I had a big post written about updating your drivers and had to log off suddenly..so poof it went...

Instead of typing it all again here's some info & links of how to do it and why.

I checked the display adapter, cd/dvd drives - you might need to check your sound card too since the sound is not right.

How To Update Drivers in Windows XP
[Updating drivers for a piece of hardware is necessary when Windows XP doesn't install a device automatically, when the hardware is having some kind of problem, or as part of some other hardware troubleshooting.

Updating a driver is often the solution to a Device Manager error code. Updating the drivers for a piece of hardware will sometimes enable additional features for the hardware as well.]
more of the info-
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixthe...tedriverxp.htm

How To Find and Download Drivers From Manufacturer Websites
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driver...iverdlmfgr.htm


Is your system set to get all the Microsoft updates -they usually come out Tuesday evenings/Wed mornings.
My system is set to just notify me of them and then I decide what ones I want to install.
Your system might be set to automatically install which is fine - or something else if the fix it guys changed it.
might be good to check that.
To check it go to control panel & Automatic updates and see what it is set for.


I also downloaded some of these while I was trying to figure out this puzzle - sooo maybe ...

Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 2.3d -free
http://download.cnet.com/Windows-Ess...-10662709.html

Codec Pack (Advanced) 7.9.1
http://download.cnet.com/Codec-Pack-...-10354286.html

more stuff that might help..
http://download.cnet.com/VideoInspec...-10305777.html
http://www.cnet.com/topic/codec.html?tag=mncol