Problem playing music CDs - sound is bad

[m615]

Dell Dimension 2000
Celeron 2.6 GHz
1.25GB RAM
XP Home

MP3s work fine, but when I play audio CDs the sound is terrible, as if the music is playing underwater. I recently increased the computer's RAM from 256MB to 1.25GB, and it didn't help. I have two disc drives, a Samsung CD-RW and an I/OMagic DVD-RW. The problem occurs no matter which drive I use. Any thoughts? Thanks.

(Added a few minutes later) I've tried different players too -- WMP and XMPlay -- and it happens on both.

[neljan]

Hi there

Run DXdiag (it's in C:/Windows/system32)

Click on the sound tab then 'test direct sound' see if you can find anything...

Also, download & install PCwizard 2008.

When you have installed it, have a poke around to see if you can see anything untoward.

[neljan]

Also (should have asked this first) is all other sound ok on your system? can you hear music online etc?

[m615]

neljan,

Thanks very much for the suggestions. I'll try them both.

Online audio plays fine, as do video clips (including sound). It's only CDs and DVDs that don't work.

Thanks again.

[neljan]

Keep us informed...