Too bad Win2000 wrecks it all. Even with the latest Creative drivers I can't get rid of cracking and popping with either my VIAKT266a or nForce2 machines
so its NOT just me, you get this too.
I get it on my EpoX 440-BX7+100 in Win2K Pro
far less problematic in linux, yet not completely 110% gone
my mum's machine has an AC97 onboard audio onit, it sux.