PSA | For those still using Creative Sound Blaster cards. X-fi, Recon3D, Z series etc. Creative have removed all driver except concurrent products.

[86technie]

Really disappointing that Creative have removed all the driver for the following:

Is sad that for so long the drivers whether for Win 7/8.1/10 it is available to download.
Even the SB Z series which some people are using are not spared which is dumb move.
As the SB Z SE and Z are basically identical cards only difference is the software.

People like me still buy second hand sound card just to play around but since Creative
axe all the driver.
That means such card still can work but if you need to format/reinstall your Windows.

You have to use Windows update to install the driver but there's no Sound blaster control software.
If anyone still using these cards, please backup the driver installation keep one side.
I tried to ask Creative why they remove the drivers for these products.

They just gave me a vague answer that since Windows 7/8.1 have EOL thus Creative have ceased support.
But than these OS have EOL years ago now this year so their answer is really puzzling.
Maybe Creative have server migration so older products are removed from the server during the migration.

This is the only logical explanation than what the call center wrote to me.
If not cannot be for the past year after Win 8.1 have EOL, drivers still can download.
I was able to download on 5 May this month and was shock when I wanted to revive my old Win 7 PC.

That I cannot download the driver anymore, the CD which I still have for Recon3D series not
not WHQL certified thus not usable.
I will try to press Creative at least provide a stable driver release for Win 7/8.1/10.

No need to remove every releases just provide the last stable release will do.
PS if any Creative staff/management is reading this I hope you put back the driver so at least people can use your products.
Especially the SB Z without the SB software the card isn't fully ultiized.

If not people can start to throw your products into this bin.

 

[firesong]

Driving people to their new products?

I suppose that's been the business direction for many companies. Cos if they can't sell new products, they cannot sustain and will have to close down. So products are not made to last beyond a predetermined lifespan (eg, most mobile phones are about 2-3 years before failing realistically speaking, although I know many iPhone users holding their phones for 5y. Samsung flagship screens seem to develop lines or fade out after 1y )

Even laptops appear to have problems after the 2nd or 3rd year. The warranty is indicative of the expected lifespan of the product.

As for Win 7/8/10, 7 and 8 are no longer supported. 10 will soon be EOL according to Microsoft, so product vendors are not obliged to maintain drivers. However, I do agree it would be nice to at least keep the archives present.

 

[Phen8210]

Driving people to their new products?

I suppose that's been the business direction for many companies. Cos if they can't sell new products, they cannot sustain and will have to close down. So products are not made to last beyond a predetermined lifespan (eg, most mobile phones are about 2-3 years before failing realistically speaking, although I know many iPhone users holding their phones for 5y. Samsung flagship screens seem to develop lines or fade out after 1y )

Even laptops appear to have problems after the 2nd or 3rd year. The warranty is indicative of the expected lifespan of the product.

As for Win 7/8/10, 7 and 8 are no longer supported. 10 will soon be EOL according to Microsoft, so product vendors are not obliged to maintain drivers. However, I do agree it would be nice to at least keep the archives present.

Creative doesn't have the operational manpower to support relics from a decade ago, and most companies don't. Even large companies do the same. After a decade, if the product can work at a functional level, it's already a godsend.

From win 7/8 to win 10, they had to change implementation and rework things on the driver level to make it work.

Also, iPhones are the most required phone for repair, with data supplied by third-party repairers. This doesn't need to be said if you have ever worked in a phone repair shop because the difference is obvious.

Even studies have the same findings, but its not surprising to me.
https://www.phonearena.com/news/consumers-self-repair-iphones-more-than-any-other-brand_id155130

Don't be so shallow and conclude without actually knowing why they can use their phones for a long period.

 

[mindgamey]

Creative doesn't have the operational manpower to support relics from a decade ago, and most companies don't. Even large companies do the same. After a decade, if the product can work at a functional level, it's already a godsend.

From win 7/8 to win 10, they had to change implementation and rework things on the driver level to make it work.

Also, iPhones are the most required phone for repair, with data supplied by third-party repairers. This doesn't need to be said if you have ever worked in a phone repair shop because the difference is obvious.

Even studies have the same findings, but its not surprising to me.
https://www.phonearena.com/news/consumers-self-repair-iphones-more-than-any-other-brand_id155130

Don't be so shallow and conclude without actually knowing why they can use their phones for a long period.

Just asking Creative to keep the listed drivers, not updating drivers.

I dont see how much manpower you need to keep the link in their support page.

More reasons for me to avoid creative for being assholes.

 

[nvx_si]

You might consider third party repositories for legacy or end of life creative audio drivers:

Sound Blaster 16, 32 AWE 32 and 64 - philscomputerlabs

Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic for Windows 2000 & Windows XP - archive dot org

Sound Blaster Recon3D & Recon3Di PCIe - station-drivers dot com

PCI SB046x / SB055x / SB073x / SB077x / Auzentech Prelude - Daniel_K's Official Blog

 

[kyang69]

I typically keep the installation CDs with drivers for all my computer stuff.
Only 2 years ago I started backup those CDs to my secondary hard drive and throw away the CDs because moved house lesser space for storage.

Most of the modern PC design doesn't come with DVD-ROM drive too.