Computer Accessories FAQs

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These are the official Rocketfish FAQs. Keep in mind that some FAQs may apply to specific models.

If you cannot find a feature mentioned in the FAQs, make sure that feature is available in your product by checking the Product Specifications and User's Manual.

1. How do I setup my sound card?

2. My sound card is not working or my computer does not recognize my sound card.

3. Can I get more information about the drivers?

4. I am unable to install the drivers.

5. I have no sound playing out of my speakers.

6. My sound has static or the sound is breaking up.

7. I am only getting 2.1 audio.

8. Can I get more information about this sound card?

9. My sound card did not come with an Installation CD.

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Have you used your Quick Setup Guide to help you through this process? If more help is needed, please follow the steps below.

• To Install Your Sound Card:

• Turn off your computer, then unplug the power cord from your power supply.
• Open your computer case.
• Find an open PCI slot. PCI slots are usually white. Remove the slot cover for that slot from the back of your computer. If you have an existing sound card, remove it from your computer.
• Insert the sound card into the PCI slot and secure with the screw you removed from the slot cover.
• Close your computer case and connect the AC power cord to the power supply.
• The connectors and associated components on your sound card may be different from that of your speaker system. Refer to the User’s Guide that came with your speaker system to identify similar connectors. Your sound card does not come with any cables.
• 2.1 Channel Analog Speakers
• You will need a 2-channel audio cable. A 2-channel audio cable has green connectors.

1.  
   • To Connect Your Speakers:

1. Plug one end of the audio cable into the Line Out 1 jack on your sound card.
2. Plug the other end of the audio cable into the Speaker System Audio Input jack.

• 4.1 Channel Analog Speakers
• You will need 4-channel audio cable. A 4-channel audio cable has two cables with green and black connectors.

1. Plug the cable with the green connector into the Line Out 1 jack on your sound card.
2. Plug the other end of the cable with the green connector into the Speaker System Audio Front Input jack.
3. Plug the cable with the black connector into the Line Out 2 jack on your sound card.
4. Plug the other end of the cable with the black connector into the Speaker System Audio Rear Input jack.

• 5.1 Channel Analog Speakers
• You will need a 5-channel audio cable. A 5-channel audio cable will have three individual cables with green, black, and orange connectors.

1. Plug the cable with the green connector into the Line Out 1 jack on your sound card.
2. Plug the other end of the cable with the green connector into the Speaker System Audio Front Input jack.
3. Plug the cable with the black connector into the Line Out 2 jack on your sound card.
4. Plug the other end of the cable with the black connector into the Speaker System Audio Rear Input jack.
5. Plug the cable with the orange connector into the Line Out 3 jack on your sound card.
6. Plug the other end of the cable with the orange connector into the Speaker System Audio Center/Subwoofer Input jack.

• Digital Speakers
• You will need an optical S/PDIF cable. An optical S/PDIF cable has a slightly square shaped connector.

1. Plug one end of the audio cable into the OPTICAL OUT jack on your sound card.
2. Plug the other end of the audio cable into the Speaker System Optical Audio Input jack.
   1. Turn on your computer.
   2. Windows will automatically detect your sound card and search for device drivers. When Windows opens the Found New Hardware Wizard, click Cancel on the Wizard screen.
   3. Insert your Installation CD into your disc drive and continue with installation on the CD.
   4. Windows XP & Windows Vista Users:

1.  
   • To Install Your Windows Drivers:

Double-click the Computer or My Computer icon. Alternately, click Start, then click Computer.

OR

Windows 7 Users:

Click the Windows Explorer icon on the taskbar, then click Computer.

1. Right-click the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive icon, and then click Open AutoPlay or Autoplay.
2. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
3. When prompted, restart your computer.

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• Make sure you do not have an existing sound card installed in your computer.
• Turn off your computer, unplug the computer from the power outlet, and make sure your sound card is seated correctly in the PCI slot. 
• Try reinstalling your drivers. 

• If you do not have your Installation CD, the drivers can be downloaded from the Rocketfish website.
• 5.1 Sound Card, RF-51SDCD: http://rocketfishproducts.com/p-171-rocketfish-51-channel-pci-sound-card.aspx
• To reinstall drivers in Windows XP:

• Click Start, Control Panel.

1. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon, then click the Change or Remove Programs tab.
2. Select your sound card’s entry.
3. Click Change/Remove.
4. In the Install Shield Wizard dialog box, select the Repair option.
5. If prompted, insert the Installation CD into your CD/DVD drive, then click OK.

OR

If prompted, select the folder in which you saved the drivers you downloaded from the web.

