i just had a thought...there's something that i haven't mentioned because i didn't think that it mattered BUT since i seem to be at a stand still..maybe it does.

after i re-installed win98...i wasn't able to get online...i have dsl with a modem from my isp (local telephone co)....i tried everything but nothing occured. when i 1st got this...my daughter's computer wasn't involved but i had been able to connect it to the dsl on previous occasions w/o having to do anything extra.

my isp agreed to come out & put in one of their ethernet boards. they put it in the slot next to the ethernet board that was already there. they then downloaded the 1st driver (see buf's suggestion) on the hp site & that's how i got on-line.........so could getting this new ethernet board also do something to my sound????

just a crazy thought, i know but i feel i needed to tell about it