kevsim

I am running Windows XP service pack2.
I recently had a hard drive crash and had to install everything on a new hard drive.
My sound system is 2 speaker with sub whoofer.
I installed drivers (LiveDrvUni-Pak(eng).exe) for my Sound Blaster Live Value Sound card.
The sound card works OK but the sub whoofer has a very low bass.
Before the crash the sub whoofer had a great bass sound, can not remember what drivers were installed at the time.
I would appreciate any suggestions.
kevsim

Deleted090308

Welcome to TSF.

Try Creative's AutoUpdate.
See if there's additional software available for your sound card.

To open the tone control in Windows:
Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Sounds and audio devices > click "Advanced" under Device volume > click "Advanced" under Play control.

kevsim

eneles,
Thank you for the advise.
I have yet to go to the Autoupdate page.
I have also noticed, the balance controls are not working, have you heard of this happening?

kevsim

Deleted090308

Your sound mixer may look differently.

Look in Start >> Programs >> Creative >> Soundblaster Live >> Speaker settings (or something similar).

If the card came with your computer - what brand/model?

kevsim

eneles,
Thanks for the info, but my problem has become worse.
Sound card is Creative Sound Blaster Live Value (without digital out plug).
Windows XP Professional SP2.
Intel 866 processor on 386 computer.

I have installed, uninstalled the software and sound card many times using different combinations and I am now totally confused.
I then documented what I was doing in the hope I could see an error.

To further efforts to have the sound operating, I tried the following-
1/ Installed LiveDrvUni-Pack(eng).exe software and rebooted.
2/ When windows restarted, “Mute Icon” was flickering on the speaker icon in the system tray.
3/ Checking device manager, it shows “Creative Sound Blaster Live! Value” without any yellow or other marks.
4/ A check for speaker output resulted in no output.
5/ Checking the properties shows “Device is working properly” and resources states “No Conflicts”.
6/ A check with Creative diagnostics, shows “All Tests Passed”.
7/ A check of the speakers within Creative Diagnostics made the mute icon start flicking again, still no sound.
8 /Checking the hardware wizard shows “Creative Sound Blaster Live” as installed.
9/ A check of Admin Tools/Services/and applications/Services/Windows Audio/AudioSrv shows status as running and set to automatic.
10/ I then rebooted, the computer started with the speaker icon in the system tray as normal, still no sound.
11/ I opened Creative Sound Mixer and clicked to test the speakers, the mute icon appeared and started flicking.
12/ I then turned the computer off.
13/ Started the computer in the morning and a yellow exclamation mark was on Sound Blaster. With Code 10 cannot start, resources showed none being used as devise has a problem.
14/ I then checked hardware devises and found it was no longer there.
15/ From there I used system restore and rolled the system back to the previous day, sound blaster still had the yellow icon.
16/ I the uninstalled sound blaster and rebooted, the found new hardware icon appeared stating , Sound Blaster Live Value(WDM) found, reboot to ensure hardware will operate.
17/ When reboted, yellow icon still appeared with code 10.
18/ I then removed all Legacy Audio Codecs, Uninstalled Sound Blaster, rebooted but same problem was there when re started.

Are these symptoms of a faulty sound card or Windows XP flakey installation?

I would appreciate your advise.
Kevsim.

Deleted090308

More likely an unstable system.

Scan the computer for malware:
Run Kaspersky's online scanner.
The online scan needs to install an ActiveX component before it can run.
The installation has to be accepted by you - (see below).



Also - we need the system specifications:
Download the " TSFdemo1" file, unpack and run it.

In "Tech Support Forum Hardware Reader" >> click "Copy to clipboard" >> paste the info in your post.

kevsim

eneles,
Thanks for the info.
I ran the checker but nothing was found.
Find results form system info below.

OpSys: Microsoft Windows XP Professional - Service Pack 2.0
Motherboard: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd 6VX7-1394 (Version 1.0 )
CPU: Intel Pentium III processor (Clock Speed 864 )
RAM: 511MB
Video: NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400
Sound: Creative SB Live! Value (WDM)
Modem: Standard 56000 bps Modem
Modem: 56000bps External Fax Voice Modem

Network: WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Drive: IC35L040AVVA07-0 (Size ~38 GB)
Drive: SAMSUNG SP0802N (Size ~75 GB)
Optical Drive: LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S
Optical Drive: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4160B
End of report

At this point in device manager, Sound Blaster Live still has yellow mark.
I did see on the web another driver that may be suitable Windows Driver Model V. 5.1.2601.0, but have been unable to download.
kevsim

a2amali

I have Altec Lancing 2.1 Speakers and i had a similar problem when the volume just went really low.. i had no idea why this happend and i did lots of stuff and finally solved it. my trouble was that i installed the real player or quick time player and when you lower the volume in them it cannot be put up until you go back in that application to make volume high!!! stupid setup! so i put the volume max in every players i had and then removed everything except for microsoft media player and vlc.

first you could connect your speakers to a laptop and see if it works ok.

second try put vol to max in every media player you got.

