Audigy SB 2 ZS Platinum Front Panel not working-HELP!!!

b182tm · Jan 2, 2006, 07:42 AM

Hey everybody. I'm new to this forum, but not to computers. I built my computer about 4-5 months ago, and here are my specs:

Ultra MS Blue Dragon
ASUS P5GD1
Intel P4 Processor 3.0GHz
1GB GeIL RAM
6600 GT 128MB Video Card
Samsung 120GB SATA HDD
Lite-On and NEC DVD Drives
Ultra X-Connect 500 W PSU
Creative SB Audigy 2ZS Platinum

I got the 2ZS platinum from a friend, but I already had a regular 2ZS. I plugged in his front panel to my old 2ZS. The front panel did not work. I then got his 2ZS, just the sound card, and plugged in the front panel. It still did not work. I installed all the software and drivers, and nothing. My sound card works fine, it is just the front panel that doesnt work. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks a ton,
Derek

P.S. The AD_EXT Cable fell apart a couple of times, but we put it back together. Could that be a problem? If so, where can I get a new AD_EXT Cable?

BONEHEAD · Jan 2, 2006, 06:42 PM

Does the software show extra connections? If it does then it see's the drive. Verify it has the power plug plugged in correctly, I sometimes am off by one pin kinda hard to see when it's in the case.

b182tm · Jan 2, 2006, 10:29 PM

What software are you talking about? If I go into MediaSource, and to the remote receiver option, it doesnt list the frotn panel as receiving the remote signal. Anyway, you know the 4-pin power connectors? DO you use them? If not, I used the AD_EXT cable (The floppy drive looking cable). The problem is that it falls apart really easily, so I'm wondering if that could be the problem. If so, I need to find the part.

Thanks,
Derek

**dj_stick** · Jan 2, 2006, 10:39 PM

the front bay drive MUST be power via the floppy power connection, also make sure the AD_EXT cable is oriented the correct way and on securely

b182tm · Jan 2, 2006, 10:49 PM

Is the floppy power connection the same as the AD_EXT cable?

Derek

BONEHEAD · Jan 2, 2006, 10:50 PM

The surround mixer. Yes you MUST use the power connector.

BONEHEAD · Jan 2, 2006, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b182tm

Is the floppy power connection the same as the AD_EXT cable?

Derek

No it is not it is the same power cable you use to power a floppy drive.

b182tm · Jan 2, 2006, 11:03 PM

Ok. So let me get this straight. I have 1) the big grey ribbon cable going from the external drive (the front panel) to the sound card and 2) the firewire going from the external drive (front panel) to the sound card. And it also has this power cable thing with a male/female power connector, and a 3-pin thing on the end. This part is not plugged in. Does that need to be plugged in? If it does, there is nowhere for it to go.

THanks,
Derek

**dj_stick** · Jan 2, 2006, 11:18 PM

there are 3 connections required
standard 4 pin floppy
AD_EXT
ieee1394

the first two MUST be used, the third only for firewire

BONEHEAD · Jan 2, 2006, 11:22 PM

You are correct about all connections except for the power plug. It's a four pin plug, the same plug you use on a floppy drive, this plug connects to a plug on the back left (looking from the front) of the external drive (front panel). You must have power goning to this panel or it will not work.

b182tm · Jan 2, 2006, 11:25 PM

Ok, I think I got it. The problem is that both the power connector cable and the plug on the panel that BONEHEAD was talking about are both male. I dont see how its possible to plug them in. I must be missing an adapter or something.

Thanks for all the help guys, I appreciate it,
Derek

So I guess I have to sacrifice my floppy, cuz i dont have any other floppy power connectors.

b182tm · Jan 2, 2006, 11:29 PM

Also, is the red wire supposed to be on the outside of the mobo?

sarelc · Jan 2, 2006, 11:46 PM

From the manual:

Oh, yeah the red wire is away from the pci connector side.

b182tm · Jan 2, 2006, 11:48 PM

Yeah, I've seen that. I guess the manual is misleading, because it makes it look like it comes with th eright plug, but you have to use your floppy cable. Do you think it matters if the AD_EXT is flipped around?

