Cannot Install "Microsoft Kernel Wave Audio Mixer" Data Invalid.

I just reformated my hard drive and a very difficult reinstallation of
Windows XP Home. Now that I've got it up and running, I try to put my sound
card (Creative SoundBlaster Live 5.1) back in. It detects it, installs some
audio controller, I install the Creative drivers from the cd, from the
website, over and over, but no matter what, the Sound control panel insists
that there is No Audio Device.

Also, there is a yellow exclamation point by an a device that is unknown, or
simply listed as Media. It is for the Microsoft Kernel Wave Audio Mixer" and
I can't get it to install this.

I've tried switching Permissions to allow on the registry.
I've tried renaming the driver.cab file and replacing it from MULTIPLE
windows CDs.
I've taken out the card, cleaned it, put it in other slots - but I don't
think it has anything to do with the card.
I've found the kmixer.sys file and MANUALLY PUT IT IN THE DRIVER FOLDER IN
WIN/SYSTEM32!!! Nothing.
I've got the most recent files for my MOBO (Asus A7A266) and I updated my
BIOS right before I installed Windows.

This missing driver has to be the reason why it can't find my sound card
right? Keep in mind, I had this system running before I reformated (for a
completely unrelated problem) with all the same hardware and windows off the
same disk.
What is going on?

This is what my Sound devices looks like in the device manager:
ATI WDM Rage Theater Video
ATI WDM Specialized MVD Codec
Audio Codecs
Creative Game Port
Creative SB Live! Series (WDM)
Legacy Audio Drivers
Legacy Video Capture Drivers
Media Control Devices
! Unknown Device (this would be Kernel Wave Audio Mixer)
Video Codecs

i've seen this problem on about a billion message boards in one form or
another and i never see a good solution. someone help please!

thanks

My experiences ONLY have taught me to allow Windows XP to find the drivers
needed for any hardware FIRST before resorting to installing 3rd party
software that comes with it. The reason being, most of the time, XP does a
great job of finding the hardware and indentifying it, coming-up with
appropriate Windows necessary drivers and everything works fine. What you
meant by a 'difficult reinstallation of XP Home' is something that needs
more explanation, since i have reinstalled XP many times without much
incident, and I am no genius..
If, as you said, XP identifies the Soundblaster 5.1, I would have STOPPED
there and not installed any of the stuff on the disc that Creative included.
It may have some fancy GUI that you like and maybe a few tweaks for the
card, but other than that, there would be nothing on that disc I would want
or need...Trust me; I might keep discs shipped with new hardware, but I
don't install it, usually. By messing with the Registry etc you have more
than likely added to the problem.. In many ways, Windows XP is the most
stable and user friendly OS to ever come out of Redmond, and it does a fine
job of supplying what is needed for most hardware. A Soundblaster Live 5.1
should not be any problem; I used to have one.
"DrowningINXP" wrote in message
...
I just reformated my hard drive and a very difficult reinstallation of
Windows XP Home. Now that I've got it up and running, I try to put my
sound
card (Creative SoundBlaster Live 5.1) back in. It detects it, installs
some
audio controller, I install the Creative drivers from the cd, from the
website, over and over, but no matter what, the Sound control panel
insists
that there is No Audio Device.

Also, there is a yellow exclamation point by an a device that is unknown,
or
simply listed as Media. It is for the Microsoft Kernel Wave Audio Mixer"
and
I can't get it to install this.

I've tried switching Permissions to allow on the registry.
I've tried renaming the driver.cab file and replacing it from MULTIPLE
windows CDs.
I've taken out the card, cleaned it, put it in other slots - but I don't
think it has anything to do with the card.
I've found the kmixer.sys file and MANUALLY PUT IT IN THE DRIVER FOLDER IN
WIN/SYSTEM32!!! Nothing.
I've got the most recent files for my MOBO (Asus A7A266) and I updated my
BIOS right before I installed Windows.

This missing driver has to be the reason why it can't find my sound card
right? Keep in mind, I had this system running before I reformated (for a
completely unrelated problem) with all the same hardware and windows off
the
same disk.
What is going on?

This is what my Sound devices looks like in the device manager:
ATI WDM Rage Theater Video
ATI WDM Specialized MVD Codec
Audio Codecs
Creative Game Port
Creative SB Live! Series (WDM)
Legacy Audio Drivers
Legacy Video Capture Drivers
Media Control Devices
! Unknown Device (this would be Kernel Wave Audio Mixer)
Video Codecs

i've seen this problem on about a billion message boards in one form or
another and i never see a good solution. someone help please!

thanks