Possible FIX for SLI/X-Fi/4GB RAM/Vista x64...

[Sovereign]

First of all, let it be known that I did a clean format of my hard drive before conducting this procedure. This (for now) is a huge "YMMV" (Your Mileage May Vary) "fix."

For those having headaches with SLI (I have 7900GTXs), Vista x64, X-Fix and 4GB of RAM, you might want to give this a shot.

You need the following software
- ForceWare Version 162.22 (WHQL)
- Your Chipset drivers (nForce)
- X-Fi Drivers from Creative. Note that I have selected the XtremeMusic (no longer made). If the other higher-end cards require different drivers, then this link will not work for you!
- Creative Driver CD (or YouPAX X-Fi 2007), to install the Creative Audio Console to control your X-Fi's features
- Microsoft Hotfix 929777 (4GB RAM memory addressing problem)
- Microsoft Hotfix 938194 (General compatibility fix)
- Microsoft Hotfix 938979 (Overall performance update)

1. Format your drive (if you choose), it always helps to make sure everything is clean for troubleshooting
2. Install Vista x64
3. Install these hotfixes BEFORE installing ANY drivers at all!
4. Extract the Creative drivers from their package. You are not going to be installing the drivers using Creative's executable! You will be installing them a different way
5. The computer may or may not have prompted you about needing drivers for various devices (graphics, multimedia audio). You should tell it that you would like to be reminded later on graphics, but that you would like to install drivers now for the Multimedia Audio Controller (your X-Fi)
6. Vista won't be able to find drivers, so tell it to use another method and find drivers on your computer (NOT the "List drivers on your computer" as this only lists drivers in Vista's archive)
7. Point Vista to the location of the extracted Creative drivers and it will install them on its own.
8. Vista will most likely NOT require a reboot, mine didn't
9. Install graphics drivers version 162.22 WHQL (like WHQL means anything...). Reboot as required.
10. Install chipset drivers version 15.01, reboot again. Note that I did not install MediaShield software as I do not use RAID of any kind. If you use nVidia RAID you may want to install this software.
11. Reboot again.
12. Change your Theme to Windows Classic after you reboot and close Windows Sidebar. Enable SLI. This will require a reboot and it will appear that the nVidia Control Panel has jammed (what else is new?) but eventually your system will kick into reboot mode on its own.
13. SLI should be enabled ("SLI has been enabled. You may notice one of your displays go blank. This is normal blah blah blah").
14. You should at this point install the Creative Audio Console and related software.
15. Run Windows Update to collect important updates for your machine.

You should be in business with Vista x64, 4GB (or more) of RAM, SLI and an X-Fi!

[geekmd]

Hey there,

I am preparing to follow your protocol but have a follow-up question. I had my system up and running, but after 24 hours - started getting the failed driver message "nvlddmkm" driver failed but now has recovered.

Wondering if you have seen this problem yet - seems to be primarily 8000 series cards, but I have seen others report same thing in vista64.

Wish me luck.

[geekmd]

So far so good. Have done everything except install the Creative Console and put my second 2 GB stick of RAM in.

Am dreading the first "nvlddmkm" error message though..... Did find a link near the end of the Nvidia Forums on the subject that describes a manual voltage fix in the BIOS for a very similar system build.

"i had the same problem when vista aero is enabled and driver keeps crashing. im not sure if this will help u guys but i seem to have solved it for me on my evga 680i motherboard.
in the bios voltage section i had nforce MCP voltage and HT nforce SPP<->MCP voltatge to auto
i changed that and set them to 1.5v for MCP and 1.2 for SPP<->MCP and it seemed to stop the driver crashes.
not sure if it will work for everyone else but it did the job for me. now i can have sli enabled and vista aero as well.
i have 2 8800gtx's btw."

I am going to try this if/when the error starts popping up again.

ASUS Striker Extreme
Q6700 @ 2.66 GHz no OCing
dual EVGA 8800 GTX - no OCing
Mushkin RAM 2GB sticks x2 (after this post)
Creative X-Fi Fatality
Thermaltake 1000 watt PSU
Dual WD Caviar 750 GB HDs

[Sovereign]

Hey there,

I am preparing to follow your protocol but have a follow-up question. I had my system up and running, but after 24 hours - started getting the failed driver message "nvlddmkm" driver failed but now has recovered.

Wondering if you have seen this problem yet - seems to be primarily 8000 series cards, but I have seen others report same thing in vista64.

Wish me luck.

Sorry, I can't help you if the issue is constrained to the 8-series...