Windows 10: Trying to re-enable X-Fi MB2 with more recent Realtek HDA drivers...

... than v. 6.0.1.6699 (that being the last driver "official" driver offered by Asus for my Gene V/Z77 motherboard).

Hi all,

I've been looking to restore the "Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi MB2" software functionality (on an older, secondary system) after upgrading to Windows 10 (v. 1909 b.18363.900) from 7 Sp.1+ (I held out as long as I reasonably could, sorry).

I'm able to install said "official" drivers (Realtek HDA v. 6.0.1.6699... from 2012), along with said "Creative..." software package, and have the specific "sound enhancements" (EAX, EQ, THX, etc.) function, but said "enhancements" stop functioning if I attempt to update the drivers, even modestly.

This issue also occurred (though resolvable-y) under Windows 7 - which (if I recall correctly) was resolved by: stopping any interfering startup/service applications (namely, the "Creative" ones); installing the desired driver (in this case, 6.0.1.7982); rebooting; re-enabling the startup/service applications; and, rebooting once more. Said resolution, however, doesn't appear to work under Windows 10.

The HDXMB2O.inf files for each of the subsequent Realtek drivers I've tried (x.8186, x.8036, x.7982) all appear to contain the correct Hardware Ids (HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0899&SUBSYS_1043846B) for the "High Definition Audio Device" in this motherboard, and said drivers appear to correctly install (via the setup.exe or manually through Device Manager) the specific driver files that (ostensibly) allow the "X-Fi MB2 sound enhancements" to function under Windows 10. The device's specific event log shows nothing awry. And yet: bupkis... the "sound enhancements" cease enhancing.

I've gone down several online rabbit holes that appear related to the issue I'm having, and have tried the hacks and mods and whatnot, but I keep circling back to the commonality of said "driver files" between driver versions and this niggling feeling that there is something simple that just needs switching/modifying/finessing on the "Creative..." software side of the equation.

Any thoughts?

Thank you for your time and energy!

:)

 

Trying to re-enable X-Fi MB2 with more recent Realtek HDA drivers...

... than v. 6.0.1.6699 (that being the last driver "official" driver offered by Asus for my Gene V/Z77 motherboard).

Hi all,

I've been looking to restore the "Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi MB2" software functionality (on an older, secondary system) after upgrading to Windows 10 (v. 1909 b.18363.900) from 7 Sp.1+ (I held out as long as I reasonably could, sorry).

I'm able to install said "official" drivers (Realtek HDA v. 6.0.1.6699... from 2012), along with said "Creative..." software package, and have the specific "sound enhancements" (EAX, EQ, THX, etc.) function, but said "enhancements" stop functioning if I attempt to update the drivers, even modestly.

This issue also occurred (though resolvable-y) under Windows 7 - which (if I recall correctly) was resolved by: stopping any interfering startup/service applications (namely, the "Creative" ones); installing the desired driver (in this case, 6.0.1.7982); rebooting; re-enabling the startup/service applications; and, rebooting once more. Said resolution, however, doesn't appear to work under Windows 10.

The HDXMB2O.inf files for each of the subsequent Realtek drivers I've tried (x.8186, x.8036, x.7982) all appear to contain the correct Hardware Ids (HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0899&SUBSYS_1043846B) for the "High Definition Audio Device" in this motherboard, and said drivers appear to correctly install (via the setup.exe or manually through Device Manager) the specific driver files that (ostensibly) allow the "X-Fi MB2 sound enhancements" to function under Windows 10. The device's specific event log shows nothing awry. And yet: bupkis... the "sound enhancements" cease enhancing.

I've gone down several online rabbit holes that appear related to the issue I'm having, and have tried the hacks and mods and whatnot, but I keep circling back to the commonality of said "driver files" between driver versions and this niggling feeling that there is something simple that just needs switching/modifying/finessing on the "Creative..." software side of the equation.

Any thoughts?

Thank you for your time and energy!

 

X-Fi functionality on any Realtek HDA Codec

This post is where you can find all the download links along with any need to know tips and advice.

Install size variations

All Realtek HDA codecs are different in some way, thus your final modded driver install size may vary from mine (60MB), but rest assured the modded driver install size will be bigger than a generic Realtek install and sound quality *WILL be quite significantly better.

* Overall sound quality improvements will be subject to how good your speakers / headphones are.

Install issues

If your having trouble installing the modded driver ensure that;

- Your onboard codec is a Realtek chip and that it is *HDA capable
- Be SURE the Realtek codec is set to work in *HDA in your BIOS
- Disable digital signing in Vista

* HDA = High Definition Audio
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
X-Fi MB Software 138MB (recompressed for much smaller DL size) - This is a completely optional extra. It is not required for the better audio people report. This software is the vanilla software downloadable from Gigabytes own website, and thus does not work in Vista.

Realtek XP X-Fi mod R2.21 32/64bit 16MB
Realtek Vista / Win7 X-Fi mod R2.21 32/64bit 15MB

As usual, let me know how it all works for you. RMAA Before and After tests would be fantastic to lay the argument to rest once and for all if these modded drivers improve audio or not.

 

Realtek R2.16 X-Fi mod driver

The Crapative software does NOT work in Vista. You may try running it in compatibility mode, but if that doesn't work your out of luck

I said I would, and here it is! Very nice little upgrade from standard crappy Realtek drivers *Wink There is just one issue though, the Creative software is a 30 day trial. These drivers may miff Creative something fierce, do I care? Nah. I suggest Creative actually start making decent products with the right components (ie; use proper audio caps and the like not normal caps) instead of hyping their cards as this an that when in reality its 90% software driven.

To clarify, what I've done here is not illegal for the following reasons;

1. I'm not asking any money for this.
2. I'm not changing any DLL files or the like.
3. What I'm doing to enable this stuff is just text file editing .
4. I'm not "stealing" anything. (How can you steal whats volintarily and readily available as free downloads?)
5. Its not Creative drivers I'm messing with, just Realteks own drivers.
6. The crapative software suit is available as free download from gigabyte.

Install size variations

All Realtek HDA codecs are different in some way, thus your final modded driver install size may vary from mine (60MB), but rest assured the modded driver install size will be bigger than a generic Realtek install and sound quality *WILL be quite significantly better.

* Overall sound quality improvements will be subject to how good your speakers / headphones are.

Install issues

If your having trouble installing the modded driver ensure that;

- Your onboard codec is a Realtek chip and that it is *HDA capable
- Be SURE the Realtek codec is set to work in *HDA in your BIOS
- Disable digital signing in Vista

* HDA = High Definition Audio
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realtek XP X-Fi mod R2.16 32/64bit 15.6MB
X-Fi MB Software 138MB (recompressed for much smaller DL size)

Realtek Vista X-Fi mod R2.17 32/64bit 15MB
Realtek XP X-Fi mod R2.17 32/64bit 16MB

Realtek XP X-Fi mod R2.18 32/64bit 16MB
Realtek Vista X-Fi mod R2.18 32/64bit 15MB

Realtek XP X-Fi mod R2.21 32/64bit 16MB
Realtek Vista X-Fi mod R2.21 32/64bit 15MB

As usual, let me know how it all works for you.

To try and stop the flood of PMs I seem to be getting about a serial for the crapative software, I do NOT have one, nor do I know of anybody that does.