You assume some level of expertise. I know nothing about manufacturer, sound card, driver type, website... Actually the computer was given to me second hand. Hunt for drivers? I tried looking, looks too impossible.
So two different kinds of answers. And TMagic says "the best chance" too. Not the definite answer.
More things are not compatible with 2000 now.
I might get XP SP3 on disc and wait for the next time my drive gets wiped out. Or I might not. Ain't gonna risk trying now cause to go back to 2000 (after XP) means wiping out the system again. So I'm trying to be prepared for the next try.
I understand how XP updates could solve things, but the answers are not definitive enuf.
Thanks for the answers. Noone has said they experienced this exact problem and solved it.