Audio device supported by this application is not detected... error

First you are referring to two physically different sound devices.  The "SigmaTel" is the Integrated Audio module (on the motherboard) and a "SoundBlaster" sound card is a separate PCI hardware device.  Which do you really have?

The correct manual install sequence after a hard drive reformat is (1) Install Windows (2) Install Intel Chipset Drivers (3) Install Device Drivers such as the sound, video, etc.  The Chipset drivers MUST be installed before attempting to install the sound drivers, and the chipset drivers are the most often overlooked item when doing a reinstall.  One of the functions of the chipset drivers is to define what is on or attached to the motherboard.

Many Dell's have a Recovery Partition on the hard drive that is accessed by CTRL/F11 at initial boot up.  This partition will allow you to completely restore the PC to the original factory configuration.  If you still have the original hard drive and that partition was not foolishly removed from the hard drive, suggest you use that to reinstall (it does not require any CD's).

HERE is the Dell downloads (for manual installs) which includes the chipset drivers and the two listed sound drivers (SigmaTel and SoundBlaster Xfi), you need to install the correct sound driver for what you actually have.  If you are unsure, the original Dell invoice (if you still have it) lists what is in your PC.

I did USE the recovery partition using CTRL/F11 and that’s where I got an error about expired file. My invoice lists SoundBlaster Advanced AND Sigmatel. A Dell Tech told me they no longer had support for the “application”.  Dell replaced the hard drive and sound card twice and they assured me it was the original configuration. I tried re-installing the drivers manually and I got an error on SOUNDBLASTER saying there was no supported device and installation has been cancelled.  Yes I did do the chipset drivers first then the sound cards... This has gotten me quite frustrated with DELL as this started happening before Dell replaced the hard drive and sound card. How can I tell exactly where the conflict is...  Or, Is there really an application that is causing this issue associated with SoundBlaster?

Whatever "expired file" is apparently some software that Dell put on the original software load but is no longer valid.  I doubt that is affecting your sound. 

The SoundBlaster Advanced MB is not a "sound card" it is just a software enhancement to the Integrated Audio (SigmaTel).   HERE  is the download for this, although it does not list the E520 in the compatibility list.  I don't have this but from others, you need some kind of Product Key to activate or install it.

Have you installed the SigmaTel drivers?  HERE  is the version on the Dell downloads. 

Install the Dell SigmaTel drivers, restart the PC and see if you have sound.  Then if you have whatever key is needed for the SoundBlaster Advanced MB install that.

I have sound, that's not the issue.

The "expired file" IS effecting the software somehow, though I still don't understand why something I paid for would end up expiring or why a file that would 'expire' be installed in the first. This has been bugging me for the last year since I started getting the original error.

The product key is on the disc supplied with my system, which I have used and still get no device supported... It's more that I can't use the "software enhancement" to control volume, equalizer, etc.

Frustrating to me since I specifically requested to have the SoundBlaster installed that I wish to be able to use that to control sound, etc. instead of using the standard windows application. When I click on the volume icon (from SoundBlaster) The exact error box states "Surround Mixer" then it gives this error. I have surround sound speakers that came with the system.

Not sure if "Surround Mixer" is a separate software issue or not. But I have installed all the right drivers, including the drivers for SigmaTel.

It just one day it all stopped working. I never changed settings, changed speaker hook ups. Nothing. So it is a mystery why I can't get this "software" to work.

The surround mixer is part of the SoundBlaster Audigy software.  With the original "expired file", unless you can exactly identify what that file is, there is no way to really tell what it potentially could affect, or if it's not affecting anything.  The Audigy Advanced MB software problems may be totally separate and not have anything to do with the "expired file". 

I'm not sure how you even got the Advanced MB software option since the Dell downloads for your model does not list this software package and on models that do list it, your model is not included in the applicable model list. 

Although this doesn't fix your issue with the SoundBlaster, your surround sound should work without the SoundBlaster, the Sigma Tel is capable of surround sound on it's own.  Do you have 5.1 surround sound set as the speaker "type" in the Control Panel?  There are many PC's using SigmaTel audio and surround sound without the SoundBlaster software enhancement.

