sound on windows 2000 will give out after a while

[techmtl]

I could be listening to mp3 files or doing aplications and after a while the sound will give out. I an running windows 2000 on a compacq deskpro

Product  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Deskpro
Number of processors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Processor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pentium(R) III processor 733 MHz
Total Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  256 Megabytes
A: Removable Drive (Floppy, LS120, Zip, etc.)
C: Hard Drive  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.314 GB
D: CD/PDCD/DVD/CDRW Drive
F: CD/PDCD/DVD/CDRW Drive
Windows Version  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 SP3
Revision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0.2195
COMPAQ CD-ROM CRD-8484B CDROM
    Firmware Revision  . . . . . .  1.04

Mixer device driver(s) capabilities (see for technical support)
  Product Name (Driver)  . . . . .  SoundMAX Digital Audio
  Company Name . . . . . . . . . .  Microsoft Corporation

Waveform Output device driver(s) capabilities (see for technical support)
  Product Name (Driver)  . . . . .  SoundMAX Digital Audio
  Company Name . . . . . . . . . .  Microsoft Corporation

Waveform Input device driver(s) capabilities (see for technical support)
  Product Name (Driver)  . . . . .  SoundMAX Digital Audio
  Company Name . . . . . . . . . .  Microsoft Corporation

MIDI Output device driver(s) capabilities (see for technical support)
  Product Name (Driver)  . . . . .  Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth
  Company Name . . . . . . . . . .  Microsoft Corporation

can anyone help   please?

[Fed]

1st, run these online scans

Online Virus Scan and Spyware Scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm

Highly recommended second Online Malware Scan
http://www.ewido.net/en/

2nd, update Windows.
3rd, update your audio drivers from the manufacturer's website.