Very recently, I switched to Windows 7, with the hardware listed in my profile System Spec.
A few times, the "Action Center" has alerted me to a problem with a "Creative Gameport" device not having a driver. In Device Manager, it shows up as a "PCI device" without a driver.
My research suggests that this is a fairly common issue for those using somewhat older Creative sound cards. Apparently, there is no driver for the device; Creative/MS simply dropped support for the gameport device with Windows 7. Some writers were quite irate, as they really wanted to use their gameport in Windows 7.
Thing is, my Audigy 2 ZS doesn't actually have a gameport. I'm pretty sure I know what a gameport would look like, because I previously owned the older SoundBlaster cards that definitely had the old-school, multi-pin joystick connectors (SB Pro, SB AWE 32).
That isn't the case with the Audigy 2 ZS. There simply is no physical connector for a joystick, aka "gameport." All I have are the various 1/8" audio jacks and a FireWire connector (probably for some add-on device I didn't buy).
So what's the deal here?
It's of largely academic interest at this point. W7's Action Center used to bug me about finding a driver for the "Creative Gameport," but I think it finally gave up. I'm still curious why W7 thinks there's a device there that isn't.
A few times, the "Action Center" has alerted me to a problem with a "Creative Gameport" device not having a driver. In Device Manager, it shows up as a "PCI device" without a driver.
My research suggests that this is a fairly common issue for those using somewhat older Creative sound cards. Apparently, there is no driver for the device; Creative/MS simply dropped support for the gameport device with Windows 7. Some writers were quite irate, as they really wanted to use their gameport in Windows 7.
Thing is, my Audigy 2 ZS doesn't actually have a gameport. I'm pretty sure I know what a gameport would look like, because I previously owned the older SoundBlaster cards that definitely had the old-school, multi-pin joystick connectors (SB Pro, SB AWE 32).
That isn't the case with the Audigy 2 ZS. There simply is no physical connector for a joystick, aka "gameport." All I have are the various 1/8" audio jacks and a FireWire connector (probably for some add-on device I didn't buy).
So what's the deal here?
It's of largely academic interest at this point. W7's Action Center used to bug me about finding a driver for the "Creative Gameport," but I think it finally gave up. I'm still curious why W7 thinks there's a device there that isn't.
My Computer
- Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
- Homebuilt
- OS
- Windows 7 Ultimate x64
- CPU
- Intel Core 2 Duo E8500
- Motherboard
- Asus P5E3 WS Pro
- Memory
- 4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz (2 x 2 GB DIMM)
- Graphics Card(s)
- Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX+
- Sound Card
- Creative Audigy 2 ZS
- Monitor(s) Displays
- NEC AccuSync 120 21" CRT, Samsung BX2440X 24" LCD
- Screen Resolution
- 1600x1200 CRT, 1920x1080 LCD
- Hard Drives
- Various and sundry SATA I/II HDDs
- PSU
- 850 W
- Case
- Lancool PC-K7B
- Cooling
- Standard fans & heatsink
- Keyboard
- Saitek Eclipse II, Nostromo n52
- Mouse
- Logitech MX 310
- Internet Speed
- 20 Mbit cable
- Other Info
- Recently added: NEC/Renesas µPD720200 USB 3.0 card on PCI Express 2.0 1x slot