Hi. I've just discovered this forum while searching for help with this problem. I've installed the latest AC97 drivers on my XP system and have the same error message of a 'soundman.exe' problem described above. However, for me, I never had a problem with the Windows Media Player. I've always been able to hear sound well - - but not use the microphone. When I unmute the microphone setting, all I hear is a loud but deep, steady hum. I really want to use my machine for PC-to-phone and this prevents it. Any advice would be appreciated. Also, the phone handset that I would speak into is not next to the speaker/machine, so that is not what is causing interference (in case someone was wondering).
I have an eMachine and the people there were nice in trying to help me out, but to no avail. The final advice was to try reinstalling Windows, but I'd much rather not go that route if possible. I reinstalled the latest sound drivers, but that didn't help.