Hi out there

I am having problems with sound. Each time I boot up, one of three things
will happen:-
1 No problem, sound ok (sometimes after a while sound will degenerate thro'
2 to 3 (below)
2 Distorted sound
3 No sound. (these last two start right from the opening Windows start-up
chime)

I have a Creative SoundBlaster PCI 128 (WDM) OEM sound card which I believe
is hard wired onto the mother board and is about 3 1/2 years old supplied
with a Time Computers machine.

Question:-
1 Can the card be replaced by a PCI card and the original be permanently
disabled? (simply "removing" in control panel reinstalls on next boot with
no improvement) as this is probably the cheapest solution

I am convinced it is the card as monitoring thro' the line out socket gives
me the same effects.

Does anyone out there have any advice?

Thanks in advance

Delboy