the sound on my computer seems to be working perfectly fine when i play music off itunes or windows xp. however, all the sound from the internet is severely distorted. for example, the sound from youtube videos sounds like static and the video is slowed down. even the clicking sound that normally plays when you click on a link is distorted. i have no idea how to fix this. i figured if my speakers were shot or something of the like, the sound wouldn't be working at all. any advice?

Did you check your directx settings? You have to set at hardware acceleration.
Also try to download a youtube video to your HD and play it... It sounds like a drivers problem.

ok, what are the directx settings and how would i get to them? i'm computer illiterate and i would need a step by step if you could....

start Run... dxdiag

Look on the General page for your version of DirectX.

Look on the Sound tab for any sound issues.

Look on the Display tab for video issues.

Also on the display tab what is listed as the Device?

Updating these drivers from the manufacturers web site might help.