If I bring up sound devices in Windows with no DAW open and flip to the "recording" tab, I can hear a "pop" and then Windows sound is disabled again as if I was in my DAW.

Then I got the simpler Mackie Blackjack which has the best preamps I've heard on a sub-$200 device but is burdened with unstable Windows drivers that eventually wore out my patience

So basically what this means is using the inputs now disables Windows outputs.

Some users have managed to have limited success with the AudioBox and Windows 7 depending upon what motherboard various computer manufacturers use effecting their BIOS and other differences

I had issues with reinstalling drivers on my recently upgraded Windows 7 system, which has been working great

Opening my DAW now completely disables Windows sound.