Reinstall X-Fi MB... How?

Well I need to format my XPS 16.. Any idea where I get the X-Fi MB suite to redownload? I called tech support and they kept insisting it's included with the IDT drivers and had no real clue what it was. Then they said to download it on the driver page... Well you can't as it's not a driver. They have the X-Fi mb listed, but it's only for the patch.

So am I now SoL out of $25??

 

They need to send you the CD as it comes with a unique serial number on the back which you enter when installing.

 

Customer service is suck a freraking joke. Called 9 times. NO ONE knew anything about it. They even had my part number for the X-Fi Suite. I'm tempted to tell Dell to screw off and return this.

 

Just use the online chat.

Took me about 10 minutes to request the DVD and give them all my details.

 

iaTA, so you have the CD? Could you make an .iso image to it and upload it somewhere?

 

As I said you need a unique serial key to install the software as it logs onto Creative's servers during the install process to validate the software.

 

I finally got the DVD for Roxio and X-Fi MB sent to me after 14 different calls and people. Got lucky and got a nice guy. Most wanted to get on my PC and look for it, some said they didn't have it and it's on the driver page, etc.

Now the only thing I need is Dell Webcam Central.... I can't find it anywhere. Not on the Driver disk either...

 

They can send you that too.

 

Yeah most likely. I am supposed to see these 2 DVD's (roxio and xfi) tomorrow.

xfi was most important to me.

I'll do chat tonight and see about getting the webcam stuff.

 

does the XFI really make that big of a difference?

 

No idea as haven't been able to install it properly on Windows 7 - tells me it can't find any compatible hardware when loading the driver.

Been meaning to post about it on Creative's forums.

 

Rifter in Vista yes it sure does. Open AL support and Creative Alchemy rock. I have a top end X-Fi card in my desktop. While this isn't as good since it's software it does make a pretty big difference.

For those of you reading this that need webcam central go here:

http://support.dell.com/support/dow...eid=R207452&formatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=290628

I was on chat support (beats the hell out of the phone) and the guy was amazing. Knew what he was doing, etc.

Between getting super lucky with a guy after 14 times... on the phone I now have the X-Fi, Roxio and now the Webcam central. Those were the only things that you can't get off the driver disc or the online store that has your fast access and power dvd for download.

I now feel better, it was just very frustrating with phone support they'd transfer me and I'd get disconnected, or they had no idea what the x-fi mb even was. Alas with 8 hours time I got everything (xfi and rox are in the mail to me).

I must admit I'm a little baffled as to why Dell would not ship a app cd WITH their driver and os dvd. Not to mention send you a hard copy of software you bought IE: fast access and x-fi mb.

 

Well since we're on the subject, I had a question very similar to something you mentioned. I plan on installing Windows 7 as soon as I get my laptop (I'll be ordering it soon), and one of my concerns was not being able to get the fast access (that's the facial recognition thing right?) and other software reinstalled. But other than web cam central (I havent heard of that before though) and the x-fi software, everything else was easy to reinstall and be compatible with Win7?

 

I plan on letting the drivers and software mature a few months before I install Windows 7. My upgrade will sit on my desk for a while.

As of now X-Fi MB does not work with it, not sure of Webcam Central. Fast Access (I don't know how I lived without it...) I don't think works with 7 yet either.

Dell doesn't even have beta drivers out for most everything on the XPS 16. I know the basics, Support Center (I couldn't live without that either.) and MyWiFi work with 7.

The first things I took off were the manual, the bantec eula, dell driver folders, and the Data Safe online and offline. Plus I deleted the Data Safe backup image in the recovery partition.. (it's a 15GB partition now with nothing in it... Almost want to reinstall the entire thing over to get rid of it... But I spent to many hours installing other things to do it. Will probably fill it with somthing..)

I know there are some that use the 7 RTM. Not sure if they are using default Windows drivers for most things or not. But I know BlueTooth would be neutered if you didn't have the software to go WITH the driver...

 

Well I did a search on the xps forum for Windows 7 and I found a thread that addressed some of my questions. It didn't seem like people were having any problems with anything. Bluetooth worked fine. The drivers were loaded by windows but the extra functionality of some features had to be downloaded from dell. But no one mentioned the fast access thing at all. So I guess that meant no one had a problem with it? The closest thing to it I could find were the laptops with the fingerprint reader, but they said that it worked.

Ok let's say I install Windows 7 but some of the stuff just doesn't work like it should. Can I reinstall Vista and get all of the drivers and applications (including the fast access) from Dell's website or the CD (except for the things you pointed out in your post)? Or is it a hassle to get all of that back?

 

The OS, Drivers, Fast Access, PowerDVD, Dell Video Chat, Support Center and the other applications on the Driver page you will be able to get easily. Webcam Central get from the link I posted.

As for Roxio Creater, X-Fi MB (if you got it..) you will need to get a hold of Dell. Use Chat that's how I got Webcam Central.

Stuff like EULA's that is installed, Dell Welcome Center, driver folders with drivers, windows live crap (got rid of it all anyhow), Data Safe online/local.. you won't get back. Basically the crap you get rid off like silly EULA documents etc..

If your like me and deleted the datasafe local backup and the files in the recovery partition there shouldn't be anything to worry about. Just do your home work right down stuff that was preinstalled that you want and if it's not on your DVD's besure to make a note so you can get it from Dell like I had to do for the stuff I needed.

 

Thank you for taking the time to post. Well that's a relief to know that more or less you can get everything back without any hassle. I plan on ordering the laptop within the next few days (I'm paranoid that I'll order it one day then the next day they'll start some promotion that'll lower the price), so I'm definitely going to keep this thread saved as a reference. Thanks again!