Question:

I recently updated my Creative Sound Blaster sound card (PCI Express X-Fi Xtreme Audio) on Windows Vista Home Premium (on a Dell XPS 720) and now I no longer have any sound from my Logitech Z-5500 speakers via the optical cable. How did I fix it?

Solution:

The answer is to repair (NOT re-install) the driver via the provided software CD. The original update brought my driver version to V. 6.0.1.1283. I then promptly lost all sound, except with headphones in to the computers auxiliary jack (not the sounds card’s jack). I then checked “roll back driver,” in device manager, but still no sound. Re-installing also did not help. For some reason, the only thing that brought my sound back was to select the repair option on the driver CD. It brought my diver version down to V. 6.0.1.1281 and then all sound was restored on the Logitech Z-5500 speakers via the optical cable.

Here is the Download Driver section of Creative for the SB X-Fi PCI Express:

http://support.creative.com/downloads/welcome.aspx?nDriverType=0&nOS=26&nLanguageLocale=1033#Drivers

I am assuming that from this point you have already installed the Blackberry Desktop software version 4.1 or later and that the modem is correctly installed (this is part of the standard install for the desktop software).

To verify this, from the start menu, select control panel:

1. In the top right corner, type “phone modem” in the search box.

2. Select Phone and Modem Options

Select the Modems tab.

You should see “Standard Modem”. This is the Blackberry Modem.

Select “Standard Modem” from the modems tab and click the Properties button.

In the General tab, select Change Settings on the bottom (you must be an administrator to change these settings).

Click Continue on the User Account Control Security warning that follows.

Under the Advanced tab, you must be sure to enter the Extra Initialization Commands:

AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,”wap.cingular” (remember this is for AT&T phones only, for others go here)

Click OK.

Next, from the start menu, select control panel:

1. In the top right corner, type “set up connection” in the search box.

2. Select Set up a dial-up connection

Next select Connect to the Internet.

Select Next.

If you are prompted to use a connection that you already have select No, create a new connection.

Select Next.

In the “How Do you want to Connect?” box, Select the last option: Dial-up.

Select Standard Modem as the modem to use.

Enter the following information in each box:

Dial-up phone number: *99#

User name: [leave blank]

Password: [leave blank]

(I renamed my connection name to: Blackberry Connection, you can pick your own creative title)

Select Connect.

Now you have to Turn Off IP Header Compression.

To do this, from the start menu, select control panel:

1. In the top right corner, type “connections” in the search box.

2. Select View Network Connections

Next, right click on the Dial-up connection that you have just created and select Properties.

Then go to the Networking tab.

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) (be sure to not uncheck the box) and then click Properties.

Then click the Advanced… button.

Within the PPP link section, uncheck Use IP header compression.

Click OK to close all open dialog boxes.

That’s it. You’re done!

If prompted by the message “Internet connectivity test was unsuccessful”, see the Blackberry Forums. For other Blackberry models and other carriers follow these instructions. If you still get an error after checking all settings you can try to resend your service book by clicking your Blackberry Options >> Advanced Options >> Host Routing Table. >> HIT MENU, then register (on your Blackberry device).

REMEMBER: The Blackberry Desktop software must be running while you have your Blackberry Curve 8310 tethered via the USB cable to use the device as a modem. A few people have said that they can use the modem without a data plan without any extra charges however I have not personally tested this.