Does this mean Dell is going to update Creative Labs SoundBlaster XFI Extreme Music (D) driver to make it compatible with service pack 1?  If not, should we install the latest driver from Creative Labs web site? 

 

Stan 

Tried to install this upgrade three times and failed. First time from downloaded copy. Second time from copy downloaded automatically by MS updates.

Then proceeded to downlod every software driver update recommended by Dell and MS, followed up every step in MS Tech Note, removed or disabled every running program, disconnected from the interned installed from freshly downloaded copy of SP1. Failed to install again. Every try took about 2 hours to install and 2 hours to revert.

 

Would greatly appreciate your help.

 

Dimension C521, Vista Ultimate OEM. 

I updated to SP1 and had no issues with the sound card in Question.

 

 

 

Peace

 

 

OK, Dell-Jess....quick question.

 

I have several XPS 720's in production right now (ordered...shipping 5/5)...which, of course, will have Vista SP0...

 

Is you note saying that I can Windows-Update SP1....without concern about SigmaTel drivers, etc.  My intention is to update immediately out of the box after installation of D-Link Wi-Fi adapter cards...before loading other software and peripherals...(I would assume that this would give me the best shot of SP1 providing the most up-to-date native drivers without having to go to each OEM's site - Epson, Nikon, etc. etc. - and deal with driver-update-nonsense.

 

Thanks for your help...

 

John

JonyDirk,

Uninstall the sigmatel drivers from the system reboot, and then install service pack 1. That is what seems to be working. Here are the steps below.

1. Go to Device Manager, open the properties for Sigmatel and click “Uninstall”.
2. Place a check for “Delete the driver software for this device” and then click “Ok”.
3. Restart the system.
4. Windows will then automatically install its own generic High Definition audio driver.
5. You can then use Microsoft Update to download Vista SP1.

You experience problems with sound after you install Windows Vista Service Pack 1

Jonydirk,

 

To add to what Jesse said, after you do this and get SP1 working, you can download the Sigmatel drivers again and then resinstall them and the sound should work just as it did when you first got the machine.

 

SP1 will work with the Sigmatel drivers.  The problem with them was in some (repeat "some") situations when SP1 reinstalled all of the drivers, these Sigmatel drivers would not reinstall and it would create a lose of sound.  The solution was to just reinstall the drivers manually, but for computer people that's easy, for other's it's a daunting task, so Microsoft decided not to allow those peope to have the SP.

 

I have done this on 2 computers,  one intentionally and one accidentally.   The accidental one was on my folks PC.  I tried to change something and actually deleted their sound drivers (i have no idea how) so I just said to heck with it and installed SP1, then reinstalled the Sigmatel drivers and it works fine.

---

@Anonymous-Jesse_L wrote:
JonyDirk,

Uninstall the sigmatel drivers from the system reboot, and then install service pack 1. That is what seems to be working. Here are the steps below.

1. Go to Device Manager, open the properties for Sigmatel and click “Uninstall”.
2. Place a check for “Delete the driver software for this device” and then click “Ok”.
3. Restart the system.
4. Windows will then automatically install its own generic High Definition audio driver.
5. You can then use Microsoft Update to download Vista SP1.

You experience problems with sound after you install Windows Vista Service Pack 1

---

Jesse 

 

(1)Does the same procedure apply to a Dimension E520 with the offending SigmaTel audio driver?

(2)And if it does, what happens to the SigmaTel entry in the Remove programs control panel after performing your procedure?

If anyone has problems, free SP1 support from microsoft:  http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11274&gprid=500921

I have Dell DXP061, Vista Home Premium, with Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme, both purchased from Dell in June 2007.  I'm having the same problem with Windows Update not offering SP1.  The X-Fi's driver seems to be Ctaud2k.sys, version 5.12.1.1201, which is listed as incompatible with SP1 by Microsoft in KB948343.

 

I haven't been able to find an updated driver.

 

The email support I've had from Microsoft seems to be concentrating on other matters, like:  "stopping the Windows Updates and Cryptographic services, disabling UAC and renaming a couple of system folders (SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2).  Very complicateed and it didn't work - Windows Update still doesn't offer SP1.  The latest advice is to uninstall McAfee and then install SP1 from a direct download.  This I am reluctant to do from seeing posts on varous forums.

 

Am I right in thinking from the above posts that a better solution (besides waiting for Dell/Creative labs to sort out the driver/Vista incompatibility issue) is to uninstall the X-Fi driver, then let Windows Update provide SP1 automatically, then reinstall the X-Fi driver.  If so, where do I get the X-Fi driver from to re-install please?

 

 

Here you go....driver update for Vista 32-bit (which is what Home Premium is):

 

http://www.softwarepatch.com/utilities/creative-xfi-xtreme-driver-vista.html

 

 

Also here, from Creative directly...you'll have to simply select your soundcard from the offerings in the product range:

 

http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/

 

Cheers,

John