BONEHEAD · Jan 2, 2006, 11:53 PM

the ad_ext cable will only go one way, it's keyed. You can also pick up a power cable cheap at any comp store.

sarelc · Jan 3, 2006, 12:06 AM

You should be ok with the floppy power connector, just make sure the wires are in the proper order. If that image is correct, the 3.5" drive connectors are flat-side up, which would mean the +12V (yellow) wire should be going to the outside of the livedrive box, and the +5V (red) should be towards the inside. if it's not, you can squeeze out those pins (with power off of course, lol) and reverse them. If you do that make sure you mark/tag that connector so you know never to plug it into anything else.

b182tm · Jan 3, 2006, 12:59 AM

Well, I tried it with the floppy cable, and i plugged in the AD_EXT cable and it still doesnt work. I thought for sure it would work, but it isnt. I dont get it. Should I try switching around the power cord? Thanks for all the help.

Derek

sarelc · Jan 3, 2006, 01:58 AM

Or maybe not... I was thinking the 3.5" molex in the pic was male also but it's not, so it should look like this:

So assuming the power into the Audigy bay goes wide-side down like it shows, it should be correctly wired. How exactly did the AD_EXT cable "fall apart"?

b182tm · Jan 3, 2006, 06:09 AM

Well, The wires are stuck between two pieces of plastic at the ends. There is like a top piece jost kind of holding them on. This top piece came off. It exposed the wire, with the metal things sticking into it. The wires completely came off of that, but I put it back together, used some glue, and it is staying, and they were all in the right spot. Thanks a lot for all your help sarelc, and everyone else, I appreciate it.

Derek

sarelc · Jan 4, 2006, 12:55 AM

Oh, that sucks. Well at this point you can go the the easy/slow/expensive way (order a new cable from creative), or the cheap/more annoying way, and test every pin of the cable with a multimetre. If after that you can't fix it, you'll at least know if any of the wires don't go straight through (it says NOT to use an IDE cable in the manual, so I would assume there's at least one pair of wires that go to different pins) and can make a duplicate out of an IDE cable. Just follow those wires (that should cross) to the middle of the cable, slice between them for about 3" with an X-acto knife, clip the ones you need to cross-connect and then solder them together. If you do, don't strip the ends as it will weaken them - the iron will melt back the plastic when you put solder on.

b182tm · Jan 4, 2006, 01:10 AM

So sarelc, would your best bet be that I need a new cable? I have tried everything, installing, un-installing, taking hardware out, putting it back in. And all of that while it had a power supply. Speaking of the PSU, do you think two fans and the front panel on one power cable is too much? So maybe I will order a cable, and if that doesnt work, I am lost.

Thanks,
Derek

sarelc · Jan 4, 2006, 02:10 AM

I'm not sure what the power connector is even for, since the ad_ext port on the sound card provides some already. I've got the power pin of the "SB1394" on my card soldered to the ad_ext power, to make it a "real" firewire port.
If you know someone else who has an Audigy with the drive, you should take it to them and see if it works in their machine. That would be the only way to be sure you wouldn't be wasting your money on cables and such.

b182tm · Jan 6, 2006, 07:29 PM

Thanks for the help everyone. I think I'll look for a cheap cable (I heard a 40 wire IDE cable will work also) and see what happens. If that doesnt work, It must be the front panel is fried or something.

