I got an 'Active 5.1 surround sound system' for xmas and i wanna run it from my pc. At first it would only run through 2 of the speakers and the sub, so i have bought a 'creative' sound card port thingy. (which allows 7.1,6.1 and 5.1 sound systems)

I have fitted it in a spare PCI slot on my comp and installed the cd. Now sound isn't coming out of any speakers at all, and my computer isn't registering that any new hardware has been added.

I am pretty sure that i have put it in properly, but before i take the side off and try again i would like to know if it could be anything else.

Is it possible to unistall the original sound software which came with the computer?

I hope that some of this made sense

Thanks,

Joe

you need to remove all the previous sound card drivers.

What O/S you running?

I am running XP, where can i find the drivers? will it be on device manager?

joecinq said:

I am running XP, where can i find the drivers? will it be on device manager?

Click to expand...

yea you should be able to locate the old soundcard and remove its drivers from device manager (right click on device, properties, and it should be on the last tab of the window). If your old soundcard was onboard, you'll need to get into your BIOS and disable it too.

Then install the drivers for your new one again and it should work. But even so, you said XP didnt pick up there was any card insalled? Cos it should have picked it up. In which case you'll just need to take the panel off and have a nose to see if you have installed the card properly

Cheers luke, i took the side off in the end, like you said and i gave it a tap it clicked in again. I turn the pc on and it detected it. I unistalled the old drivers and i am installing the new ones right now.

Thanks, i will let you know how it sounds

Joe

joecinq said:

Cheers luke, i took the side off in the end, like you said and i gave it a tap it clicked in again. I turn the pc on and it detected it. I unistalled the old drivers and i am installing the new ones right now.

Thanks, i will let you know how it sounds

Joe

Click to expand...

loud i hope
No worries

Its got great sound quality, and its only a 'tevion' one. I can't get windows media player to use all 5 speaks at the moment, but they are all working.

Anyone got any tips how to make wmp to play the souns through them all?

Cheers,

Joe

what exactly have you got here, Creative Audigy ?
even with an existing soundcard/onboard chip the audigy should install as XP is capable of running two soundcards (which the sounds properties you can select the card to use from there)

Scorg said:

what exactly have you got here, Creative Audigy ?
even with an existing soundcard/onboard chip the audigy should install as XP is capable of running two soundcards (which the sounds properties you can select the card to use from there)

Click to expand...

'Creative Sound Blaster live! 24-bit'

I dont think i uninstalled the old one now, so i guess it is running both sound cards.....

It seems pretty good and i can change all of the audio settings using the 'creative sound control' and not the xp one.

The thing is although all the speakers are working i can't make the sound go through all 5 when listening to music. Is there anyway of doing this? I will try a proper 5.1 dvd later to check that out, but i wanna hear music through them.

cheers

Joe

I had the same problem with my nvidia soundstorm. but it is a different 5.1 setup to how yours is. The only way the rear speakers would work is if I set the nvidia control panel to prologic or 2 speaker mode or in 5.1 enable Cloned rear speakers (this soundcards encoding in Dolby digital at this point)

Have you disabled the onboard sound in the bios?

D4NS said:

Have you disabled the onboard sound in the bios?

Click to expand...

Erm nope, could you tell me how i would do this and what it is? lol

Restart ur comp. Then keep pressing Delete until it comes up with a blue screen. The use the enter and escape button to search for onboard, then disable it. It might be under performance settings or something.... Then remeber to save. Tell us if you cant find it coz might be able to have a look 4 u.

Just remembered something else that could get the rears going in 5.1. use the EAX control panel and set to concert hall, should add some echo with the rears.

for the onboard sound, when you start up the pc when it says press Del (or F2) for setup press that. then there should be an integrated pariferals or the likes listed. go into that one and it should mention onboard audio which you can turn off

cheers D4NS and Scorg, great help... i will do the bios thing now. I have opened the EAX control and set it to 'small room' (my bedroom) and its coming outta the rear speaks.

Cheers

Joe

No Probs, now enjoy

oh and games in 5.1 are amazing btw

If its workin then its pointless doin the BIOS coz it might just disable onboard sound as default settings from the software that came with it.

I did bios, it was set on auto, so i am guessing that the software changed it itself. I disabled it anyhow cos its never gonna get used.

I would nominate you lot for rep, but i dont think it counts for leisure lounge posts.....

Cheers for all who have help me out, cos i am loving the sounds... i will try out a game or two later