From
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...eef24f.xml.asp

"The first decision is whether to design an audio device that requires a
vendor-supplied custom driver. Windows contains operating-system support for
PCI, USB, and IEEE 1394 devices that conform to the Microsoft Universal
Audio Architecture (UAA) guidelines. The vendor does not need to provide a
custom driver for a UAA-compatible audio device."

Are Sound Blaster sound cards UUA compatible sound devices?

No, don't tell me to look in the sound blaster install sheet; it doesn't
say, and Creative doesn't provide an e-mail address, and they also reputedly
don't answer e-mails.

Since Creative provides most sound cards the average consumer can find to
install on a computer, Microsoft had better know if tehy are a UUA
compatible sound device. If noone here knows, please tell me who at
Microsoft to contact to ask.

If Soundblaster sound cards are UUA compatiable sound devices, is it even
necessary to install the Soundblaster drivers, or would their sound cards
work fine with just the Windows drivers and spare everyone the migraine
headaches and nonfunctioning sound from our massive confusion?

Since Creative does provide custom drivers, does it "work in conjunction
with the PortCls system driver (Portcls.sys) or the AVStream class system
driver (Ks.sys)"?

--
Yours,
Dora Smith
Austin, TX
tiggernut24******.com