Derek

Jan 2, 2006, 07:42 AM	#1
b182tm DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	Audigy SB 2 ZS Platinum Front Panel not working-HELP!!! Hey everybody. I'm new to this forum, but not to computers. I built my computer about 4-5 months ago, and here are my specs: Ultra MS Blue Dragon ASUS P5GD1 Intel P4 Processor 3.0GHz 1GB GeIL RAM 6600 GT 128MB Video Card Samsung 120GB SATA HDD Lite-On and NEC DVD Drives Ultra X-Connect 500 W PSU Creative SB Audigy 2ZS Platinum I got the 2ZS platinum from a friend, but I already had a regular 2ZS. I plugged in his front panel to my old 2ZS. The front panel did not work. I then got his 2ZS, just the sound card, and plugged in the front panel. It still did not work. I installed all the software and drivers, and nothing. My sound card works fine, it is just the front panel that doesnt work. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks a ton, Derek P.S. The AD_EXT Cable fell apart a couple of times, but we put it back together. Could that be a problem? If so, where can I get a new AD_EXT Cable?

Jan 2, 2006, 06:42 PM	#2
BONEHEAD DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: TEXAS Posts: 182 Rep Power: 0	Does the software show extra connections? If it does then it see's the drive. Verify it has the power plug plugged in correctly, I sometimes am off by one pin kinda hard to see when it's in the case. __________________ [COLOR=red]Xp Pro Sp2 Amd Athlon 2400+ O/C 2800+ (2250 GHZ)Antec True 550 ps Dragon Orb 3 7000rpm 2 80mm Case fans [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]2 40mm case fans[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]1.5 Gig Ecc Ram Msi KT2 COMBO[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Adaptec 29320A-R[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]8 Seagate 36 gig ultra 320 10k [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]1 Toshiba SD-M1401 [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]1 Plextor 124TS cdrw [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]2 Nec4551a 1 Samsung TS-H552U 1 Nec3520a[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Ati AIW Radeon 8500 128mb SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Midiland sm7401 5.1 Hp 4C scanner VPR 17'' Lcd[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Apc Back-ups RS1500[/COLOR] [COLOR=#ff0000][/COLOR] [COLOR=#ff0000]Taken by the ex maybe to return soon[/COLOR]

Jan 2, 2006, 10:50 PM	#6
BONEHEAD DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: TEXAS Posts: 182 Rep Power: 0	The surround mixer. Yes you MUST use the power connector. __________________ [COLOR=red]Xp Pro Sp2 Amd Athlon 2400+ O/C 2800+ (2250 GHZ)Antec True 550 ps Dragon Orb 3 7000rpm 2 80mm Case fans [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]2 40mm case fans[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]1.5 Gig Ecc Ram Msi KT2 COMBO[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Adaptec 29320A-R[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]8 Seagate 36 gig ultra 320 10k [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]1 Toshiba SD-M1401 [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]1 Plextor 124TS cdrw [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]2 Nec4551a 1 Samsung TS-H552U 1 Nec3520a[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Ati AIW Radeon 8500 128mb SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Midiland sm7401 5.1 Hp 4C scanner VPR 17'' Lcd[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Apc Back-ups RS1500[/COLOR] [COLOR=#ff0000][/COLOR] [COLOR=#ff0000]Taken by the ex maybe to return soon[/COLOR]

Jan 2, 2006, 11:22 PM	#10
BONEHEAD DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: TEXAS Posts: 182 Rep Power: 0	You are correct about all connections except for the power plug. It's a four pin plug, the same plug you use on a floppy drive, this plug connects to a plug on the back left (looking from the front) of the external drive (front panel). You must have power goning to this panel or it will not work. __________________ [COLOR=red]Xp Pro Sp2 Amd Athlon 2400+ O/C 2800+ (2250 GHZ)Antec True 550 ps Dragon Orb 3 7000rpm 2 80mm Case fans [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]2 40mm case fans[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]1.5 Gig Ecc Ram Msi KT2 COMBO[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Adaptec 29320A-R[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]8 Seagate 36 gig ultra 320 10k [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]1 Toshiba SD-M1401 [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]1 Plextor 124TS cdrw [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]2 Nec4551a 1 Samsung TS-H552U 1 Nec3520a[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Ati AIW Radeon 8500 128mb SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Midiland sm7401 5.1 Hp 4C scanner VPR 17'' Lcd[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Apc Back-ups RS1500[/COLOR] [COLOR=#ff0000][/COLOR] [COLOR=#ff0000]Taken by the ex maybe to return soon[/COLOR]

