Integrated CREATIVE Sound Blaster(R) X-Fi MB Audio Software Solution & CREATIVE Sound Blaster(R) X-Fi MB Software Kit

Kiran,

There is a bundle of software that Creative includes with its Sound Blaster products. Dell and Creative found a way to make that software work on Dell computers. It is only software and requires the computer to have its own audio hardware. Dell usually charges $20 - $25 for it. It goes by different names but the word "MB" is the tip off, along with the price and the word "software" in the name or description. It is operating system specific and as far as I know it will not work with a different operating system from the one it was purchased with. I have never seen "full product information" for it anywhere. If you ever had a Sound Blaster card you are familiar with it. It enhances the computer's audio with reverb, equalization, wider stereo separation and such.

Dell also sells 2 pieces of Sound Blaster hardware -- express cards that fit into the Express card slot of the computer. The tip off is the price, $80 -- $130. There is no other laptop audio hardware that you could have bought from Dell. These are external sound cards. There is nothing you can buy that is an internal hardware audio device for your computer, other than the IDT audio hardware that is included on the motherboard.

Thank you Jimco for your instant response.

What I understand from this is Integrated CREATIVE Sound Blaster(R) X-Fi MB Audio Software Solution & CREATIVE Sound Blaster(R) X-Fi MB Software Kit are just Softwares and would work only with the O/s which would be pre installed before delivery by Dell. In this case I received with Vista pre installed where in I didn't find any application for Audio other than IDT. Later I switched to XP and tried installing with the disc which didn't work. Correct me if  my understanding is wrong.

I don't know whether it was really installed on my computer, but could you tell me can I get any Creative Audio software which could work now on XP O/S. I would like to have some enhanced audio from my IDT audio hardware.

Please let me know if they are any other audio software enhancers with the Audio hardware I have now which can be installed and used.

Thank you,

Regards, Kiran

The history of the software is convoluted.

1. When the Dell version of the Creative software was originally developed, Dell did not pre-install it on computers. They shipped the computers with a cd that the customer had to install. This was before Vista.

2. But they also had an XP downloadable version for people who had computers and wanted to buy the software. The downloadable version was split into 2 parts. An Audigy driver that one could download and install after the Sigmatel driver was installed, and a demo of the software called the Invitation. The Invitation contained a link to Creative's site where you could pay $20 and download the rest of the software.

3. Then Vista was released and some XP users upgraded to Vista. Dell created a downloadable upgrade path for the software, which was how owners of the XP software could switch it to Vista.

4. On machines with Vista pre-installed Dell started pre-installing the software and stopped making it downloadable.  When Vista came out I think Dell stopped making XP versions of the software entirely,  but you would have to check with them to be sure. They never created a downgrade path for people to take the software from Vista to XP.

I don't know of any other software that works with the integrated audio. Most music players like Windows Media Player have enhancements built in or downloadable.

i have Segmatel HD Audio & Creative Audiogy MB in my Dell Inspiron 6400 n my OS is Windows Vista.

whts the OS given with ur Dell pc??

u can try to install ur Creative MB in Vista n u need internet connection coz u have to active ur Activiton key while u install ur MB. if getting problem then install ur os Vista agin n try.

 if the OS is XP its really difficult. i don't remember the website. but u have to go through many website with serach engine like google n etc.......

Tahnks

Thanks for your response. I have been given with Vista with Dell Laptop. But as I wasn't comfortable with that I switched to XP and tried installing it which is not getting installed. I got to know that Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED MB would work in Dell Laptop with XP O/S.

I need to make sure before I go for it.

Thank you..Kiran

http://support.creative.com/Downloads/welcome.aspx  .This is Creatives page WITH there XP version driver(listed first at top of page).So call Creative up and get the sound blaster cd from them NOT dell(or it won't install),it is only $25.00,they have the XP version CD's(dell does only has Vista) then install creatives driver from this page i posted.

EDIT: Sorry XP did not show up when i posted it.At the bottom of the page i posted in link,click to change the OS to XP and click submit.This will show the XP version driver and you will be able to install.Not sure why the page reverted back to Vista when i posted it?.....