XPS 1645 and Soundblaster X-Fi MB- anyone got these drivers?

I did a fresh install of Windows 7 Ultimate, and I have the driver DVD and all and went to Dell's website. There are no Soundblaster X-Fi MB drivers or software available for the XPS 1645 and the ones for the 1640 won't install.

Can someone here with a factory installed Windows 7 Ultimate x64 with Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi MB go into the C: drive, and zip the Dell and driver folder up so I can get the drivers (and any other relevent folders you see)? You can upload them to my FTP and I will host them for people.

 

Guys, I am talking to Dell right now about them not offering drivers for this piece of hardware and they are telling me they want to downgrade my operating system to WINDOWS VISTA? O_O

Dayum, if anyone who bought an XPS 16 with a Sound Blaster X-Fi MB and Windows 7 x64 factory installed would be kind enough to pack the drivers up that are stored in C:\driver and C:\Dell that would be very nice!

 

It won't be included in their driver directory.

It's a full install CD which you need to get from Dell with a serial code on.

From what you say it looks like they still don't have a Win7 version available?

Can you still order it on Win7 configs?

 

Yes, and what the fudge. I will go back to Dell tech support and ask if the disc can be ordered because I never received one with the system.

 

I thought X-Fi MB was software itself and not hardware?

 

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Yeah it's just software, emulates some X-Fi features or something.

 

Just found that out, indeed I have standard IDT sound hardware. LOL

Still want my Sound Blaster stuff back. Now that I know what I'm dealing with I can make the proper requests.

Thanks!

 

Well, it is and it does improve sound quality a little (you'll notice it if you use an external audio system or a good pair of headphones). Also, some features included are very useful (such as Crystalizer, CMSS 3D, Bass management, EAX).
Anyway, the 922X codec found on these IDT/SigmaTel sound cards is awesome and provides excellent sound quality IMO, comparable with some low-end Creative cards (like AudigySE).

 

It is true, the sound quality of the Sigmatel/IDT codec is very decent. Even the 92xx codec in my E1705 was really good, probably not as good as dedicated X-Fi but the power and high frequency reproduction were a step above most other.

 

Have you guys seen the legit equalizer (the animation, not the "Dance", "Rap" settings)? I just run the Minipanel and watch that thing fly....

 

This discussion got me curious, so I tracked down the specs for the IDT chip in the 1640/45 (and not sure what other Dell machines). Looks like the 1645 I've ordered has the 92HD73C1 processor with 6 channel, 24-bit, 192kHz specs.

It looks like it supports Dolby Digital Live as well... is this enabled in the drivers Dell provides?

Here is the spec sheet if anyone is interested. Seems to be a decent chip all around.

http://www.idt.com/products/getDoc.cfm?docID=18459191

 

if nobody can help you out, i ordered the x-fi sounds, but my dell is just shipping now, so it wont be here for a week. ill dump them for ya though if they're there.

 

Max you need to ask Dell to send you the driver CD as I very much doubt they will send it voluntarily.

 

ill call them tomorrow, they didnt send me one with the core2duo i ordered, so they already got me once, lol.

 

My disc is on it's way so I'm good now. I should get it tomorrow if they managed to get it out today, otherwise Wednesday.

 

Did they say it was Win7 compatible?

 

and who did you talk to? maybe got an extension #? I've tried 3 times to request it...no luck. Always got somebody on the phone who has no clue.

 

I did it over email. No clue what his contact information is. The disc arrived, I installed it but the SB X-Fi MB isn't working. It says it's not compatible with my audio device. ?_?

 

Yeah I have the same problem. It's not Win7 compatible. We need to post here to try and get the inf's modified / updated:

http://forums.creative.com/t5/Sound-Blaster/Sound-Blaster-X-Fi-MB-software/td-p/532437

 

-1 for Creative Labs drivers.

 

If you are having issues installing the SoundBlaster X-Fi MB CD on Windows 7 64 bit, I have found a solution.

1. If it is installed, uninstall it...

2. Reload the CD but do not install, you must open the folder and wait for the CD to stop spinning

3. Right click on the set-up exe file

4. now click on Troubleshoot Compatibility

5. a new window will open with 2 options choose the second one

6. choose Windows Vista SP2

7. just continue through the steps

You will now have the SoundBlaster X-Fi MB software working. It has worked for me on my new Studio XPS 1645 laptop.

