un/re install Creative Audigy MP3 Sound Card

I have a Creative Labs Audigy MP3+ Sound Card installed. For an unknown reason the Creative Task Bar and Tray have become corrupted resulting in errors when I boot my computer and, of course, I don't have the use of the Creative Task Bar. By checking the error reports my computer wants to send to Microsoft it would appear the errors are in CTLTRAY.EXE, CTDPRDXY.DLL and CTLTASK.EXE.

I'm having a problem re-installing the software to correct the problem. Initially I tried to repair the installation as provided by the installation CD. This ran but did not fix anything.

Then I tried to uninstall the software but when I do that I get a blue screen of death when trying to re-boot and have had to restore my system (and the errors with the sound card) to get the system running. I think it is an IRQ problem but not positive but pretty sure it isn's uninstalling completely.

I must be missing the boat here big time as it seems to me I should be able to uninstall... hell, what if I got a different sound card

I did send an email to the support folks at Creative Labs but they have chosen not to respond to my help request. So I would appreciate any advise y'all my be able to pass along to me.

Running Windows XP (with SP1) home edition, Asus A7V333 MoBo, 512 RAM, plenty of HD space and an Athlon 1800+ processor.

Thanks.....

 

Hi Jim78418
Any chance we can get the full and complete error message you're recieving? Have you taken a gander in your device manager for any splats?

Daizy

 

Hi Daizy, thanks for responding to my plea for help.

I have checked the Device Manager and there are no "splats" present.

In regards to the error message. The only error I get is the errors that are generated by windows xp that I'm requested to send to microsoft. I haven't been able to save them but have looked at them and they look like a system dump of the registers to me. A file is created (referred to in the windows reporting error message noted above) called "appcompat.txt" that is generated when I get these errors.

Sample of appcompat.txt file:

<?xml version= "1.0" encoding= "UTF-16 "?>
<DATABASE>
<EXE NAME= "CTLTray.exe" FILTER= "GRABMI_FILTER_PRIVACY ">
<MATCHING_FILE NAME= "CTAbout.dll" SIZE= "262144" CHECKSUM= "0xD9C99441" BIN_FILE_VERSION= "5.0.54.0" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION= "5.0.54.0" PRODUCT_VERSION= "5.00.54" FILE_DESCRIPTION= "Creative About Box" COMPANY_NAME= "Creative Technology Ltd." PRODUCT_NAME= "Creative About Box" FILE_VERSION= "5.00.54" ORIGINAL_FILENAME= "CTAbout.dll" INTERNAL_NAME= "CTAbout" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT= "Copyright © 2001 Creative Technology Ltd." VERFILEDATEHI= "0x0" VERFILEDATELO= "0x0" VERFILEOS= "0x40004" VERFILETYPE= "0x2" MODULE_TYPE= "WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM= "0x0" LINKER_VERSION= "0x0" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION= "5.0.54.0" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION= "5.0.54.0" LINK_DATE= "03/30/2001 05:37:37" UPTO_LINK_DATE= "03/30/2001 05:37:37" VER_LANGUAGE= "English (United States) [0x409]" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME= "CTLGDE.dll" SIZE= "36864" CHECKSUM= "0x660678C0"


This is about 1/3 of the entire file if you think it has value let me know and I'll post the whole thing.

If you want I will copy what is in the "dump" and post that but wanted to make sure that is what you want as it would be a manual process.

Let me know and thanks

 

Hi again Jim
Perhaps disable error reporting so we can get a clearer idea of what the eroor messaage is?
Daizy

 

OK, I'm going back to beginner status!!! I disabled error reporting and rebooted. Looks to me I got the same error in the same format but the only difference is it isn't asking if I want to send it in. I did dig out an old program that records screen images to JPG files and can email these to you, about 138 kb each page and have maybe 30 pages or so... if you would rather keep your email private I'll see about putting these images on a web page like geocities or something.

Let me know.

Thanks....

 

Hi again Jim
No, you'd be more than welcome to send me the error by email, except it'd be of no value to me if it's more of the same.
I'm truly out of my depth here. You've tried to go to Add/Remove and uninstall.........correct? You've gone to device manager......and there's no splats? You still get the same errors if you choose a restore point to a time before this happened? Have you tried to remove the soundcard? This is a new install.......correct?

Daizy

 

Hi Daizy, your reply appears to accurate except that this is not a new install. The sound card and it's software was installed in June of this year and was working just fine. One day in late Sept or early Oct I was playing a game and it froze up and the only remedy was to power off the computer. When I rebooted I started getting these error messages. I have no idea what happened. The game, Grand Theft Auto 3, is working fine and I do get sound but don't have a task bar (That is a Task Bar for the sound card... a feature of the program to enable changing sound parameters not to be confused by the windows task bar.).

