Sound Blaster drivers for OEM computers?

if i'm not mistaken, SL (like many games) uses DirectX's DirectSound to make its sound. if you can find another game that uses DirectSound (like Unreal Tournament 2003), and then see if you still have sound problems.

I haven't tried to install any other games, but I did try running DxDiag, the DirectX diagnostic tool. The test for DirectSound revealed no problems; I heard everything fine.

Okay, I think I've finally gotten some useful information about my sound card problem. According to a thread on the user forum at the Dell site, the SB0200 is a cheapo card found only in Dells, not a real SoundBlaster. This card is probably actually manufactured by Creative Labs, explaining the presence of their logo on the card itself, but it uses a completely different architecture than real SoundBlaster cards. Apparently before Oct 15 2002, Dell installed real SoundBlasters (model CT4780) in all its machines; after that date, they switched to using the cheapo card in many of them. That's why Creative's driver installation program doesn't recognize my card; the cheapo card may be from Creative, but it's not a SoundBlaster.

The thread on the Dell forum is fifteen pages long, and contains complaints of many Dell users over problems they've had with this card. People have spent hours trying to get replacements cards out of Dell, to no avail. Some have also filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau, etc.

I certainly can't expect Second Life to work with a card like this. Looks like I'll just have to buy a real SoundBlaster. Thanks again to Misnomer and Phil for their help.

My OS is XP, I have a Dell with an SB203 newer version of the same Piece of crap card Jake has.
I've been on the phone with the Dell geeks, they told told me there is currently no updated versions to the SB203 (and I assume all crappy SB2xx) drivers.
Not only did they screw me on my sound card, they screwed me on my RAM. Oh I got the DDR SD, but only got 256 MB when I freaking specified 512!
So I would void my warrenty by opening my case to either add RAM or a sound card that works in SL.
I hope that LInden Labs can address this problem as it's clear that there are a few of us afflicted with it. If not, then Jakes misery will enjoy my company in just living with it.

The following complaint was submitted on 4/3/2003 11:57:41 PM:

CUSTOMER INFORMATION:

(blanked)

COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:

DELL COMPUTER CORPORATION
1 DELL WAY
ROUND ROCK, TX United States 78682
(512)338-4400
dell.com

COMPLAINT INFORMATION:

Complaint #: 1011796
Complaint Type: General Complaint (not a car maker)
Date Received: 4/3/2003
Primary Complaint Classification: Product Quality
Secondary Complaint Classification: Refund Practices
Complaint:
The computer system I purchased was supposed to have a genuine Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! sound card installed. The sound has never worked properly - I get hums, pops, reverb feedback loops and static with any product that uses Windows Direct 3D Audio. I have contacted creative labs and I have tried to install creative labs drivers for this product, but creative labs does not recognize this sound card as one of their products and the drivers will not install. Dell's drivers for this card are more than a year old. I have contacted Dell 6 times regarding this issue and spent more than 10 hours on the phone with them and they have been unable/unwilling to resolve the issue. Several times after being put on hold for 20 minutes or more, I was disconnected. As far as I'm concerned, I was robbed.
Desired Settlement: Replacement
Settlement Explanation:
I would like a legitimate SoundBlaster Live! card, since that's what I paid for, that's what is written on my invoice and that's what Dell tells me I have. Creative Labs tells me this is NOT their product.
Customer Service Rep: Mr. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Product or Service: Dell Dimension 8250
Model Number: Creative Labs Sounblaster Live!
Account Number: XXXXXXXXX
Order Number: XXXXXXXXX
Salesperson: ECOMMERCE SALES REP 6203
Payment Made: Yes
Purchase Price: XXXX
Disputed Amount: XXXX
Payment Method: Credit Card
Purchase Date: 1/16/2003
Problem Date: 1/16/2003
Complaint Dates: 1/20/2003, 2/3/2003, 3/1/2003


The bureau that will handle your complaint is:

The Better Business Bureau
2101 S. Ih 35, Ste. 302
Austin, TX 78741 -3854
Phone: (512)445-2911
Fax: (512)445-2096
Email: [email]info@austin.bbb.org[/email]
WWW: http://www.centraltx.bbb.org

good for you. at one time dell used to be a reliable, reputable, and even recommended OEM manufacturer to buy from. however, over the past 2-3 years or so, they've resorted to incredibly proprietary architectures, and their tech support has gone down the tubes. maybe it's time they need to be slapped. let's just hope the BBB does something for you.

