You are running the 64bit version of Vista while the installer saw the auto updater go after the 32bit version of the driver set. The Xtreme Gamer does support upto 7.1 once you get the correct driver set on.
That's about the same crap that was seem here when getting a new build together where even the MS update site was downloading Vista 32bit version driver onto XP! When selecting XP at the Creative support site the July 2007 update was for Vista while the Dec. 2006 was for XP.
You have to test each set to which will work on the 64bit with the latest being more likely. Actual driver support for 64bit editions of Windows is only now starting while the first being XP Pro 64 released in 2005 sadly lacked any real 3rd party support. Creative on the other hand has been slow on everything lately!
I'm currently running the Xtreme Gamer since the software disk that came with the Xtreme Audio model and card were both looked at as seemingly being defective. But the Gamer saw the exact same auto update crap like the web updater 3 for Vista when the installer was downloading the wrong drivers!
At the support site you simply have to grab the 64bit version of their latest update or 64bit compatible at least to see a working set installed. Once corrected the card runs on Vista as well as XP and likely the same on 64bit as well. Drivers is the key word there.
If you don't arrive at the actual download page where Vista 64bit is specified you can backtrack to the selection page for choosing the series and type of card seen at http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/
The task there is to simply select Sound Blaster in the first column, X-FI at the top in the next, and then scroll to the Sound Blaster X-FI XtremeGamer choice in the third to then press the next button. The next page is where you select Vista 64bit as the OS to finally see the download page last.
Remember the dates when looking those over in case they are somehow mixed up. Finding Vista drivers on the XP page was their goof and remembering which date will avoid repeating the problems getting drivers to work the first time. The image here will show what you should be seeing for the XtremeGamer when at the download page.
So basically I can buy the fatal1ty from new egg, but I have to make sure I d/l the program that supports 64bit from the site? If I don't d/l it then I wont have any sound?
For games, what's better xtreme gamer or fatal1ty?
The Fatality line sees the XtremeAudio and XtremeMusic models as well as the XtremeGamer. What that is primary is the additional 5 1/4" drive bay control panel and other items added along with the cards themselves. This is also why you see the "bgger price tag" when browsing through the sections at newegg or elsewhere.
For gaming XtremeGamer is all you will hear from most right away while the other cards will still play sound for games. The autoupdater became a problem at first on the new build when replacing the older Audigy 4 Pro lineup. A good browse of the software disk by first cancelling out the software part will allow you to see if there's a 64bit folder found on an updated software disk.
You wouldn't find that on a pre Vista software disk from 2006. Even the appearance of the sound mixer and volume control look quite a bit different with the update software while still being the same card!
Once you look at one specific model you go directly to the manufacrurer's support driver/software download section to see what updates are available. The drivers are available for the XremeGamer and should be seen right there for that model as well as since Creative lists them.
Once at the support site you go through the selection process for device type, series of card(Sound Blaster), model line(X-Fi, Audigy, Live, etc.), and following on the next page you select the OS. You also see a dropdown menu for all, driver, firmware, and application right under the version of Windows selected.