It seems to me that I should be able to reinstall the software thus fixing what I assume are corrupted files but that is where I get into trouble as described in my initial entry.

I understand if your out of your element and can't help.... I'm in the same boat

Question: do you think it necessary to physically remove the sound card in order to uninstall the software? It wouldn't seem necessary to me but then what is happening isn't logical to me either.

 

Hi Jim
No, I'd not think it necessary to remove the card to uninstall the software. Sorry about that, I was thinking this was a brand new install.
It's of no consolation that most of the things I've read had been about removing the task bar, huh?
You're not able to get to the software through start.....programs.........etc?
How are you going about uninstalling this? Through an uninstaller...or through Add/remove?
Lastly...It's official! I can ask more questions than I can answer!

Daizy

 

Seeing as I'm bombing on you here, have you rummaged through here yet?

Daizy

*edit*
More recent drivers perhaps?

 

Been using the windows add/remove software for the uninstall. The program is resident from the start menu but there is no uninstall option. As noted when I use the CD there is a repair option but it doesn't repair what is broken.... somehow I don't find that odd.....

I guess I'll go back to creative labs web site and hound them into helping versus ignoring. I'm kinda a stuborn guy and will dog this sucker until it's fixed or expunged.

Grins and smiles to you....

 

Oops.....seems we were typing at the same time.

Do let us know how you make out Jim?

Daizy

 

Oh yea, the Creative Labs Support Site. This is the place where you go and enter your most private sound card moments and submit them to an unknown Dear Abby look alike (only no lisp) and then they sit around and drink coffee and ignore you.

Even got the t-shirt..... Of course this is where I started and were I'm going per my previous post

 

Ohhhhhhh don't you be knocking the coffee!

<----------------------------------------------

Look how freaking helpful I've been!

Daizy

 

HOLY ****!.!.!. Daizy, I didn't realize you worked for Creative Labs

 

Just being nosey Jim...... (certainly not helpful)

How goes the battle? Any progress you'd like to give me full and complete credit for?

Daizy

 

Interestingly enough I was just thinking about you. Right now I've "repaired" my system so well that it doesn't recognize my sound card and of course won't make any noise. My machine is laying on it's side with the sound card askew and I thinking it has to be happy hour somewhere and there is no reason I shouldn't join them..... not doing any good here

What I did do was try, again, to uninstall the software but this time I got a message saying the ininstall data was missing. Being the brave soul I am I plunged right in and removed every mention of Creative* from the registry (I did back it up but can't find my backup.... oh well, restore should save me ) and renamed the Creative directory. I then uninstalled all hardware via the device manager. Powered off and on and away we went. Reinstalled hardware, installed software.

Current status was software install was good and I even got a creative task bar but also no sound and error messages saying my sound card was not installed properly.

After a few times of uninstalling via device mgr and getting same error I physically removed it, booted and got email that you rang my bell so took time to respond.

Probably going to pack it in for the night real soon and hit it again in the AM with a proper hangover.

Grins and smiles, thanks for checking in.

 

Geeeez you're a hard man to please.

Let's recap shall we?
You had sound...but not taskbar. This displeased you.

You've now got the much covetted taskbar...and no sound. And yet again.......not a happy camper.

It's more than obvious that you're spoiled and want your computer to "work ". Has it crossed your mind that you may have your sites set a titch high? I suggest you learn to sing.

Do post back if I can be of any more assistance to you. My ineptitude knows no bounds. I'll prove it!

Daizy

 

Are we looking at the ain't supposed to be, but still may be, good old fashioned IRQ conflict between a couple of pieces of hardware.

Such as the Modem, Sound and/or Network card conflict Which would not always show up in device manager. If so the quote below could mean nothing.

Sure as heck looks like it to me. I know this **** is not supposed to happen in XP, BUT ?????

BillyBob

 

Whew BillyBob good to see you!
I think I've overwhelmed (or chased off........you pick) Jim with all my technical-ese.

Seriously..........thanks for jumping in.

Daizy

 

Hi Daizy

I have been holding off getting in here because of XP being the OS.

I have also been holding off on getting XP. But it kind of looks like I gotta have a go at it cause;

1-- I am getting bored since I have taken all of the fight out of SE.
2-- Gotta have something new to fight with.
3-- Have a 4th machine sitting here doing nuttin. It might not handle much heavy duty stuff but would be fine for learning I believe. In fact I would more than likely be dumb enough to dump XP right on top us the existing, well working 98 FE. If it works fine. If it don't, oh well I would have lost nothing.

4--Or go for the big $$ and build a whole new machine.

BillyBob