Third.. reinstall the whole lot (XP) if speakers worked in laptop (if you dont have a laptop then borrow from someone)

kevsim

a2amali,
Thanks for the info.
I have Quick Time and the audio was on full.
The speakers were checked in another computer and they work OK.
My very last resort is to re install Windows XP.

eneles,
A little more info.

1/ When computer shutdown yesterday, there was no speaker icon in the system tray and sound blaster had a yellow icon.
2/ When computer turned on today, speaker icon appeared in system tray and no yellow icon on sound blaster.
3/ Clicked to open volume controls and mute icon appeared on speaker icon and started flicking.
4/ Wanted to check if sound card was installed, opened add hardware, selected already connected and mouse pointer froze.
5/ Rebooted computer, no speaker icon and yellow mark on sound blaster.
6/ At present having problems installing sound card, no matter what I do, computer will not recognise.
kevsim

kevsim

I am still having problems, could somebody please advise for the following –
For a Sound Blaster Live! Value card (without digital output port) to run on Windows XP SP2, what version driver must be installed, also manufacturer.

kevsim

Deleted090308

The card must (of course) be detected before you can install a driver.

Try another PCI card to test the slot on the motherboard.
Use another slot for the Sound blaster.

a2amali

Here is what i would do, remove the sound blaster from hardware list, and physically remove the sound card.
Install the soundblaster live drivers, once installed then put the card back in (but in a differnt PCI slot).
The system should find the new hardware and install software for it.

If this does not work then please do come back and we will think of something else.

kevsim

I thank you for all for the input, I have finally fixed the sound problem.
I am not totally sure what happened, but I had a suspicion some software may be conflicting.
When I initially purchased Nero 6, I had no end of problems with computer locking up, running slow etc.
After the hard drive crash, I had reinstalled Nero 6 latest versions and while I was having the problem with the sound card, I decided to uninstalled Nero Showtime.
After the uninstall, I looked in a data folder of Creative and all the data files were marked for Nero.
I went to Nero’s web site and downloaded a tool that removes all Nero files, I ran the utility and removed all Nero programmes, checked back at Creative and the data files were now marked Data.
It may have been a total coincidence that Nero was causing the problem, I also previously uninstalled RealPlayer, in case that was causing a problem, I had a bad experience with it some time ago.
There was another utility I found called Driver Sweeper, this removes all Creative files, I uninstalled the sound card from device manager, ran the utility, the rebooted.
The computer started and a sound icon appeared without a mute icon.
Then I installed the sound driver pack LiveDrvUni-Pack(eng).exe, rebooted, still no sound, then installed file LiveDrvPack_Patch.exe, rebooted, still no sound.
I reran LiveDrvUni-Pack(eng).exe, rebooted and sound was working.
The sound is very good along with the bass being very noticeable and the left and right speaker fade now works.
I have yet to reinstall Nero and see what happens.
I hope this helps somebody else, so this my final configuration-
1/ Sound Blaster Live! Value (OEM)
2/ Driver provider – Creative
3/ Driver version - 5.12.2.252
4/ Driver date - 7/24/2002
5/ Sound playback – SB Live! Audio [B400]
6/ Sound recording - SB Live Audio [B400]
7/ Midi music playback - SB Live Synth A [B400}
8/ In Device manager it shows – Creative SB Live! Value
I previously, installed, uninstalled, had the card recognized had the same settings as above, but no sound until I did as explained above

Should somebody else be having problems it is a good idea to run Sigverif, type that in the Start/Run box, it will check XP verification of files.
Also msconfig, (type it in the Run box), select Boot.ini and tick Bootlog, re boot and look for file Ntbtlog.txt, it is in C:\Windows/, this will show what is loading during startup.

kevsim

Deleted090308

Good news.
Thanks for sharing the solution.

kevsim

Some further info -
I reinstalled Nero 6 suit (4 parts) and a plug in for 5.1 sound and another for MPEG2\ DVD which are additional then rebooted after all installed.
On restart there was no sound or speaker icon, I rebooted twice more, same problem.
I removed Nero using the Nero remove tool and rebooted, there was sound, when running I installed each part of Nero 6 (4 in total and the two plug ins) separately with a reboot after each section and plugin , with In CD installed last, this is the only part that requests a reboot.
After each boot there was sound, still with good base and no other problems.
It is still a little of a mystery why the original problem.

I did not remove the sound card from it’s existing PCI slot at any time.
I also disconnected the speakers and tried on another computer, they worked OK.
The system is a two speaker with powered whoofer and speakers coming from the whoofer

In Device Manager Sound Blaster Live! Value Properties tag are the following –
1/ Audio devices - Creative EMU10k1 audio processor (WDM).
2/ Midi devices and instruments - Creative EMU10k1 audio processor (WDM).
3/ Mixer devices - Creative EMU10k1 audio processor (WDM)

Note: In device manager it now shows "Creative Sound Blaster Live! Value without the WDM at the end.

kevsim