"Use System Driver"

[Boz]

What does checking and unchecking this item really do? I ask this in relation to my freeze problem. It seems that if I have this box unchecked, I seem to get random game freezes. If I check it then the game seems not to freeze. Now it sounds much better with this unchecked of course, but what gives?

I have a creative X-Fi Xtrememusic and use Windows Vista 32bit SP1. I have posted about the freeze problem below and believe this has to be sound related. (I also don't seem to get the freeze in "Safe Mode" either)

 

[fiftyone]

Do you have OpenAl installed on the computer ?
If not you should go get it.

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/gaming/article.asp?articleID=62367&categoryID=13

Check the box...

 

[Boz]

I believe I do have it installed. Version 2.0.3. The .dll is in my Windows System32 folder. Could it be corupted? How would I uninstal Openal and then reinstall it?

 

[zeep]

Just for information sake; I have the latest OpenAL installed, on two pc's. One uses a SB Audigy 1 and the other motherboard sound. On both pc's when i mark 'Use System driver' in RO, i get a blue screen / immediate crash.

XP SP1 on one, XP SP2 installed on the other.

No problems with sound in any other app or game btw.

 

[Boz]

Well, my understanding is that with the "Use System Driver" checked, the game uses the openal files that are in the RO system folder. With it unchecked it uses the openal files stored in your Windows System32 file. The later file is the one that the Soundblaster card uses to process the sound which is why it sounds better and more immersive. At least that is what I believe.

I discovered that the game would not freeze if I used the openal file in the RO system folder ("used system driver: Checked") which is how I discovered this, however, the sound was not as good nor as immersive.

I originally thought my freeze problem was a video problem, but through various testing I ruled that out and focused on sound from that point and coming across the fix.

 

[Boz]

I spoke too soon, had a freeze today. They seem to be fewer, what a pain in the butt!

 

[Whitef0x]

I have this problem also.
Updating openAL didn't make any difference for me. Hope that someone would come up with a fix or a reason.

 

[Boz]

Yes, even the new beta Creative soundcard driver that was just released on June 2 did not help either. Very annoying, but I got to believe it is a Creative driver issue and an EAX isssue. The beta lists that it fixes an EAX issue and a freezing issue in Unreal engines, but it didn't for me.

 

[Whitef0x]

Those beta drivers might help eventually. Too bad im using Vista64.

Known Issues:

• X-Fi CMSS

 

[Boz]

Yeah, that is why I installed the 32bit version of Vista, I listen to too much music and I like what CMSS3D does to the sound. There were issues with that as well when I first installed Vista, but at least those have been corrected. I have hope for the beta, so we shall see.