I have an audio problem after installing Windows XP Pro on my Compaq Evo n600c laptop (which came with Windows 2000 Pro preinstalled). The laptop has an ESS Allegro ES1988 audio chipset. It seems that although I ran the necessary audio driver updates (the driver for XP is version 5.12.1.1167), I get a crackling / static sound which occurs over any audio played by my unit, (such as the little built in Windows sounds, MP3's, etc.), with one noteable exception: When I watch a DVD on the unit, the audio is crystal clear!! Therefore, it is not, I would imagine, a physical problem with the unit (this is corroborated by the fact that everything sounded fine under Win 2000)...I actually sent the unit into Compaq, their only solution was to run the Quick Restore disks on my machine, wiping out my entire HD (thanks alot, btw, Compaq) and replacing it with the OEM install of 2000, which in my mind is not an acceptable solution (I want XP)....can anyone help me? Just to let you know, my BIOS is current, so that is not the problem, and I also tried updating my MP3 codec, and that didn't solve it either....I tried doing both an XP Pro update from Win 2000, and then when that didn't work, I formatted my HD and did a fresh install of XP Pro, but still the crackling persists. Help!