Due to popular demand, we'll probably hold back any driver release until we get more sufficient information to address this issue involving the system lockups with the tone in the sound buffer. If there is a change in the driver, it will have to go through WHQL again.

A lot of the more established companies, including us, are now certified by MS to do self certification. i.e. we can run the tests here & send the test results to Microsoft along with the card & drivers (& of course a check). MS will review the results to confirm that the tests have been run correct & apply a digital signature to the driver. It is a faster process, but that just brings time period back to the time that it *used* to take to get drivers tested & signed. <sigh>

The good news is that sound card drivers will most likely be installable rather than 'updates'. It shouldn't be much difference in size, so there's no reason not to have it as an installable driver rather than requiring that the previous installation.


--
Harvey Fong
Technical Marketing Specialist
Audio Products
Creative Labs Inc.
http://www.soundblaster.com

As you might recall the "update" drivers was something I'd disliked about the Audigy, as was in my Audigy Review. So looks like Creative is at least listening to what the users would like

When will they be available

How long will it take to get the new fixed drivers? The lockup's drive me insane.
Thanks for the reply in advance.
Mark

are audigy drivers really that poor? i mean, i haven't been experienced any frequent lock ups at all with the out of the box drivers.

I guess you are lucky having no problems with the Audigy drivers. But it also depends what you are doing with your computer.
In my case the lockups happen in Empire Earth, and they happen every single time I am trying to play the game. In Age of Empires I had occasional lockups but extreme distortion for 5-10 seconds every time I launch the game. After that the game is ok. But you should hear the distortion: Agonizing pain in my ears making me search in panic for the volume control. During normal Windows operation, Excel, Word, Music, Surfing, there are no problems.
The problem exists in both my computers: Dell 8200 (WinXP) & Dell XPST500 (Win2000). With my other SB Live! Value sound card there are no problems at all in both computers.

If anyone out there has managed to some how fix this problem; please let me know what you did so I can try it.