I have the Realtek AC97 Audio (on-board)...don't have a sound card until or unless I decide that the on-board sound just isn't good enough....all controls are 'on'...mute is off...I'm gonna assume that this is just some little thing that hasn't been done yet...curious...BTW...I gotta run some errands...be back later...thanks for your help...Question: it doesn't matter which of the CD or the DVD is set to master and slave, does it? I have the CD as master but can easily switch it around....gotta go....