I just found the transcript of another's complaint. Apparently there are alot of people out there with cheapo sb2xx cards when they thought they were getting SB Live! 5.1

"Dude your getting the shaft!"

I did manage to make a customer service management type think he would be making a career decision by not sending me the card specified on my invoice. It's in the mail

*

kewl... when you get it, just make sure it has a CTxxxx number on it... i think the SB live cards are like CT47-something

The following is another quote from Dell's audio forum re their "bait & switch" scam. The author is a guy with the same sound issues as Jake and I.

Hello all,

I have sent an email to pc worlds consumer watch regarding dells famous soundcard. Hopefully these guys can help out. Below is the email that I sent...

Here is the email to the consumerwatch dept, in case anyone else wants to send an email.

[email]consumerwatch@pcworld.com[/email]

Kaushik

Dear Consumer watch,

I and many others are in need of help. We are very frustrated with Dell Computer Corporation. Upon purchasing our system, we were promised we would get a 'premium audio' SoundBlaster live sound card (as per the website, and the sales tech). Instead we have an inferior, unstable, proprietary soundcard. It is nothing close to a SoundBlaster live hardware wise (it has a different chipset and audio processor), it is so different that the normal OEM/retail SoundBlaster live drivers do not work on this proprietary card. The card is unstable in gaming, and it is missing a lot of the special SoundBlaster live such as ability to mix/modify/use the sound fonts. Even Creative Labs drivers/website is not able to identify this card as a live card because it is so different (an error message is found that says no SoundBlaster live soundcard present in the system). The drivers do work with every other genuine OEM models. We feel that dell has pulled a switch on us. Dell computer does not seem to care about us, since we are after our 30 days, they will not listen to us at all. This is not a case of only one or few upset customers; there are least several dozen customers that are upset about this card. There was a 14 page thread on this card, which had about 4000 views on it and was quickly suspended. Also, now that dell has realized the inferiority of this card, they have quickly changed the card description to 'occasional music and gaming', rather than a high performance description.

Here is the frozen thread with 4000 page views and is 14pages long. http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_audio&message.id=37879

If you look at the audio web board, there are a lot of other unsatisfied customers with the sb0200 sound card.

Dell has just given myself and others a bunch of runarounds regarding this matter, and has not put a sincere effort in to creating a resolution. Customers are not asking for an upgraded soundcard, we are just asking for the premium SoundBlaster live (an actual SoundBlaster live ) soundcard that we had played a premium price for.

Kaushik Tailor

Hey Jake - I have the same computer (but a different problem, I freeze up - but I *think* it's also a driver issue - not sure yet.)

Anyway, on my hunt for the latest drivers... I found an updated driver here:

http://www.windowsxp-drivers.com/drivers/82/82026.htm

Driver Information
Company: Creative Labs
Model: Sound Blaster Live! Model #: SB0200
Category: sound
Operating System: Windows XP (Note: might work with other versions of this os.)
Date Submitted: Dec 16, 2002
Location: This file is located on DriverGuide.com
File: SBLive-SB0200.zip
(free registration required)
Comments
This driver has proven to be quite difficult to find. Many have discovered that the drivers offered on the Creative Labs U.S. site simply won't work for this specific model of the Live! card.

As of this writing, Dell ships this particular sound card

Good luck!

Thanks Leaflover, but I've already tried the driver on DriverGuide.com. It didn't help.

Thought maybe they'd work for you, so I'd try... I ended up solving all my crash, buggyness, buzzing, & feedback issues by buying a new soundcard. The Dell came with that supposedly SB card, so I wasn't going to spend any extra money on a soundcard, but the frustration factor was just too high.

I ended up finding a SB live 5.1 platnum (OEM) for $30. (The SB0100 card). I tried everything else to fix my issues - it was the only thing that I hadn't (wait - couldn't ) upgrade the drivers on.

When I installed the new card and downloaded the winxp drivers off the creative site... oh joy oh rapture - I haven't heard anything odd or frozen all day. I can play!

I wish I could have solved it - but it's not us - it's the cheapo soundcard from Dell. Without driver support... you're better off sound free.

My vote is to buy a new sound card... with the Audigy card out now the upscale soundblaster cards are really inexpensive (and will have updated drivers down the road). I don't think Dell will every release drivers for the other card.

Good luck!

leaflover: you shouldnt've had to buy a sound card in the first place -- your dell was supposed to ship with a real SoundBlaster card, not some proprietary piece of crap. i'm glad to hear that your problems have been solved now, but sorry to hear that dell is sucking so much posterior these days