When I ordered the system it was listed as an option when I was customizing. Dell pre-installed it at the factory. It cost me an additional $150 to have it pre-installed.

I do get an error everytime I start up with CHTMBL ( I think that's how its spelled ) .dll wouldn't initialize... and I've reinstalled that several times. The other error was similar in spelling except there was an A in it.

I don't recall the Advanced MB software enhancement option being $150.  That amount would suggest you should have got the actual SoundBlaster Xfi sound card.  That would also go along with the fact there is a driver listed on the E520 downloads for a SoundBlaster Xfi Extreme Gamer sound card.   The Audigy software is only $25 additional on current systems.

Check the expansion area and see if there is a sound card installed in the expansion area.  If it is, then you need the drivers for that, rather than the Integrated Audio.

Chtmbl does not come up with anything, doing a google search for that file name. 

Not at home right now but you mean open up the PC to see if that sound card is there? This is just frustrating since it worked for the first year I had it, then all of a sudden stopped. I will check that expansion out when I get home to see exactly what kind it is...

The Soundblaster Advanced MB IS only software and will only work with the SigmaTel integrated (on the motherboard) audio chip.  If you add a SoundBlaster sound card ONLY

If you install a separate sound card, the software that comes with the card will work, the Advanced MB software will not work. You don't need the Advanced MB software with a separate card as it has all the features of the Advanced MB (and even some others).

There was an Xfi Titanium physical sound card but if an optional sound card was ordered the Advanced MB software was not applicable.  

UPDATE: Ok it's been 2 years since I've started this post and new information has come to light. I wish to express again, however, that this system had the option when ordered to install the SoundBlaster application/software of which I partaked of. Even today new systems give an option to either get the default system or to use an updated SoundBlaster device/application/software which I believe to now be the Tertainium something or other. I forget the exact name since I won't be able to get a new PC until sometime after the new year if I am lucky.

However, I've asked around to those with the same system and same exact SoundBlaster Software/application and the new information they provided was that at one point they had received a pop-up asking them to renew their activation code, I never received such a pop-up.

However, the errors that I've mentioned in the previous posts are still valid and do pertain directly with the SoundBlaster Software/application and with the Creative MediaSource drop down application. Before the computer upgrade I am planning on, I may first update the sound card to a SoundBlaster Augidy specific card to see if that will fix the issue. I have found the exact one that will in fact go with the SoundBlaster Advanced MB software.  

I'm still upset that Dell didn't bother to let me know about an expiring application as others have experienced having the exact same machine (E520 Dimension) with the exact same sound card configuration and same SoundBlaster installed so I wish to make sure that should I indeed to buy the new sound card if this software will immediately start to work properly or if I'm just better off in upgrading to the new system...

All I know is that at one time, I believe it was early in 2010, I had gone to a computer store and saw a sound card that did come with the SoundBlaster Advanced MB software, I honestly can't recall the name of the actual sound card it came with so assumed it had the same or similar name.

My idea is if that package still exists (Last I heard there was still an option to purchase that particular package, but I've not been able to as yet), I can buy that and it should re-install the Advanced MB software.

The errors don't stop, still says I don't have a supported device and still when doing a factory restore says Usage Time Expired, and another Sysprep error. All of these while it may be unrelated, only came up once the software itself stopped working, so again I figured they were all somehow related to each other. My warranty wasn't even expired when this started happening but Dell had refused to fix the issue or to assist in why this was happening or even a way to figure out how to get the application to work except that they no longer had access to it to re-activate it or whatever they did in the first place...  

Sorry to bump this up once again, but I really would like an answer that will cause this software to work.

UPDATE: First, I did finally receive a new "product key" for this software this is the Creative MediaSource SoundBlaster advanced MB...  

However, I have no idea where to put the new key in order to get the software to work. There is no option in the actual software to place this. I hope I saved the key otherwise I'll have to ask for it again...

There was a comment someplace that stated that there might be a place in the registry settings to place the new key in order to get ths software updated. If this is the case, how do I get a detailed instruction on where to do this. I have yet to find the exact entry that will allow me to place a product key and activate the software.

Well the problem has been solved. How? I simply bought a new computer and it didn't come with the Sound Blaster, but a whole better sound system...