[SOLVED] - Crash - Creative Sound Blaster Z/Any other Creative card - Win 8.1

[Khimari]

Hi all,

I've been recently searching on the web for a solution of issue with F-TLC about crashes of the game.

I found out that the source of crashes is my Creative audio card plugged into PCI-E MB slot. Game crashes on start if I set it to run without any pre-win 8.1 compatibility or 2 seconds after entering in-game (right in when the first in-game dialoque occures) if game is set to any sort of compatibility mode with running as administrator. There is no menu or in-game sound at all.

As the issue seems to be related to my sound card, do you know any kind of fix (except the "Turbo" registry fix - not working) to this issue? I tried Alchemy as well but that crases the game right after start.

Is the only chance of playing the game to switch to non-creative HW (integrated on-board realtek audio)?

Thanks for tips.

[Khimari]

Hi again,

I solved the issue for Creative SB HW owners. It's quite easy yet not obvious.

As the game crashes while using a Creative Sound Blaster HW (probably any), you simply need to cheat on the game / OS to not to use this HW directly.

You can do it by installing a virtual audio soundcard software, which will act as a main system sound "recorder" / sound card. You can than order your Creative HW sound card to listen to this virtual device and transmit the audio signal from it directly to your speakers / headphones.

Game works now 100% ok, no compatibility mode / run as administrator needed on Windows 8.1. So far I did the whole guild quest part, all fine. No crash at all. Clean, cool and working.

This will probably solve crashes for users of Vista / 7 / 8 as well if using Creative audio card. Can't say for REALTEK etc... (worth of try???)

+ it's still 5.1

Cheers :-)

[Sparhawke]

I have win 8.1 with creative sb zx having this issue. which virtual audio soundcard software are you using or suggest? Is it free?

[Khimari]

Try "vb-audio software", this one should be free build only on donations.

[DrackoShen]

Thanks! Now I can play!!

[Shadow]

Thanks! This worked for me too :)