[mlepine]

Which audio card are you using?

I've experience your problem with a SB Live & PCI 128 when taking the driver from Windows Update site versus the Creative web site.

Keep in mind that every time you update your audio driver it goes back to its default mode which is full acceleration.

George's recommendation is what I believe is the solution, reduce the audio acceleration if of course you have a SB audio card.

How to: Start, Run, dxdiag, Sound 1 & reduce to 25%.

regards