I’m still getting my computer back to the way it was, having formatted about a week ago as per my annual cleansing. Well, actually I broke Windows XP by attempting to install SP2 and had to install a fresh copy. In any case, formatting went fine and everything was installing fine until it came to installing the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 drivers and software.
Apparently, Creative is the only hardware manufacturer I know of that requires you to use the CD that came with the hardware instead of downloading the latest software. Ridiculous!
I’ve found comments on the Download.com download page for the Audigy 2 driver update from people that didn’t have a previous version of the drivers installed and couldn’t install the update. There is a workaround to get the driver itself updated, but there is more software that needs to be installed to get everything working, like the EAX features.
I’ve downloaded a CD image of the Audigy 2 and a CD image of the Audigy 2 ZS, and both installers complained that they couldn’t detect my sound card. I’m guessing they are different versions of the CD than the one that was made for my card. So now, I have to wait until I go home for Christmas to retrieve my CD that I left behind in Nova Scotia.
At least I have the CD though. I’ve read many forum posts from people that bought an Audigy 2 from eBay and couldn’t install the drivers and software. They probably will never be able to install the software for their sound card. Way to go Creative, you’ve successfully pissed off a lot of people. Good thing you pretty much have a monopoly on the sound card market. Oh, and by the way, your mp3 players suck.
Update (2005-12-07): Thanks to my good friend Reigo Carter for ripping his Audigy 2 CD and sending the CD image to me. It worked!