Found this out.......
Roland Audio Drivers Not Compatible With Windows 8.11 Reply

 
This is the challenge as Windows 8.1 rolls out across the world.
The device drivers for many popular audio, video and printer devices may not be available. Without a signed 8.1 driver, you are out of luck until the manufacturer releases it.   Update – see below for Roland’s response.
Last year Roland was on the bit with Windows 8.0 drivers and delivered them almost concurrently with Windows 8. Windows 8 shipped on October 26th, 2012 and the Roland drivers on November 2, 2012.
Windows 8 drivers will not work on Windows 8.1 so if you have any of Roland’s audio products you might consider waiting until they are announced.
 
This holds true for any device like a video card or printer as well. If you update too soon, the affected device probably won’t work.
QuestionWhen will the Windows 8.1 64 bit drivers for the UA-25EX be available? The current drivers are signed for Windows 8.0 and Windows 8.1 will not accept them. 
Thank you. Stephen Pate
  AnswerGreetings / Salutations!, 
Thank you for your inquiry. There are currently no drivers available for Windows 8.1 for your UA-25EX. For the latest drivers for your Roland gear keep an eye on the Roland product page:
http://www.roland.com/products/en/index_alpha.html
Best Regards / Sincèrement vôtre, Roland Canada

The list of affected products includes

Roland Octa-Capture

Audio Interface: OCTA-CAPTURE QUAD-CAPTURE TRI-CAPTURE DUO-CAPTURE UA-101 UA-1EX UA-1G UA-25EX UA-4FX
MIDI Interface: UM-ONE UM-1/1EX/1S/1SX/1X UM-1G UM-2/2C/2E/2EX UM-2G UM-3EX UM-3G
MIDI Keyboard Controller: A-49 A-500S
A-PRO series PC-50 PCR-30 PCR-300 PCR-50 PCR-500 PCR-80 PCR-800 PCR-M1 PCR-M30 PCR-M50 PCR-M80
MIDI Sound Module: SD-50 SD-20

Have a look for the workaround I posted within the VS-700 area of this Forum ...
 
Starfield

8.1 drivers were released on Thursday? At least for the octa capture and quad..

I guess I am most bothered by the lack of reverse functionality of drivers, especially to something as critical as an O/S. Newer versions of software should understand how the last version handled the "same information," especially from 8.0 to 8.1 (most would consider 8.1 a patch to make 8.0 *more* functional).
 
Only an O/S could "get away" with such, but thankfully there is no "requirement" to upgrade.

Yes, Octa-capture was there.thanks for the correction! Also the UA-25EX Win 8.1 Driver WORKS!!! Thanks Roland!!! or Gibson!!! or Cakewalk!!! or Forum!!! or Thanks Everybody!!!

Roland Fantom G is confirmed not to work currently on 8.1.. suspect this includes other synth's also

Thanks for the info. This saved me lots of grief.
 
I just had a new "really fast" computer built for Sonar and I specified Windows 8.1, but I use an Edirol/Roland FA-101. I had looked at the Roland site and they support Windows 8. But I never imagined that 8.1 would require new drivers.
 
I banked on using 8.1 because the experience I had with my friend's copy of Windows 8 with no start button was other-worldly, and supposedly 8.1 would be OK for old people like me.
 
I suppose I will have the builder toss out the Windows 8 I licensed and buy a copy of Windows 7.
 
I notice RME has Windows 8.1 drivers for the Multiface. I think I will switch to RME. And make a mental note to never buy another Roland product.

I would say cut them a little slack!
What has it been since Windows 8.1 launch? Four days?

I did not expect Windows 8.1 to require new drivers either but Roland has been swift to release good, stable drivers before.

Watch these pages to find their future plans:
Windows 8.1 32-bit
http://www.roland.com/support/article/?q=information&id=63060592
Windows 8.1 64-bit
http://www.roland.com/support/article/?q=information&id=63060593

Best Regards
Ludvig

Who the hell updates the OS on their DAW the same day/week that it is released? I guess I've worked in IT too long, I never do ANY major software updates for "production systems" right when it is released. I always wait at least a few weeks before making any changes to something that is *this* important, especially OS upgrades. MS has no control over 3rd party vendors and when they will release drivers for their hardware. When Windows Vista/7 were released, it took HP months in order to release any drivers for their printers, let alone stable ones.

well, for non-geeky people, if you believe the hype/marketing, everything just works, no? just because someone's an audio engineer doesn't mean they're a software engineer... i mean, who the hell updates their daw unless it delivers some essential new feature? surely people don't just buy into the latest/greatest for the sake of having the latest/"greatest" eh?