SB Live Value v. 4.06.628: Should I update?

[gnatbert]

I would like to know if it is recommended I update my Sound Blaster drivers, or should I steer clear of updates, much like ME.

I bought a Dell Dimension 4100 with a SB Live Value card last August. I am running Win98se with all current OS and Explorer updates.

The CD with the drivers is labeled Sound Blaster Live Value Digital 1024 Software, and names Windows 98 Driver Version: 4.06.628 on the label as well.

Oddly enough, there is a folder for Win95 and one for NT on the cd when I browse for a location to find the drivers. Dell tech told me to choose Win95. Well after loading them I find the following in Device Manager:

Under the entry for Creative SB Live Value I show hardware version 007 and under the Driver tab, it shows "Provider: Creative " and "Date: 10-25-99"

Then under Driver Details:

EMU10K1.VXD v.4.06.628
MMDEVLDR.VXD v.4.10.1998
CTMM16.DRV v.4.06.610
CTWT16.DRV v.4.06.610
CTSYN16.DRV v. 4.06.610
CTDEVFIX.EXE v. 1,0,6,0

and many other, most with no higher number than 4.06

Sorry, I don't know which ones are relevant here.

But given the drivers I loaded are suspiciously under a Win95 folder, I wonder if I should update these.
I have SB on its own IRQ. I will be using a Promise ATA-100 TX2 card for my hard drives. And i will be using Digital Orchestrator Pro for home studio recording (a reason I will be sticking with Win98se) and Nero 5.03 or higher for cd-rw.

Sorry for whatever information I include here that is irrelevant, and for what I don't include here that is. I'm a novice.

Normally I would just go to the Sound Blaster site and download any updates. But I've seen so much confusing info as to which updates are good and which are not yet up to snuff, etc, etc. that I've no clue. Thanks for any guidance.

 

[dachay2tnr]

Basically I would suggest that if you are not having any problems, then leave them alone. Why would you want to update them if they are working?

On the other hand, if you are having problems or need better latency, then you might want to look into updates. Very often a newer driver can fix some problem you are having.

 

[gnatbert]

because I have not installed the Promise of the Digital Orchestrator Pro yet, so the reason I would ask if I should update, is in case there are known issues with my current version that I should avoid. Better to avoid known problems if they are out there, than to wait for them to show up. This is what I am unsure of, and I am probing for recommendations.