Computer & Laptop Software

[#1]

Hello there,

I have recently formatted my computer so that I can fresh install Windows 7 64-bit and am in a bit of a pickle. There was some audio software that came with the computer when I bought it, I believe it was called X-Fi Control Panel or something similar. Upon some research I found that it is unobtainable through the gateway website and I don't want to try installing it from soundblaster in case of some complications.

Before the upgrade I was fooling around with a PS3 controller, trying to get it to work on Vista 64-bit SP2 and updated many of the drivers including the realtek high definition audio ones. This killed the X-Fi program and began giving me severe problems using voice communications programs. I need the X-Fi program/drivers back in order to play anything(I bought this computer to play games, I only play with friends, and that is only if I can talk to them).

I took it to the store after installing Windows 7 and had them run it through the standardization tool hoping this would fix the problem. I also mentioned it to the tech guy but he didn't seem to know anything about it.

Any information on the X-Fi program/driver would be great.

[#2]

It sounds like your best bet would be to download the driver/software from the soundblaster website, as that is the company that manufactures your sound card and the relevant control panel.  It wouldn't be available on the Gateway website, because it's not a Gateway product.  It's a Soundblaster product inside a Gateway machine, much like individual companies make all the individual parts inside computers (eg. Intel, NVidia, Creative, etc).  You can always create a system restore point (or whatever the Windows 7 equivalent is) before downloading from the website, and if it causes complications, just restore the system to the point before you downloaded it.  I can't see any complications coming from downloading the software from the website of the company that manufactures your sound card.

JB   

[#3]

The X-fi software should not be required.  Your sound card is a Realtek card and having those drivers should give you sound.  What I've seen of the X-fi software is that it lets you alter how sound is used on your machine, but as it's only for sound effects it shouldn't be required.  I've never tried that though, so don't take it as absolute.

Try uninstalling all Creative software, and the audio drivers(Realtek), then reinstalling the latest Realtek driver and see if you get sound.

[#4]

The thing is, the problem didn't occur until I upgraded to the Realtek High Definition Audio drivers, and even using SiSoftwares's Sandra all it says for sound card manufacturer is Realtek High Definition Audio.

This is a completely fresh install of Windows 7 and I have already installed the Realtek drivers but the problem persists.

I guess I'll try the restore point, and X-Fi software.

Edit: I am looking at the website now and there are many cards, drivers, and different types of software and I can't tell the proper software to download is. I also read somewhere else on these forums that its an emulated soundblaster device or something along those lines. In case that helps with anything.

Edit2: Through a little searching I found the full name of the software. X-Fi MB and from reading some descriptions of it, it sounds like the exact same thing I had but you have to pay for it(I think). I also found out that it comes with certain motherboard manufacturers so I guess I'll have to look for my discs and see if its there.

[#5]

Well, Gateway updated their downloads section with the X-Fi MB software. About to install and try it out.

I also found out that there are modded drivers that make Realtk High Definition Audio run like a low end X-Fi card. They don't seem to be too compatible with Windows 7 and require you to keep your computer in unsigned driver mode for repeated use.

Edit: Well looky here. It fixed my problem and it only took me two weeks of bitching at gateway reps to get them to do something about it. If it was even me at all.

Edit2: Looks like it only half fixed my problems. The static remains but its not nearly as bad as it was.

[#6]

Well, I feel kinda stupid for not trying this earlier. But it also made me remember why it wasn't this way in the first place. I am talking about plugging the jacks into the back of the computer instead of the front. It completely fixed the mic problem, but there is another problem which caused me to put them in the front in the first place.

I can't do anything on my computer that is CPU intensive with them in the back. For example, I can play Warcraft 3 fine but Battlefield Bad Company 2 and and AVP have problems. Whatever I am doing(mostly playing games) starts stuttering and my ping shoots up really high. Also, my mic works fine during this but my audio in my headphones is full of static and the sound starts overlapping. I tried locating others with similar problems using google but I couldn't find anyone with the same symptoms.

Also, Gateway finally put the software for the SoundBlaster X-Fi Volume Panel up on their site.

If I bring my computer in and ask them(Futureshop) to replace it with a new one will they? It is still under warranty.