Jan 2, 2006, 11:25 PM	Thread Starter #11
b182tm DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	Ok, I think I got it. The problem is that both the power connector cable and the plug on the panel that BONEHEAD was talking about are both male. I dont see how its possible to plug them in. I must be missing an adapter or something. Thanks for all the help guys, I appreciate it, Derek So I guess I have to sacrifice my floppy, cuz i dont have any other floppy power connectors. Last edited by b182tm; Jan 2, 2006 at 11:44 PM.

Jan 2, 2006, 10:29 PM	Thread Starter #3
b182tm DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	What software are you talking about? If I go into MediaSource, and to the remote receiver option, it doesnt list the frotn panel as receiving the remote signal. Anyway, you know the 4-pin power connectors? DO you use them? If not, I used the AD_EXT cable (The floppy drive looking cable). The problem is that it falls apart really easily, so I'm wondering if that could be the problem. If so, I need to find the part. Thanks, Derek

Jan 2, 2006, 10:49 PM	Thread Starter #5
b182tm DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	Is the floppy power connection the same as the AD_EXT cable? Derek

Jan 2, 2006, 11:03 PM	Thread Starter #8
b182tm DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	Ok. So let me get this straight. I have 1) the big grey ribbon cable going from the external drive (the front panel) to the sound card and 2) the firewire going from the external drive (front panel) to the sound card. And it also has this power cable thing with a male/female power connector, and a 3-pin thing on the end. This part is not plugged in. Does that need to be plugged in? If it does, there is nowhere for it to go. THanks, Derek

Jan 2, 2006, 11:29 PM	Thread Starter #12
b182tm DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	Also, is the red wire supposed to be on the outside of the mobo?

Jan 2, 2006, 11:46 PM	#13
sarelc HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: recent past Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	From the manual: Oh, yeah the red wire is away from the pci connector side. __________________ on a distant shoreline.. soyo kt400 dragon/amd xp2700+/1gb ocz cl2 pc2700/leadtek nv6600gt agp/audigy2 (SB0244)

Jan 2, 2006, 11:48 PM	Thread Starter #14
b182tm DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	Yeah, I've seen that. I guess the manual is misleading, because it makes it look like it comes with th eright plug, but you have to use your floppy cable. Do you think it matters if the AD_EXT is flipped around?

Jan 2, 2006, 11:53 PM	#15
BONEHEAD DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: TEXAS Posts: 182 Rep Power: 0	the ad_ext cable will only go one way, it's keyed. You can also pick up a power cable cheap at any comp store. __________________ [COLOR=red]Xp Pro Sp2 Amd Athlon 2400+ O/C 2800+ (2250 GHZ)Antec True 550 ps Dragon Orb 3 7000rpm 2 80mm Case fans [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]2 40mm case fans[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]1.5 Gig Ecc Ram Msi KT2 COMBO[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Adaptec 29320A-R[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]8 Seagate 36 gig ultra 320 10k [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]1 Toshiba SD-M1401 [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]1 Plextor 124TS cdrw [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]2 Nec4551a 1 Samsung TS-H552U 1 Nec3520a[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Ati AIW Radeon 8500 128mb SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Midiland sm7401 5.1 Hp 4C scanner VPR 17'' Lcd[/COLOR] [COLOR=red]Apc Back-ups RS1500[/COLOR] [COLOR=#ff0000][/COLOR] [COLOR=#ff0000]Taken by the ex maybe to return soon[/COLOR]