It does improve the sound quality.

 

I'll give that a go but I have my doubts. The reason I say that is the software installs fine, it's just on reboot the driver can't find a compatible device. I wouldn't have thought running setup in Vista compatibility mode would affect that driver detection process.

Will report back.

 

OK, when you reboot the computer you will lose the audio device, all you have to do is click on the audio icon next to the clock and it will automatically repair it and all the creative software will still work.

The only pain in the neck is that on each reboot you just need to click on the audio icon next to the clock to automatically repair it and the creative software will still work.

For now at least it is a solution to get it to work until they update it, better than nothing.

 

You click the audio icon and it repairs itself? That doesn't happen on mine. Did you install the latest IDT audio drivers from the Dell website (A15) before installing the X-Fi?

 

Yes, the IDT driver must be installed first then install the creative software by following the steps. Once you reboot the computer there will be a red X on the audio icon next to the clock and all I do is click on it and a program opens up and will search for the driver , it does find it and ask you if you want to install/repair it. once the driver is reinstalled all the audio and soundblaster software is working just fine. Other people on the dell forum as well have got it to work in this manner.

 

This does work but you have to do it on your first install, otherwise it didn't seem to work for me. System Restore is the only way to uninstall most of it. THIS METHOD DOES WORK! It's working perfectly for me now on my XPS 1645.

 

well, its working fine on the system i received today. i gave a call to dell, theyre sending me the cd and serial

1645
Core i7 820qm
Windows7 64
4GB
256GB ssd
BR ROM

 

Yep worked perfectly for me too +rep!

It was also my third or fourth attempt at installing and I have no issues with repair on reboot.

Thanks very much for posting this fix.

 

No problem, I am glad to see that it is now working for you and others. We are all here to help each other out with issues, that's what its about.

Enjoy,
2by4

 

I didn't get my driver CD or serial either.

I can't believe how sloppy Dell is.

 

i got mine in the mail a few days ago

 

The problem is with the installer, X-Fi MB works fine.

 

I got my serial # from creative after requesting it, but I don't have the software....

 

here is the 152MB files form the setup disc.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QG7J9YH0

there is no key included, and you will need one from dell or creative before it will install. also, you need the correct hardware to install. this is the software package only.

 

thanks max420.

 

If that doesn't work, let me know and I will create a disc image that should keep all possible copy protections intact. I also would like to sell my copy of it with original disc and serial.

 

lol, there is no copy protection i installed this on a fresh install before i uploaded it.

 

Well there is in so far as you need a serial key, but yeah no other protection on the disk. These files will work fine if you have a key. You can't share keys either as they are authenticated online.

By the way not sure if that download link should be posted here, you might get in dodo.

 

Ive ordered mine a week ago and its still in production, i called yesterday and they told me that the creative xfi cd was not available so they're waiting on a new shipment... wth?

 

Hey people,

I keep reading about people having problems re-installing the x-fi mb on their windows 7 (32 or 64) systems after reinstalling.

First of all, the amount of information from dell or even the internet is very slim when it comes to this software, so nobody could be blamed for the confusion.

Not that there's any confusion about this anymore, but the x-fi mb is a SOFTWARE solution that is NOT a device driver. Think of it as an audio enhancement, nothing more.

What you need to do to get this working is, make sure your sound drivers are up to date and installed. The best way to do this? go to the dell support site and enter your service tag.. download and install your audio driver. Reboot your computer, THEN install x-fi MB.

If you do it this way, you will not get the "audio not detected" or whatever error message.

Good luck! I personally think the x-fi mb makes a pretty decent difference and the audio enhancements are pretty good!

 

Sorry that's not true, you need to run in Vista Compatibility mode otherwise it will not work.

 

I've got a bit of a problem. My 1645 came today but with no Creative disc. It is also not on the packing slip. Should I be able to get one? Thanks a lot in advance.

 

As long as you selected it when you were configuring your system, you should have the disc. Call Dell, or even better chat Dell support, and ask them to send you your disc.