Creative Labs new software policy is here ... http://www.soundblaster.com/software/

The WinXP FAQ is located here ... http://www.soundblaster.com/support/faq/

Creative CD Contents are here ... http://www.soundblaster.com/software/info_sw_live.asp

These WinXP downloadable drivers are "Drivers only" the Playcenter is not there nor Liveware files. If you read Creative Labs new distribution policy (Software Policy URL above) you will find that the Liveware 3.0 and Playcenter 2.5 files are no longer being offered for download.

So ... this is a drivers ONLY URL.
If you wish to have the Liveware and Playcenter files you will have to purchase the new CD from Creative Labs, the cost is for shipping only.

I have found that in WinXP if you load the CD files which came with your sound card the applications will work under WinXP accept for the Creative StartCenter located at the top of your screen. After you load the files from your cd-rom disk, then install the updated drivers everything will work accept for the Creative StartCenter at the top of your screen.
If you do not load the cd-rom files you will have no sound environments, or special effects.

Also 4 channel sound does work in WinXP with the new drivers, just set 4 channel mode in the Creative Mixer, this is where you choose sound effects and activate 2 or 4 channel sound .

Good luck all !!!

I have the SoundBlaster 5.1 Platinum with the LiveTray option, even SP/DIF input works in WinXP utilizing the SP/DIF output of my Hollywood+ DVD decoder card.

I have problems booting the system to w2k/xp from a cold start?

I did a bios upgrade to .36 but still it won;t work, can you explain how you installed the sounblaster because my system runs perfectly (also cold start) without the soundblaster but with it inthere it fails!!!

Run setup with or without the HPT newest drivers (WinXP default drivers worked just fine for me) .

I do not OC my 2.0gig P4 socket 478 chip, if you are oc'ing then this may be part of your problem. I use turbo defaults in Bios and leave everything pretty much normal as far as tweeks go, just standard options. Sytem cold and warm boots just fine as well as S3 sleep mode works in oth winXP and 2K.

I install the OS then install cdrom from creative, then install the WinXP/2k upgrade drivers ... that's it.

Hope this helped.