Re: Boot problems can anyone help at all please?

[verachion]

Hi,

My friend has recently installed Creative extigy and has bought himself a 7.1 speaker system Creative Inspire. After he plugged the system in there was no sound coming from the speakers so he rebooted the computer, and thats where the problem lies, the computer boots as far as the blue welcome screen then freezes? can anybody out there please advise where he goes from here as he is a little upset about this and I would like to help him resolve the problem.

Thanks in advance

Darren

[deddard]

Were the correct drivers installed? this is usually the first port of call.
If things are hanging at bootup, the easiest way around this is to boot into safe mode - hit F8 as soon as the you get the 'starting windows' (just after the POST), and you'll get the option to boot into safe mode.
Once there, go to to device manager- if you are in XP, this is Control panel>system>hardware>device manager, and see if the sound card is working correctly - just look for yellow exclamation marks near a device.
If there are any exclamation marks on the sound card , it means that the sound system is not functioning (the computer doesn't know how to use it) and you can either uninstall ( not physically, - just delete the device from within device manager)the device and reboot, in which case it should be autodetected and configured in the next reboot, or you can choose to update the drivers. Take a good look at the manual - I'm not familiar with this sound system, but it could be that extra drivers and software are being loaded to control the system - these often cause problems.

If reinstalling the software/device doesn't help, then again boot into safe mode, and disable the device, and try rebooting from there to see if you can get into windows 'normally.
You can then uninstall the drivers and software by using the 'add/remove software' or preferably, looking at the start>all programs menu to see if there is an uninstall utility there under 'creative'.
Again, just check the manual - many add-ons want the hardware then the software installed, whilst others want software then the hardware installed.

[Quantax]

I this is Windoze XP you also have the option to "roll back" the drivers instead of uninstalling.

[sea69]

1st off, unplug the extigy (having all power off)- I suspect perhaps you didn't UNinstall the video card you were using before...


Using your prior soundcard, boot regularly-> go to device manager-> uninstall the soundcard you are using-> turn computer off comletely.

Now, you don't have to- but I would take the other video card out of the machine. (first UNPLUG the computer from electrical supply- and be sure you're grounded)

A phillips screwdriver is all you need.

Take the souncard out, replace cover- follow installation instructions (http://www.techspot.com/reviews/hardware/extigy/index.shtml).

[verachion]

Hi,

Thanks for all the help, I have passed the information on to my friend and he will let me know how he gets on. It seems that the Creative extigy isn't as singing and dancing as first thought. I won't be buying it and thats for sure.

I will update and let you know how he gets on.

Thanks again

Darren