Creative Sound Blaster Live

[Shelle]

I have had Sound Blaster Live Platinum 5.1  installed on my PC since July 2000, the operating system then being Windows 2000.(P/N: 1713320800).  The sound card has served me well and I have been able to use the recorder to record audio from LPs, cassettes etc.

Recently I upgraded my operating system to Windows XP. On re-installing the software I find that I cannot open up the Recorder. I am met with the message "Cannot find some components for Creative Recorder. Some of your files may be missing or
corrupted. Cannot detect Creative, Ensoniq or Emu Sound Card."

I have tried to download the upgrade to Creative Recorder to upgrade it to version 2.00.34 but I am met with the message "Set up could not find any  previous versions of Creative Recorder installed."

When I run an automatic update of my Soundblaster Live I am informed that the products on my system are Sound Blaster Live DR release 1.3.0.  And I am assured "No updates are necessary for your Creative product. Your system already has the latest versions installed."

I don't understand why my recorder will not open. I clearly have a sound card installed. I am told by some other disillusioned amateurs that the Drivers are not
recognised by Windows XP. Is this right? Am I now unable to use the Creative Software that I was
entirely happy with? How can I update my drivers if this is the problem?

I have tried deinstalling all components, and then reinstalling from my cd, and then downloading the latest drivers from the creative website, but still no change.

It appears that having XP simply means that I cannot use the cd that I have?  This problem also appears to affect audio, as I cannot get the microphone to be acknowledged when attempting an audio conversation in MSN messenger.
Help please!

[Potatoman]

Im not sure what the exact problem is, but i can say that the drivers DO work on WinXP. I have the same card, upgraded from WinMe and had no probs. Have you tried uninstalling it in device manager and reinstalling? Sorry i couldny help, but at least you knoe the drivers should work.

[Shelle]

Can you clarify exactly where the device manager is?  I think I might have deinstalled another way, but cant work out the device manager location on XP.  Remember the facility on 2000, but what is it under on XP?  Sorry if I sound thick!

[Potatoman]

Go to Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Hardware and youll find device manager.

[doghandler]

Control panel/system/hardware/device manager.

Your not thick - Microsoft have done a good job at hiding it!

I had the same problem with my Audigy, and it never did get better, no doubt you have been on to Creative, and i would assume you got the same answer as me, "it is nothing to do with us our software is perfect for every OS".

In fact i have had so many problems with the Audigy i ended up throwing it away!

Some days i would turn the speakers on and nothing happened, i would then spend the rest of the day twidling with this setting and that setting and eventualy get it going, only to be told by my daughter that the sound doesnt work on her desktop!

I took the card out and i am running sound from the basic soundcard built in to my motherboard. I dont get surround sound but i do get sound! Everytime i turn the computer on as well!!

Good luck with this, try phoning Creative - that is an experience - and can work out very expensive as well.

[tomd]

I have a similar problem, I had SB Live! 5.1 (not sure if platinum) and worked fine with ME, was very shaky & skippy with XP but when I installed SP2 it stopped working completely. Creative don't seem to distribute a specific driver, but there is a "Uni Driver Pack" available from their web site. I have no hardware problems reported within device manager, but deep in driver settings get the report "Drivers are working but have not been loaded", or something to that effect. I have given up on it and am hoping to replace it with a non-Creative sound card within the near future. Sorry I couldn't be of more help, but at least you're not alone.

[BillyNoMates]

Just go the Creative website and download the whole driver package for WinXP for your Creative card.

Before you install do a check on installed programs within Control Panel and remove any Creative software., reboot, do a Registry clean then install.