MY CURRENT SITUATION:
I have just removed everything Creative from my computer, including all registry keys, all Temp references, everything, have followed all the advice given about conflicts etc. I have used the latest Driver Cleaner to get rid of the hidden files creative leaves in your windows system folder. As far as the PC is concerned, there has never been a soundblaster card in this computer. I have reinstalled the original drivers from the retail CD - JUST the drivers.....and it's still there. I still have exactly the same pop/crackle after sound effects. Let me just stress that the system hardware and applications have not been altered - this only started ocurring after installing the Beta drivers.
How can this be happening after I have done a completely clean install, and everything else is as it was when the PC was working fine?
I have even gone to the extent of removing my old PCI modem in case of any conflicts, but it's just the same.
If anyone has had this problem (remember this is not a constant hiss/crackle/pop it is only after sound effects and accessing the card for the first time in apps) and has managed to fix it, please let me know. I'm sure a lot of other people have had this nightmare too - I mean I've had it myself on my old PC!
P.S. HELP ME.

Answer 1

Hi, Franky,
I had the same problems with my Audigy 2 ZS and beta driver, brother. I tried everthing- defragmentation, system restore, clean WIN XP- installation- nothing could resolve clicking and framerate drops in games. Then I remembered a MICROSOFT- article about increasing your sound performance. Go to hardware manager and check, whether DMA is selected for your hard dri've. I use a mobile rack for my hard dri'ves and those were incorrectly recognised by my BIOS. Simply activated DMA- by BIOS for the hard dri've- voila, no more sound stuttering !
I guess you suffer from BIOS or data transfer problem. I hope that this hint was helpful !
Drop me a line, if this resolves your problem !
Good night !
BobbyBoom76