For all you wizards...I have a tough problem to fix...

[Queensryche]

Hey guys. I am totally stumped right now. I have been trying to fix my brothers computer now for months and I just can't get it done. Here is the problem,the best way I can describe it anyway:

First the system.

Pentium 4 3.4 ghz processor
Geforce 6800 GT
ASUS Motherboard (not sure the exact model,if anyone can tell me how to find out I will)
Sound Blaster X-Fi
80 gig hard drive (SATA)
Windows XP Home

Now,the problem is,whenever he is playing a game on it,it locks up at random times. Some games (most) will just flat out not even work. When it locks up,there is always a sound that locks. It's usually a high pitched constant sound. It doesn't go away until I shut the surge protector off.

You can't Ctrl-Alt-Delete or Alt-Tab out of the game,the only option is to shut the surge protector off.

What's so strange though,is like in Company of Heroes,one of the multiplayer maps works perfectly fine no matter how many times you do it,the campaign though locks up all the time. It's unplayable,usually locking up within the first 10 seconds of play.

It does this in Oblivion,and pretty much any other game I own.

I thought it was sound card related,but I pulled the sound card out and got rid of the drivers,as best I could,and it still locked up,I just couldn't hear the sound anymore. I updated the drivers of both the sound card and video card,still the same problem.

I seriously have no idea what to do anymore. I was thinking it could be related to the hard drive,being SATA,I'm very green with dealing with SATA,so I'm not sure how they work exactly.

Any help whatsoever would be appreciated. Any questions about hardware/etc just ask and I'll answer best I can. Thanks.

 

[Slikkster]

It's most likely the infamous "squeal of death" issue that has plagued various Creative soundcards, such as the Audigy line and even the one you're referring to. Here's a couple of Google hits on it:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=...-49%2CGGLJ%3Aen&q=squeal+of+death+x-fi

 

[Queensryche]

The thing is,it locks up even when the sound card is not in the system.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

To find out what MB you have, you can open the case, find the serial number and, go to the ASUS site or, you can DL Belarc Advisor which will tell you all of your system component info.

 

[Queensryche]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
To find out what MB you have, you can open the case, find the serial number and, go to the ASUS site or, you can DL Belarc Advisor which will tell you all of your system component info.

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/876/123iv1.jpg

Maybe that will help. Thanks for that link.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: Queensryche

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
To find out what MB you have, you can open the case, find the serial number and, go to the ASUS site or, you can DL Belarc Advisor which will tell you all of your system component info.

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/876/123iv1.jpg

Maybe that will help. Thanks for that link.

So, you have the ASUS P4S800D-X MB, when you tried removing the Sound Blaster X-Fi, did you activate the on board audio?

 

[Queensryche]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: Queensryche

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
To find out what MB you have, you can open the case, find the serial number and, go to the ASUS site or, you can DL Belarc Advisor which will tell you all of your system component info.

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/876/123iv1.jpg

Maybe that will help. Thanks for that link.

So, you have the ASUS P4S800D-X MB, when you tried removing the Sound Blaster X-Fi, did you activate the on board audio?

No I didn't,I admit I have no idea how to do that

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Remove the Creative card and the drivers and go into the BIOS and enable onboard sound. Don't forget to plug your speakers in

 

[Slikkster]

Use Driver Cleaner Professional to remove ALL traces of the Creative Drivers. Make sure you only select the Creative drivers for removal.

http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=745

Enable the onboard sound from the bios as directed previously. Test games.

Make sure you reboot after the driver removal process.

 

[Queensryche]

Thanks everyone for all the help. I read through the 28 page thread about the "Squeal of Death" and found a fix. It involves turning the sound acceleration down to basic and it works great now. I didn't notice a change in sound or frame rate either,so it looks like it will work just fine.

Ridiculous that Creative hasn't fixed this yet.

Thanks for all the help.