Help - Creative Mixer

[User66]

I am running a fairly old Sound Blaster PCI 128 program in Windows XP Pro. I
have to admit that it does have a wonderful WAV file Editor, that makes it
worthwhile. So much for that. Here is my problem.

As I boot, here comes a notice with title "Creative Mixer", "Can't register
tray icon."

Creative Wave Studio - works OK
Creative MiniDisk Center - works OK
Creative Keytar - works OK
Creative Play Center - works OK

Creative Recorder - works, but not as good as it used to

Creative Mixer - does not show up on the Taskbar during boot time, but we
have to open it and then put it on Taskbar by selecting it to do it, which
was supposed to be automatic. Although it functions OK, but again during
reboot it does not show up on the Taskbar.

I have unloaded the program from my PC, then re-loaded it, but the same
problem returns.
I hate to reload the OP system just to clear up one programs miss-behavior.

Any idea what I am doing wrong? Do I have to edit the registry?

Appreciate help.

 

[Andrew E.]

To uninstall & reinstall the hardware,uninstall software in add/remove (dont
restart pc),open device mgr,uninstall all of its components,shutdown pc.With
power off,move the card to another pci slot,start pc,reinstall software.Also,
for sound/video recording,download windows encoder 9 seies + its utilities.
Also,to test a sound or video card,go to run,typeXDIAG Run the Direct X
tests.

 

[Bill in Co.]

That looks like a generic laundry list. On top of which, what makes you
think it's a hardware problem?

 

[User66]

Reloaded the driver, but this time the device manager loaded the built in
Creative AudioPCI (ES1371, ES1373) (WDM) driver, instead of Creative Sound
Blaster (WDM) driver, which loaded from the CD. Sound quality is still OK
and everything works. Have tried the DXDIAG and everything test OK.

But everything works OK, until I reboot. And after reboot the icon does not
show up on the Taskbar, and the same "Creative Mixer", "Can't register tray
icon." shows up.

Hope I don't have to re-load Windows XP. Seems like a registry problem. Is
there any easy way to clean up the registry for software related to a
hardware?

 

[Bill in Co.]

If you want to get back to where you were previously (with the newer CD WDM
driver, which sounds advisable), do a System Restore to a prior checkpoint.
That will restore the registry to before you did this driver reload.

 

[User66]

For some reason (I know why) System Properties "Turn off System Restore on
all drives" had a check mark on it. Consequently, I was unable to Restore.
Although I have un-checked it now, but that is why I asked how to edit the
registry for "Creative Mixture" error banner removal.

(This is an old PC with a small drive and System Restore was eating up
plenty of space. Occasional removal of 'System Restore' returned some extra
space in working drive. I an sure we are paying for it now!)

 

[SC Tom]

Much as I like the SB sound and versatility, I've always been a little
disappointed in their software stability and quality. Reloading the OS is
not going to help in the long run. Try downloading the latest drivers from
Creative
http://support.creative.com/Product...I 128&subCatName=Others&CatName=Sound+Blaster
and see if that helps. Try their knowledge base for an answer to this
problem. I used to have the same card (probably still have it on a shelf
somewhere), and ran into that same problem either with it or another one
around that time. Not too sure I ever found a solution other than getting a
newer card.
I believe (IIRC) you can go into the Creative Mixer or Creative setup
program and chose not to show the tray icon. Try that and see if it helps
get rid of the error message. Look in event viewer and see what's listed as
errors on boot up. Maybe a DLL error will show up there and you can register
that DLL to fix the error.
Sorry I can't be more helpful than that, but it's been 6 or 7 years since
I've used that card.

SC Tom

 

[User66]

Thanks for the posting. I had the new driver loaded but that did not help
any. Finally gave up and reloaded OP system and it is working OK.