Dell Audigy 2 problems/ plxcore error / mediasource won't launch etc.-SOLUTION!

xmrb2006x · Apr 2, 2006, 11:38 PM

If anyone has had problems with a Dell Audigy 2 card, and I see there are many judging by browsing thru forums, well you know that a simple re-install won't work (mine is a Dell Dimension 8300 from 2 years ago). Their card is modified from a normal Audigy 2 so the autoupdate feature on creative's website gives a corruption error message. But also if you try to update/re-install using the drivers on the Dell disc you will get all sorts of problems. I tried using the disc that came with my machine but I got 2 error messages.

FIRST was the "Plxcore.plx" file missing error, so that simply needs re-installing from the cd FIRST. For some reason it won't install automatically.

Verify that the file PLXCore.PLX is located in the correct folder in your hard drive. The default folder is C:\Program Files\Creative\Shared Files folder. If the file is not present in the folder, manually copy the file from the original installation CD-ROM disk to the above location. To do so, insert the Sound Blaster installation CD-ROM disk, exit from the Installation procedure if it auto runs.

Go to My Computer, right click on the CD-ROM drive that contains the installation CD-ROM disk, and select Explorer. Double click on the CTEngine folder, then the PlayRec.cab file, it should expand.
Select the file PLXCore.PLX and copy it to C:\Program Files\Creative\Shared Files. Reboot. Any other bootup error that may arise can be fixed using the same method as above, though you will be looking for a different file.

SECOND problem after this was the fact that after the re-install from the Dell disc, the Mediasource applications were not launching from the taskbar even though the volume icon was there. Click, click, click, but nothing happens! This was because my version of the mediasource on the Dell CD was buggy. So I submitted my problem to Microsoft using the "submit error report" feature of windows expecting nothing to happen, but lo and behold they said "oh, you have an error, this is the solution!" (after I had wasted a whole weekend trying to work it out):

Go to the Creative support website and key in SID (Solution ID) no 9206 in the knowledgebase, for the UPDATED MEDIASOURCE 2005 FULL INSTALL. The filename is CMS_PCAPP_LB_3_30_21.exe (stick that in yer google search!). For some reason Creative won't let you download it straight from their website which I think is outrageous considering the hassle the Dell version on their disc has caused me.

Jeez, I spent a whole weekend trying to figure this out, if I had submitted that error report to Microsoft earlier it would have saved SO much time. This updated mediasource full install seems to be happy with my Dell Audigy 2 card thank goodness, now I am back to full working order with all speakers working and applications launching.

Hope this helps people stuck in the same boat!

Mr B

JRosenfeld · Apr 3, 2006, 01:56 AM

You can download that file and others from Creative; just don't use the auto detect feature, but go to http://uk.europe.creative.com/support/downloads/
(I'm in UK, if you're in US there will be an equivalent page),
select Soundblaster/Audigy 2/Audigy 2 you'll get to this page
http://uk.europe.creative.com/suppor...pe=0&x=29&y=12

from which you can download the media source applications file you mention (currently item 6 on the applications list), also the updated mediasource go (5 on the applications list) and latest drivers (1 on the drivers list), which work fine with the Dell Audigy 2 on my Dimension 8300 (vintage June 2003), so long as you only install the drivers and not the included audio console. I also recommend updated DVD Audio player (item 2 on the applications list), if you use that app.

I also found updates for some of the other apps work fine:

http://www.station-drivers.com/forum...hp?p=5703#5703

Extract the .exe and install individual app updates (EAX, Speaker settings, surround mixer, Wave studio, etc.). To get the equaliser to work, use the fix given on this forum to modify the pfmod.dll file, see post 8 by Raven in
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/showthre...8&page=1&pp=15
I have XP SP2 all updates.

Apr 2, 2006, 11:38 PM	#1
xmrb2006x DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Dell Audigy 2 problems/ plxcore error / mediasource won't launch etc.-SOLUTION! If anyone has had problems with a Dell Audigy 2 card, and I see there are many judging by browsing thru forums, well you know that a simple re-install won't work (mine is a Dell Dimension 8300 from 2 years ago). Their card is modified from a normal Audigy 2 so the autoupdate feature on creative's website gives a corruption error message. But also if you try to update/re-install using the drivers on the Dell disc you will get all sorts of problems. I tried using the disc that came with my machine but I got 2 error messages. FIRST was the "Plxcore.plx" file missing error, so that simply needs re-installing from the cd FIRST. For some reason it won't install automatically. Verify that the file PLXCore.PLX is located in the correct folder in your hard drive. The default folder is C:\Program Files\Creative\Shared Files folder. If the file is not present in the folder, manually copy the file from the original installation CD-ROM disk to the above location. To do so, insert the Sound Blaster installation CD-ROM disk, exit from the Installation procedure if it auto runs. Go to My Computer, right click on the CD-ROM drive that contains the installation CD-ROM disk, and select Explorer. Double click on the CTEngine folder, then the PlayRec.cab file, it should expand. Select the file PLXCore.PLX and copy it to C:\Program Files\Creative\Shared Files. Reboot. Any other bootup error that may arise can be fixed using the same method as above, though you will be looking for a different file. SECOND problem after this was the fact that after the re-install from the Dell disc, the Mediasource applications were not launching from the taskbar even though the volume icon was there. Click, click, click, but nothing happens! This was because my version of the mediasource on the Dell CD was buggy. So I submitted my problem to Microsoft using the "submit error report" feature of windows expecting nothing to happen, but lo and behold they said "oh, you have an error, this is the solution!" (after I had wasted a whole weekend trying to work it out): Go to the Creative support website and key in SID (Solution ID) no 9206 in the knowledgebase, for the UPDATED MEDIASOURCE 2005 FULL INSTALL. The filename is CMS_PCAPP_LB_3_30_21.exe (stick that in yer google search!). For some reason Creative won't let you download it straight from their website which I think is outrageous considering the hassle the Dell version on their disc has caused me. Jeez, I spent a whole weekend trying to figure this out, if I had submitted that error report to Microsoft earlier it would have saved SO much time. This updated mediasource full install seems to be happy with my Dell Audigy 2 card thank goodness, now I am back to full working order with all speakers working and applications launching. Hope this helps people stuck in the same boat! Mr B

Apr 3, 2006, 01:56 AM	#2
JRosenfeld HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 104 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	You can download that file and others from Creative; just don't use the auto detect feature, but go to http://uk.europe.creative.com/support/downloads/ (I'm in UK, if you're in US there will be an equivalent page), select Soundblaster/Audigy 2/Audigy 2 you'll get to this page http://uk.europe.creative.com/suppor...pe=0&x=29&y=12 from which you can download the media source applications file you mention (currently item 6 on the applications list), also the updated mediasource go (5 on the applications list) and latest drivers (1 on the drivers list), which work fine with the Dell Audigy 2 on my Dimension 8300 (vintage June 2003), so long as you only install the drivers and not the included audio console. I also recommend updated DVD Audio player (item 2 on the applications list), if you use that app. I also found updates for some of the other apps work fine: http://www.station-drivers.com/forum...hp?p=5703#5703 Extract the .exe and install individual app updates (EAX, Speaker settings, surround mixer, Wave studio, etc.). To get the equaliser to work, use the fix given on this forum to modify the pfmod.dll file, see post 8 by Raven in http://www.hardwareheaven.com/showthre...8&page=1&pp=15 I have XP SP2 all updates. Last edited by JRosenfeld; Apr 3, 2006 at 02:18 AM.