I just reinstalled windows due to a bunch of software issues that were annoying me. I went to test my 5.1 speakers after installing the sound drivers and everthing works great except the front speakers are reversed. They aren't plugged in backwards because they are keyed so that can't happen, and besides I never unplugged them while I was reinstalling. I just don't get how this can happen, it makes no sense, the sound built into my NeoPlatinum2 MB is Realtek AC'97. Could a driver cause this problem? Oh and even when I play stereo sounds like MP3s for example I can slide the balance on the volume controller and the sound goes the opposite way.

northwindone, sounds pretty minor to me. What if you simply swap places with the speakers so everything agrees? HTH. Ed in Texas.

That's my last resort, I have the cables zip tied and routed through my desk in and out of holes drilled through partitions so everything looks clean. If all else fails I guess I'll have to get out the wire cutters and start cutting zip ties.

Cutting the zip ties is a cop out, in my opinion. That's a strange problem. I disabled the Realtek onboard on my computers and put in cheap Soundblaster cards to get rid of other Realtek problems. Do you have a card (or can you borrow a card) to try? Also, when you did the reinstall, did you reinstall the chipset drivers?