Audigy 2 driver trouble - rear channels shot, Creative.com not helpful

[kryptikk]

I have an Audigy 2 (plain) on an XPSP2 box. I've just formatted (sound worked fine before the format) and apparently lost my driver/app cd for my sound card.

Now using common sense, I goto creative.com and download their latest "drivers". Using home theater sound diagnostic clips, I find that I get front and center channel sound, but the rear channels are completely dead. So I now download Creative's control panel applications for surround setup, CMSS and such... except upon attempt to install those, I'm prompted with an error message that says I don't have the proper components installed.

I poke around creative's forums and google around for a bit and please correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like the general concensus is that if you don't have your CD, you're pretty much fucked -- the Audigy 2 "drivers" that are downloadable are simply some shitty "web updates" that require your initial CD install. You need a proper driver on your computer to install the surround control applications or something.

Can anyone help me out with a cd image or any info regarding this?

 

[xonik]

You're wrong,

Audigy series driver (version 5.12.01.383): http://files.europe.creative.com/Drivers/Others/3798/Aud_webupdate2_Drv.exe
Creative Audio HQ (version 2.00.31.017): http://files.creative.com/manualdn/Applications/Others/7081/AHQ20031017.exe
Creative Recorder (version 2.00.30.910): http://files.creative.com/manualdn/Applications/Others/7107/CTREC20030910.exe
Creative Taskbar (version 2.00.30.910): http://files.creative.com/manualdn/Applications/Others/7082/TBAR20030910.exe

Note that the first four links are standalone, not "updates."

CD image (version 5.12.01.0244): ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp20501-21000/SP20920.exe

edit: If any of the above work, there are tons and tons of possibilities here:

http://www.station-drivers.com/page/sblive-audigy.htm

 

[kryptikk]

Thanks for the reply.

Aren't those for the Audigy 1/Live 5.1, though? Or are they swapable?

 

[xonik]

To eliminate any confusion, download these drivers:

http://us.creative.com/support/down...centric=7083&filename=SBA2_EAX4DRV_031031.exe

They are clearly standalone drivers, as described in the file description:

EAX 4.0 ADVANCED HD Driver Update for Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2/Audigy 2 ZS
SBA2-WEBUP-W4-LB

This driver update contains enhancements and fixes to improve the performance of your Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 or Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS product.

Added Feature:

- EAX 4.0, containing DirectSound and Open AL API extensions, to utilize the EAX 4.0 ADVANCED HD Multiple Environment feature

Fixes:

- Removes noise from analog speakers after switching to VXD drivers using Driver Utility.
- Allows compressed and uncompressed AC-3 signals when using VXD drivers.
- Resolves noise and distortion issues during extended playback of DVD movies.
- Removes popping and clicking sounds when decoding AC-3 signals from external DVD players.
- Updates the speaker settings when connecting or disconnecting headphones from the Platinum Drive or Audigy 2 Drive after changing the volume level and returning from Standby mode.
- Removes popping sounds when compressed .WAV files are played back in Feature Showcase Demonstration.
- Updates the speaker volume setting after changing the volume level and restarting the computer.
- Removes distortion on MIDI notes when the latency is set to below 20 ms on ASIO tracks.
- Removes static from .MP3 and .WAV files during playback.
- Outputs Dolby Digital and DTS signals from the software DVD player in 'SPDIF In decode' mode.
- Launches the OSD (On-Screen Display) main menu when the remote control's Start button is pressed.
- Removes the error message when launching Creative Graphic Equalizer.
- Synchronizes monitored SPDIF In Input signals with Input SPDIF signals.
- Resolves the volume increase issue when adjusting bass or treble levels during DVD-Audio playback.
Mutes all audio output when the Platinum Drive or Audigy 2 Drive's 'Push Mute' button is pressed once.

Requirements:

- Microsoft© Windows© XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me (Millennium Edition) or Windows 98 SE (Second Edition)
- Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, Audigy 2 Platinum eX card, Audigy 2 ZS card or Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro card installed, with or without drivers.

Notes:

- This EAX 4.0 driver update is not meant for USB Audigy 2 NX or other external Sound Blaster audio products.
- If you later wish to install older or newer versions of Audigy 2 or Audigy 2 ZS drivers, you must first uninstall the EAX 4.0 driver update. Uninstallation steps for the EAX 4.0 driver update is displayed during installation.