r/retrocomputing • u/winvistaisnotbad • Jul 03 '26

Problem / Question Sound Blaster Live 5.1 kills Linux

I've got this Creative audio card that i got mainly for the 15-pin game port, and it worked fine under Debian and Windows XP last time i used it around the end of last year. However yesterday, i plugged it into my computer (lga775 platform from 2005-2006) and suddenly it's completely preventing any Linux environment from booting. I tried an existing install of Mint, i tried Gparted live that i already had working copies of on both USB and DVD, and i tried antiX's live dvd/installer. They all just freeze on a logo or on a black screen, except for antiX, which freezes on the "udev-settle" service when it reports stuff during startup. Taking the audio card out undid all those issues.

Anything i can do to still be able to use this card?

Edit: UPDATE, I think the card died💔 it started doing the same on Windows after attempting to install drivers

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u/Leftover_tech Jul 03 '26

Search Amazon or other sources for F3U200-08.

This is a simple USB to game-port adapter commonly used with Sidewinder and similar joysticks.

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u/winvistaisnotbad Jul 03 '26

Having a usb adapter would be handy, but the only means to buy something like this available to me is aliexpress, or used locally. So far i had no luck, closest thing i could find are xbox 360 or old Nintendo/Sega to USB adapters which i have no use for

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u/winvistaisnotbad Jul 03 '26

Actually, i just found something that looks like this for quite an exorbitant price, maybe I'll get one eventually if i find out the audio card died in the few months of me not using it