1. To repair a driver, select the respective check box, then click Next.
2. Restart your computer when prompted.

• To reinstall drivers in Windows Vista and Windows 7:

1. Click Start, Control Panel, then Uninstall a program.
2. Select your sound card’s entry.
3. Click Uninstall/Change.
4. In the Install Shield Wizard dialog box, select the Repair option.
5. If prompted, insert the Installation CD into your CD/DVD drive, then click OK.

OR

If prompted, select the folder in which you saved the drivers you downloaded from the web.

1. To repair a driver, select the respective check box, then click Next.
2. Restart your computer when prompted.

• Try installing your card in a different PCI slot.
• You may need to disable your computer’s onboard audio. See your computer’s documentation for instructions or contact your computer manufacturer.

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• A driver is a computer program that allows higher-level computer programs to interact with your sound card.
• Drivers are available on the Rocketfish website for the sound card and are compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.
  • 5.1 Sound Card, RF-51SDCD: http://rocketfishproducts.com/p-171-rocketfish-51-channel-pci-sound-card.aspx

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•  If you previously had a sound card installed, be sure the sound card is removed from your computer and that you have uninstalled that sound card’s drivers. 
• Try reinstalling your drivers. 

• If you do not have your Installation CD, the drivers can be downloaded from the Rocketfish website. 
• 5.1 Sound Card, RF-51SDCD: http://rocketfishproducts.com/p-171-rocketfish-51-channel-pci-sound-card.aspx
• To reinstall drivers in Windows XP:

•  
  • Click Start, Control Panel.

1. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon, then click the Change or Remove Programs tab.
2. Select your sound card’s entry.
3. Click Change/Remove.
4. In the Install Shield Wizard dialog box, select the Repair option.
5. If prompted, insert the Installation CD into your CD/DVD drive, then click OK.

OR

If prompted, select the folder in which you saved the drivers you downloaded from the web.

1. To repair a driver, select the respective check box, then click Next.
2. Restart your computer when prompted.

• To reinstall drivers in Windows Vista and Windows 7: 

1. Click Start, Control Panel, then Uninstall a program.
2. Select your sound card’s entry.
3. Click Uninstall/Change.
4. In the Install Shield Wizard dialog box, select the Repair option.
5. If prompted, insert the Installation CD into your CD/DVD drive, then click OK.

OR

1. If prompted, select the folder in which you saved the drivers you downloaded from the web.
2. To repair a driver, select the respective check box, then click Next.
3. Restart your computer when prompted.

• You may need to disable your computer’s onboard audio. See your computer’s documentation for instructions or contact your computer manufacturer.

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•  Make sure that the speakers are connected to your sound card jacks and speaker jacks correctly.
  • Make sure you have selected the correct speaker configuration in the software application (e.g., 2.1, 5.1, etc.).
  • Make sure that your speaker’s volume is set to mid-range.
  • If you are playing an audio CD or game that requires a CD,
• By default, digital CD playback is already enabled in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
• To enable digital CD playback in Windows XP:

1. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.
2. Double-click the System icon. The System Properties dialog box opens.
3. Click the Hardware tab, then click Device Manager.
4. Double-click the DVD/CD drives icon. Your computer drives appear.
5. Right-click the disk drive icon. A menu appears.
6. Click Properties.
7. In the Digital CD Playback box of the next dialog box, click the Enable digital CD audio for the CD-ROM device check box to select it.

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•  
  • Check volume levels.
  • Make sure that the speakers are connected to your sound card jacks and speaker jacks correctly.
  • Make sure you have selected the correct speaker configuration in the software application (e.g., 2.1, 5.1, etc.).

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•  
  • Make sure that the speakers are connected to your sound card jacks and speaker jacks correctly.
  • Make sure you have selected the correct speaker configuration in the software application (e.g., 2.1, 5.1, etc.).
  • Check volume levels.
  • The audio cables you are using may be bad, try a new set.
  • Not all audio files will play in 4.1, 5.1, or 7.1 surround sound; they may only play in 2.1 audio.

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•  Refer to the Manual or Rocketfish website:
  • 5.1 Sound Card, RF-51SDCD: http://rocketfishproducts.com/p-171-rocketfish-51-channel-pci-sound-card.aspx

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•  The software and drivers are available on the Rocketfish website.
•  5.1 Sound Card, RF-51SDCD: http://rocketfishproducts.com/p-171-rocketfish-51-channel-pci-sound-card.aspx 

• Download the files from the website under the heading Product Drivers, then unzip the files from the folder. Double-click the Setup.exe file and follow the on-screen instructions.