Ok , at the moment i am preparing the guide so we ll try that.
Edit: Firstly mods if this is too long i can create a .pdf file or something so let me know. Its late down here and all these typing my eyes are killing me so if i have made a mistake please correct me.
Firstly this is my tried and tested way of properly uninstalling my Audigy cards as they can be real pain in da ass sometimes. Process is same for all creative audio products to be honest. After step 10 I usually go into Registry and delete the files manually in case programs do miss it. Also before you install Media Source etc let us know how you get on.
1. Go to Control Panel, Add Remove Programs and un-install all listings related to your audio card / codec packs etc. Do not restart your computer when prompted so.
2. Go to Control Panel, and switch to Classic View. Click System, Hardware tab, Device Manager Button.
3. Click on the plus sign (+) next to Sound, Video and Game Controllers to expand the group. Highlight the sound card entries, for example, Sound Blaster Audigy WDM, right click and choose the Uninstall option. If there are other previous sound card entries, uninstall them as well and disable onboard audio (AC97, Sigmatel, etc) if present.
4. Reboot the computer and cancel out of any driver installation if you are prompted.
5. Insert the Creative Sound Blaster installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. Exit from the installation wizard if it autoruns.
6. Click Start, Run and then Browse. Browse to Z:\Audio\Drivers (Where Z:\ represents the CD Rom drive), and run CTZAPXX.EXE, or SETUP.EXE if you have a Sound Blaster X-Fi card. Choose YES if you receive a prompt "Overwrite existing shared creative audio driver files?"
Above will clean out your audio drivers and other files.
7. In the Creative Driver Update Ultility screen, select Driver un-installation for WDM drivers and click OK.
8. When prompted to restart, say No.
9. Download Driver Cleaner Professional from following address and install / run the program.
http://www.drivercleaner.net/download.php?site=2&file=DCProSetup_14.zip
10. Choose Creative Audio Program from selection box and click start. Now program will search through your registry and delete Creative audio entries.
11. Don’t restart the system yet.
12. Click Start, Run, type MSCONFIG and press Enter.
13. Check the box next to Selective Startup and deselect Load Startup Items.
14. Select the SERVICES tab and select Hide All Microsoft Services.
15. Uncheck all results and click OK or choose disable all. This will disable a service where Creative program installs itself as a service. Please note disabling this will also disable what you see on that section e.g. your firewall etc. So don’t connect to internet etc as we will enable these when we install your audio card.
16. Browse to the C:\Temp folder and C:\Windows\TEMP (if it exists) - all files and folders in the temp folder need to be either deleted or moved to a new folder. It’s your choice but it should be ok to delete them.
17. Browse to Program Files delete the Creative Folder - if you get a file that won't delete, right click on the file, click Properties and clear all the attributes. The file should then be able to be deleted.
18. Go to C:\Windows\System32 and delete openal32.dll, ct_oal.dll and wrap_oal.dll if they are still there. If you can’t see the files go to Tools > Folder Options and choose Show hidden files and folders.
19. Empty the Recycle Bin, and turn of the computer.
20. Take out your audio card and reboot your pc, restart few times.
21. Play a game, watch movie and see if you get any errors.
22. If you don’t have any errors and want to install your card read on.
23. Install the card on PCI SLOT 3 or away farthest from your graphic card.
24. Make sure onboard audio is disabled.
25. Reboot into windows, cancel the auto installation hardware if you get it. Don’t install firewire drivers on your Creative card at this step.
26. Re do step 6 and this time choose Driver installation / WDM drivers?
27. Don’t install Media Source or any other Creative programs.
28. Click on Start, Run. Type MSCONFIG and press Enter.
29. Select Normal Startup, Select the SERVICES tab and select or tick those you disabled 14 and enable all, un tick Hide All Microsoft Services and press the OK button.
30. Reboot the computer
31. If everything is working fine install Media Source program. Experiment with EAX enabled and disabled as it can cause errors as well.
If your system still giving you trouble try installing your windows on normal formatted drive and not quick formatted. Also some Creative cards likes ACPI where some likes Standard PC settings. You can check which one you have in Start > Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager > Click on the arrow next to Computer and you will see Standard PC or ACPI PC.
In Bios if you choose enable APIC mode version 1.4 and install Windows you ll get ACPI in computer, disable the APIC you should get standard pc.
When installing drivers always install in following order.
Chipset Drivers* > Graphics Card Drivers > Windows Updates > Audio Drivers > Rest of the programs.
*= You can opt out on nvidia firewall program or drivers as many people had problems with them, its your choice
All the best.
