How to: Vista-64 RC2 + Creative X-Fi = working! (UPDATED)

[thereaderrabbit]

It took me a while to figure out how to get Vista-64 RC2 to play nice with Creative X-Fi drivers, but I did.

0. I'm not sure how important this step is, but make sure you have the current version of Quicktime installed on your PC (the newest version works well with Vista-64 RC2).

1. Remove any other sound card device from your system (this includes disabling sound chips on motherboards). Reboot WinVista. (I learned this one the hard way)

2. Uninstall previous attempts to get the drivers working on your system. This includes getting rid of the creative directory in your Program Files folder.

3. Download the current version of the Creative drivers for your system. Open the install file using WinRAR and extract it to a folder on your desktop (or somewhere else it's easy to find).

4. Go to the device manager and uninstall your creative device (even if it comes up with drivers not found or installed).

5. Reboot WinVista and keep pressing F8 at the start of the OS boot sequence to get into the boot menu. In the boot menu select the later option that says drivers do not have to be signed. Then continue with the boot.

6. Once you reach the desktop the WinVista will locate the creative hardware and ask for a driver.

7. Depending on your system config, either use step 7a (what I read online) or 7b (what worked for me). If you try one of these options and it fails, you'll need to repeat steps 2, 4, 5, and 6 again before trying the other option.

...7a. Point WinVista to the folder containing the drivers you downloaded then extracted using WinRAR. Install and you're ready to go

...7b. Ignore the new hardware. Then run the install program included in your drivers directory. install and you're ready to go

8. Playing with some of the features in the Creative control panel will lead the Creative control panel freezing and the computer shutting down poorly due to driver issues. I'm not sure how this changes from system to system, but I got enough features working to be happy.

9. Future reboots do not require you to abort the normal WinVista boot sequence.

Please let me know if these instructions help or need further modification.

-Reader

 

[The J]

I don't know if it'd be so much help here, but people on the Creative forums might like it. If the instructions apply to an Audigy 2 ZS as well, I'd be interested.

 

[thereaderrabbit]

The J,

Instructions included. Let me know if these work and if you think they are significant.

-Reader

 

[Dooyas]

The latest drivers from Creative work just fine installing without the hassles. At least I had no problem going from a clean install, in fact they worked before restarting.

 

[thereaderrabbit]

Originally posted by: Dooyas
The latest drivers from Creative work just fine installing without the hassles. At least I had no problem going from a clean install, in fact they worked before restarting.

The older versions of their drivers would not install on my Vista-64 RC1 then RC2 system as is. I later had the chance to try Creative's newest driver (Oct. 10), but that wouldn't install either. It was only after following the instructions posted above that I got things working.

Are you running Vista-64 RC2? I have heard of some people getting the newest Creative drivers running without difficulty, but they seem to be in the minority.

-Reader

 

[Dooyas]

I am using build 5744, and did a clean install and then did a install of the creative drivers. No problems at all. So I would suggest to anyone doing it for the 1st time, just try them, if that does not work, then use the alternate solutions.