New drivers won't work for X-Fi Xtreme Gamer

Question

I use Windows XP SP 2 with my X-Fi Xtreme Gamer.
I used the Device Manager to uninstall my old drivers (v2.5.0006), rebooted, cancelled the Windows new-hardware popup, and installed the new drivers (v2.5.0008). I had no sound immediately after the installation, though I think I should have heard mouse-clicking sounds and sounds that accompany opening and closing windows from my desktop and Windows Explorer. After restarting after the installation, I still had no sound.
To restore sound, I uninstalled the new drivers and reinstalled the old ones.
Has anyone else encountered this trouble Does anyone know what is happening
Here is some information on my system:
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version: 5..2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
System Name: YOUR-C7B5E9C69F
User Name: YOUR-C7B5E9C69F\Russell
Windows Directory: C:\WINDOWS
System Directory: C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume
Locale: United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5..2600.280 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-258)"
Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time
System Manufacturer: Magnell
System Model: ABS Ultimate M6
System Type: X86-based PC
Motherboard: ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe NF4 (Socket 939)
Processor: x86 Family 5 Model 7 Stepping 0 Authentic AMD ~263 MHz (AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 (2.63 GHz), socket 939
BIOS Version/Date: Phoenix Technologies, LTD ASUS A8N-SLI DELUXE ACPI BIOS Revision 006, 3/3/2005
SMBIOS Version: 2.3
Memory: Dual DDR GB PC3200XL Corsair
Total Physical Memory: 2,048.00 MB
Available Physical Memory: .68 GB
Total Virtual Memory: 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory: .96 GB
Page File Space: 3.85 GB
Page File: C:\pagefile.sys
Video: EVGA NVidia GeForce 6800Ultra 256MB
Video Card Drivers: NVidia Forceware drivers version 6.4.00.756
Hard Dri've: Western Digital Raptor 74GB WD740GD 0,000RPM 8MB
Sound: Creative Labs Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer (driver v2.5.0006)
CompUSA Dual Format Double Layer DVD+/-RW USB (R = 6x DVD, 48x CD)
Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 93c 9 LCD
Mouse: Logitech G9 Laser (Driver v.4.22.52)
Keyboard: Ideazon MERC Stealth Illuminated Gaming Keyboard (Model No. KUH0702)
Printer: HP Photosmart C5580
Mass Storage Device: Corsair Flash Voyager 2.0 GB (USB 2.0 flash memory dri've)
Power: PC Power and Cooling Turbo-Cool 50
Email: Outlook Express version 6.00.2900.280 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-258)
Virus and Spyware Protection: Norton Internet Security 2009
Internet Service Provider: SBC/Yahoo! Pro DSL

Answer 1

I have solved my own problem. The trouble was that using the Device Manager to uninstall my old drivers did not work. Apparently a file that needed to be deleted was not deleted, and that file prevented the new drivers from working. I finally got the new drivers to work by using the following procedure, which except from some notes I have inserted, was obtained by email from Creative support:
1. Go to Control Panel, Add Remove Programs and un-install all listings related to your audio card. Do not restart your computer when prompted so.
2. Go to Control Panel, and switch to Classic View. Click System, Hardware tab, Device Manager button and delete all sound cards entries in Sound, Video and Game Controllers as well as any previous sound card entries from the Device Manager. ?Note: Personally, to get to Device Manager, I don?t follow these directions. I do this: click the Windows Start button + E, look to the left and right-click My Computer, click Properties, click Hardware tab, click Device Manager.
3. Reboot the computer and cancel out of any driver installation if you are prompted. Insert the Creative Sound Blaster installation CD into your CD-ROM dri've. Exit from the installation wizard if it autoruns.
4. Click Start, Run and then Browse. Browse to Z:\Audio\Drivers\CTZAPXX.EXE, where Z represents the CD Rom Dri've. Choose YES if you receive a prompt "Overwrite existing shared creative audio driver files?" NOTE: This CTZAPXX.EXE file could not be found on my X-Fi Xtreme installation disk by using the Z:\Audio\Drivers\CTZAPXX.EXE path. I had do use the Windows Search engine to do a search on my X-Fi Xtreme installation disk. After finding it, I highlighted the CTZAPXX.EXE program, opened it, and continued with these driver-uninstallation instructions. This seems to be a critical step. If your installation disk doesn't have this file, or if you don't have an installation disk, I suggest doing a Web search for CTZAPXX.EXE. It's a Creative Update Utility, so I don't think it will harm your computer. But I use Windows XP, and I don't know anything about Vista.
5. Select Driver un-installation for WDM drivers and click OK.
6. When prompted to restart, say No.
7. Click Start, Run, type MSCONFIG and press Enter.
8. Check the box next to Selecti've Startup and deselect Load Startup Items.
9. Select the SERVICES tab and select Hide All Microsoft Services.
10. Uncheck all results and click OK.
1. Browse to the C:\Temp folder and C:\Windows\TEMP (if it exists) - all files and folders in the temp folder need to be either deleted or moved to a new folder. ?NOTE: I had to go to my C:\Windows\TEMP file to do this step. Also, I took care to copy and paste all of these TEMP files to a new folder before I tried deleting them. Then I deleted all the Windows\TEMP files that I could. Some would not delete. Indeed some of these files could not be copy and pasted to the new folder. But that was okay. I just left alone those files I could not copy and delete, and I proceeded to delete all of the other files. The TEMP files that I could not delete did not affect my uninstallation of old sound drivers or the installation of new sound drivers.
2. Browse to Program Files, Creative and delete the Sound Blaster Folder - if you get a file that won't delete, right click on the file, click Properties and clear all the attributes. The file should then be able to be deleted.
3. Empty the Recycle Bin, and reboot the computer.
4. If you wish to install your new sound drivers, do so now. Otherwise, go to the next step. If you do install you new drivers?which I would do?don?t restart after the installation. Do the next two steps first.
5. Click on Start, Run. Type MSCONFIG and press Enter.
6. Select Normal Startup, and press the OK button.
7. Reboot the computer
8. At this point I copy-pasted all those Windows\TEMP files from my new folder back to their proper place in Windows\TEMP. Then I deleted the new folder. While restoring these TEMP files to the Windows\TEMP file, I got a couple of messages telling me these files already existed. I clicked No. That is, I did NOT replace or overwrite any existing files in the Windows\TEMP folder.
9. The new sound drivers should now be working.
Message Edited by Solipso on 04-22-2009 07:6 AMMessage Edited by Solipso on 04-22-2009 07:7 AM