my original script notes indicate that i had the file deleted along with a pile of networking files. i no doubt thought it was for network streaming. deleting anything that could be used for behind the scenes network traffic was the primary motivation in cutting the install up. it was just purely by accident that i was deleting it, and the only reason i put it back was that the dialog box was annoying.

so, this is a little embarrassing, really - i caused this problem myself. but i'm now absolutely certain it's resolved, too....

my idea that i got a corrupted dll in an update is not right. the modify date seems to be connected to the burn date on the dvd; the dll is passing a crc with a version from 2001 - meaning the dll has probably *never* been updated.

this piece of gear has a bad reputation, and i guess this is a plausible explanation for it - the driver install breaks it. i just never noticed because i always deleted the class installer before the install finished.

yeah. that was it. i'm getting very, very clear and stable highs - so clear, it's kind of shocking that i ever thought what i was getting before was clear. but, the bass seems a little weak. i'm not sure if that's relative, or if there's some remnants floating around in the registry, so i'm going to put the script back to the way it was - delete streamci.dll and break the clock on install - test a little further and then probably do another reinstall.