Jan 3, 2006, 12:06 AM	#16
sarelc HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: recent past Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	You should be ok with the floppy power connector, just make sure the wires are in the proper order. If that image is correct, the 3.5" drive connectors are flat-side up, which would mean the +12V (yellow) wire should be going to the outside of the livedrive box, and the +5V (red) should be towards the inside. if it's not, you can squeeze out those pins (with power off of course, lol) and reverse them. If you do that make sure you mark/tag that connector so you know never to plug it into anything else. __________________ on a distant shoreline.. soyo kt400 dragon/amd xp2700+/1gb ocz cl2 pc2700/leadtek nv6600gt agp/audigy2 (SB0244)

Jan 3, 2006, 12:59 AM	Thread Starter #17
b182tm DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	Well, I tried it with the floppy cable, and i plugged in the AD_EXT cable and it still doesnt work. I thought for sure it would work, but it isnt. I dont get it. Should I try switching around the power cord? Thanks for all the help. Derek

Jan 3, 2006, 01:58 AM	#18
sarelc HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: recent past Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	Or maybe not... I was thinking the 3.5" molex in the pic was male also but it's not, so it should look like this: So assuming the power into the Audigy bay goes wide-side down like it shows, it should be correctly wired. How exactly did the AD_EXT cable "fall apart"? __________________ on a distant shoreline.. soyo kt400 dragon/amd xp2700+/1gb ocz cl2 pc2700/leadtek nv6600gt agp/audigy2 (SB0244)

Jan 3, 2006, 06:09 AM	Thread Starter #19
b182tm DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	Well, The wires are stuck between two pieces of plastic at the ends. There is like a top piece jost kind of holding them on. This top piece came off. It exposed the wire, with the metal things sticking into it. The wires completely came off of that, but I put it back together, used some glue, and it is staying, and they were all in the right spot. Thanks a lot for all your help sarelc, and everyone else, I appreciate it. Derek

Jan 4, 2006, 12:55 AM	#20
sarelc HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: recent past Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	Oh, that sucks. Well at this point you can go the the easy/slow/expensive way (order a new cable from creative), or the cheap/more annoying way, and test every pin of the cable with a multimetre. If after that you can't fix it, you'll at least know if any of the wires don't go straight through (it says NOT to use an IDE cable in the manual, so I would assume there's at least one pair of wires that go to different pins) and can make a duplicate out of an IDE cable. Just follow those wires (that should cross) to the middle of the cable, slice between them for about 3" with an X-acto knife, clip the ones you need to cross-connect and then solder them together. If you do, don't strip the ends as it will weaken them - the iron will melt back the plastic when you put solder on. __________________ on a distant shoreline.. soyo kt400 dragon/amd xp2700+/1gb ocz cl2 pc2700/leadtek nv6600gt agp/audigy2 (SB0244)

Jan 4, 2006, 01:10 AM	Thread Starter #21
b182tm DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	So sarelc, would your best bet be that I need a new cable? I have tried everything, installing, un-installing, taking hardware out, putting it back in. And all of that while it had a power supply. Speaking of the PSU, do you think two fans and the front panel on one power cable is too much? So maybe I will order a cable, and if that doesnt work, I am lost. Thanks, Derek

Jan 4, 2006, 02:10 AM	#22
sarelc HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: recent past Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	I'm not sure what the power connector is even for, since the ad_ext port on the sound card provides some already. I've got the power pin of the "SB1394" on my card soldered to the ad_ext power, to make it a "real" firewire port. If you know someone else who has an Audigy with the drive, you should take it to them and see if it works in their machine. That would be the only way to be sure you wouldn't be wasting your money on cables and such. __________________ on a distant shoreline.. soyo kt400 dragon/amd xp2700+/1gb ocz cl2 pc2700/leadtek nv6600gt agp/audigy2 (SB0244)

Jan 6, 2006, 07:29 PM	Thread Starter #23
b182tm DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the help everyone. I think I'll look for a cheap cable (I heard a 40 wire IDE cable will work also) and see what happens. If that doesnt work, It must be the front panel is fried or something. Derek