828MK3: VARIOUS PROBLEMS, HELP!!

[jmz93]

Hi folks.
I'm going to include a few things in this post, to save time/space.

First, I successfully installed the latest drivers, but can't update my 828MK3 to firmware 1.06. I get an "has encountered an error and needs to close" when I run the updator. Is there any other way to flash the .bin file to the hardware?

And, do I need to even worry about this version? I can't find anything about changes made, bugs fixed etc. on Motu's site.

S/PDIF Problem:
Second, I would like to run S/PDIF out from the 828MK3 to my Mytek Stereo 96 DAC, since I prefer it. When I connect the units up, absolutely nothing happens! Is there another setting somewhere I need to check? This should be simple ... output of one device connects to input of other device...

In contrast, as soon as I connect up to an old M-audio PCI card I own, I get sound through the external DAC almost instantly!

Last, I'm about to ditch the Windows XP machine and go Win7, on a high-end DAW. Generally, how stable are the Win7 drivers?

When my 828 performs properly under XP, I really like it, front-pannel inputs are handy etc. But it does behave oddly sometimes.

Are things any more stable under Win7?

Thanks for any help with the above.

Chris