Cannot Change System Event Sounds

When I try to change event sounds in the Control Panel using Sound and Audio
Devices ... the event sounds show as changed, but the default sounds continue
to play for the changed events. I have removed the drivers and codecs in
Device Manager and have reloaded the AC 97' Realtek Drivers and Codecs, but I
continue to get the default sounds. And, it appears that XP automatically
reloads the AC 97' drivers and Codecs on its own during a reStart-Up. I have
contacted Realtek who makes the audio cards for my Dell Notebook and they
tell me its a known XP problem but they have no fix. I also contacted Dell
and they tell me its an XP problem that SP-2 does not fix and they know there
is no fix or patch on the Microsoft Windows XP Support Site. There is
nothing left for me to do, can you help?
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cp