Shoutbox

For some reason I can only hear some things on my PC. I'll name a few:

Things I can hear:
- Java games
- Full screen games
- Windows Live Messenger sounds
- Windows Media Player

Things I cannot hear:
- Flash Player (YouTube, etc.)
- FLV Player
- Windows sounds
- Plus! sounds (tried reinstalling WLM and Plus! several times but it won't allow me to play sounds, the link/button doesn't do anything).

I can't remember what triggered it off. I did upgrade from WMP 9 to WMP 11 around the time, but I've tried downgrading and still have the problem. I think I downloaded some codecs because a file wouldn't play in WMP, but I doubt that links with it. Edit: I just tried System Restore. It made a system restore point before installing something called Windows XP MSCompPackV1. I don't know what that is (I presume the codecs?). Google doesn't show anything for it . System Restore failed btw. :-\



I've tried reinstalling the audio drivers (Realtek High Definition Audio Drivers). I've tried reinstalling Flash and Shockwave. Even after I uninstall Flash Player I can still view YouTube (Flash) videos .

So.. I'm quite annoyed. Considering formatting the (newish) PC. Any help appreciated.