Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Series Driver 2.18.0004 for Windows Vista Released

Thursday, July 31st 2008

A long time has passed since Creative last released any new Vista drivers for its X-Fi audio cards. Usually new drivers are being published every single day, and they don't concern us much, but in Creative's case a new driver release can be considered a break-through. It goes even worse, because when we talk about new Creative drivers for Windows Vista we expect something new to be added, but in reward we receive only features that are supposed to work by default with this concrete product. A perfect example for my words is the brand new Windows Vista 2.18.0004 driver for Creative X-Fi cards released today. It is now here to re-establish the hardware Dolby Digital, DTS decode and DVD-Audio playback functions, that were available in Windows XP for more than two years. If you own a Creative X-Fi card just like me and you use it under Windows Vista 32/64-bit, please follow this link to download Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi series Driver 2.18.0004.

Source: Creative

posted by malware - 6:29 PM | Related News |

User comments

by CrAsHnBuRnXp (6:36 PM) - Reply

Thanks a bunch. I will certainly give these a go. The only thing I hate about downloading drivers from creative is its so damn slow! Once I get it, I will update it to my FTP and provide a straight shot link.

by Kursah (6:44 PM) - Reply

I've been on the last of the modded X-fi drivers...I may give these a shot and see what kinds of improvements there are. My X-Fi's treated me quite well in Vista x64 over the last few months though...almost scared to mess with it! :toast:

by CrAsHnBuRnXp (6:46 PM) - Reply

by: Kursah
I've been on the last of the modded X-fi drivers...I may give these a shot and see what kinds of improvements there are. My X-Fi's treated me quite well in Vista x64 over the last few months though...almost scared to mess with it! :toast:

You'll be fine so long as you dont plug your front headphone jack into your X-Fi and try like hell to get the mic working in windows. :banghead:

by bogmali (6:48 PM) - Reply

I know it says X-Fi series but I'm wondering if it will work with an Audigy2 based card? I switched from XP Pro SP3 to Vista Ultimate X86 the other day and everytime I load the driver that Creative's website suggests I get a BSOD :banghead:

by Kursah (6:49 PM) - Reply

by: CrAsHnBuRnXp
You'll be fine so long as you dont plug your front headphone jack into your X-Fi and try like hell to get the mic working in windows. :banghead:

My X-Fi doesn't have an AZELIA FP plug anyways...I'd have to custom make a 10-pin or spend like $40 on one! I never use FP for audio...my HPA2 headset came with splitters that work great...I could have two 5.1 setups hooked up.

by CrAsHnBuRnXp (6:49 PM) - Reply

by: bogmali
I know it says X-Fi series but I'm wondering if it will work with an Audigy2 based card? I switched from XP Pro SP3 to Vista Ultimate X86 the other day and everytime I load the driver that Creative's website suggests I get a BSOD :banghead:

Try it.

by CrAsHnBuRnXp (6:51 PM) - Reply

Here we go. For Vista 32/64 bit users.

by bogmali (7:20 PM) - Reply

by: CrAsHnBuRnXp
Here we go. For Vista 32/64 bit users.

Will have to check that link out tonight when I get home;)

by speedpc (8:01 PM) - Reply

Thanks :) Crash Ok So do I install over the top of the old drivers or do i uninstall the old drivers 1st ?????

by MatTheCat (10:01 PM) - Reply

I guess these drivers are only for Vista. Shame cos I run XP and this sound card has too many issues in games that I play: BF2...Crackling FEAR (Persues)...Long periods of Sound distortion STALKER...Crackling... etc etc.

by 1c3d0g (10:05 PM) - Reply

Is this stupid company still in business? That's a damn shame. :shadedshu

by TheGuruStud (10:33 PM) - Reply

by: 1c3d0g
Is this stupid company still in business? That's a damn shame. :shadedshu

Truer words are hardly ever spoken :D

by Weer (10:38 PM) - Reply

by: 1c3d0g
Is this stupid company still in business? That's a damn shame. :shadedshu

So, what sound card do you have? ;) Also - I can't notice any difference between these drivers and the ones they replaced.

by: MatTheCat
I guess these drivers are only for Vista. Shame cos I run XP and this sound card has too many issues in games that I play: BF2...Crackling FEAR (Persues)...Long periods of Sound distortion STALKER...Crackling... etc etc.

Are you running FRAPS by any chance?

by tigger (11:06 PM) - Reply

I had an x-fi XM,but i took it out and sold it for two llamas and a pig.I dont think i will be buying another creative card for a while. Now i am using my onboard via digital coax out to my sony av amp,sounds good enough to me.

by warhammer (11:24 PM) - Reply

Creative was a good company but not any more I shelved my Audigy card 18 months ago

by bogmali (1:55 AM) - Reply

by: CrAsHnBuRnXp
Try it.

I did and it won't get pass the X-fi detection process :banghead:

by Ketxxx (1:55 AM) - Reply

Right... yes.. it took Creative 2 years to release a driver for Vista making more (I wont say all) of the cards features work... supposedly. Well done Creative on the craptacular responce time. Hurry up and go bankrupt.

by AsRock (2:51 AM) - Reply

by: warhammer
Creative was a good company but not any more I shelved my Audigy card 18 months ago

The company they took over made Creative much better but seems like there not as good as they used to be. Shame though if some one asked me i'd all ways say creative they were sweet with dos back in the day.. Shame..

by TheGuruStud (3:25 AM) - Reply

by: AsRock
The company they took over made Creative much better but seems like there not as good as they used to be. Shame though if some one asked me i'd all ways say creative they were sweet with dos back in the day.. Shame..

aside from the cd rom problems, etc :laugh: I'm pretty sure a few people went insane and became serial killers b/c of creative in the dos days.

by Alice_LJ (3:31 AM) - Reply

Superb job. To the original post---it is a good idea!:):slap: __________________ jewelry store

by CrAsHnBuRnXp (6:40 AM) - Reply

by: speedpc
Thanks :) Crash Ok So do I install over the top of the old drivers or do i uninstall the old drivers 1st ?????

When you go to install the newer driver the install process will uninstall the older drivers first. So you can do it either way.

by HaZe303 (6:57 AM) - Reply

by: bogmali
I did and it won't get pass the X-fi detection process :banghead:

You need to unpack it with winrar or 7-zip, and then in that folder go to "DriversSBXF" folder and use the "setup.exe". A small pop-up will show, "Creative Driver Update Utility", choose driver installation and press ok. Should work. Oh btw, you wont get any audio console or other software this way, only the drivers will install, just so you know.

by cool_recep (7:54 AM) - Reply

Now its time for Daniel K. to mod this drivers for Audigy :D. But he left modding right?

by mab1376 (11:35 AM) - Reply

yaay new drivers! :toast:

by chron (2:42 PM) - Reply

creative can suck a fuck. EAX doesn't even sound that great and DD Live on most cards is definitely good enough. I'm sick of having to randomly reinstall my drivers because the speakers all play the wrong channel, or one channel stops working, or the control panel locks up anytime it's opened. And I mean, literally, one day everything works, the next day it's fucked up, nothing changed, nothing tampered with.

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