[Spacetrucker]

I have recently had a problem with my standard Windows sounds(startup, shutdown etc) not working. Thanks to a search here, I discovered a fix for it with included (re)installing the Microsoft Audio Compression Manager. The sounds worked fine afterwards. I just want to know what the Microsoft Audio Compression Manager is exactly. I know it has something to do with codecs which enable certain types of files to be played, but am not completely sure. I do home recording, so I wanna be sure having it there isn't gonna affect any of that. Is it a standard XP feature within sound, video and game controllers? i.e does everyone have it there? I'm a little paranoid about messing with things and how that affects other things so I just want my mind put at rest if possible hehe.