Question : Problem: any top notch expertly experts on sound-audio systems etc.?

I'll tell you what happened, what was done (good and bad), and what the leftovers are. I have other open and closed threads that were "pieces" of the issues. If someone wants to look at one or more of those threads, let me know. Otherwise they may only confude people and maybe I can get some fresh lookers on this thread who can take a look at this from a different angle.

Here is what I had:
Intel Board
name: D945GCZ
version: AAD10312-304
name: IDT Audio1
device ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01VEN_8384DEV_7681SUBSYS_8
Here is my sound driver:
name: sthda.sys
version: 1.00.5790.0002

What happened:
2 Combofix scans were done to remove Malware. Everything worked fine at that point and I had all sounds. WMP and investment software sounds were nice and high. One reason is that my speakers were turned up to max and all my volume settings were on high. I set them there because the alerts when receiving a new e-mail and deleting an e-mail seemed a little low. Clearly heard but just seemed a little low.
There were two lingering messages-errors after the combofix.
1. On every bootup there was a message that Sonic Focus Drivers are needed for this application to work. I think it was related to Intel Audio Studio not sure. My options were ok, or close, or ignore it. no matter which I chose I had still all my sounds.
2. On every shutdown Windows had to delay shutdown to wait on a program to end.
Program was: Sigmatel-IDT-Sys Tray. I would have to click end so my system would shutdown.

In my program list were:
1. Intel Audio Studio, strangely it did not have a remove option.
2. (Intel - I think) High Definition Audio Package KB835221

I was advised to remove the High Definition Audio Package (and was told they had done this un-install and re-install MANY times) and use this link to re-install.
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&Inst=Yes&ProductID=2063&DwnldID=15520&strOSs=All&OSFullName=All%20Operating%20Systems&lang=eng.

Somewhere I read or saw that the only way to remove the Intel Audio Studio was by removing the high definition package, so I assumed that had occurred. After the re-install of "something" using the above download link, I looked in my program list. NO high definition package and Intel Audio Studio was still there.

After installing that, the two messages-errors were still there and I now had NO sounds and a new message-error on bootup. Windows Install Wizard was detecting NEW hardware, a PCI device. I followed instructions and it finally asked for a floppy or CD which I did not have or did not know which CD it referred to.

I asked about this PCI device and explained as much as I could. Then it was suggested that I use this download: your problem is your sound card drivers are not available.
Get this : http://downloadcenter.intel.com/T8Clearance.aspx?sType=&agr=&ProductID=2063&DwnldID=8658&url=/8658/eng/AUD_allXP_5682_PV_IDT_v006_IAS.exe&PrdMap=&strOSs=&OSFullName=&lang=eng
These are the drivers you need for your sound card for your motherboard.

After this download still no sounds, the Sonic Focus Driver message was gone as was the End Program Sygmatel IDT message. But, I had a new message upon all bootups:
cannot initializee (yes it is spelled initializee) Dolby Logic Encoder API"
and the Wizard found new hardware - PCI device was still there.

I un-installed the only "yellow" marked device in Device Manager and it was the PCI device.
But, upon re-boot it re-appeared on the list.

I looked in my program list again and this time there were TWO Intel Audio Studio's of different sizes (one about 9 mb and the other about 15 mb) and still NO High Defintion Audio Package
KB835221.

So, two downloads took place:
The 1st one:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&Inst=Yes&ProductID=2063&DwnldID=15520&strOSs=All&OSFullName=All%20Operating%20Systems&lang=eng.
resulted in this folder on my desktop: \AUD_allXP_5790.3_PV_IAS_v22

The 2nd one:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/T8Clearance.aspx?sType=&agr=&ProductID=2063&DwnldID=8658&url=/8658/eng/AUD_allXP_5682_PV_IDT_v006_IAS.exe&PrdMap=&strOSs=&OSFullName=&lang=eng
resulted in this folder on my desktop: AUD_allXP_5682_PV_IDT_v006_IAS

I opened both folders and they seem to contain the same things, Sonic Focus, a setup.exe file, a PC Audio icon and other things.

I tried the setup.exe for the 2nd link. I got a message saying it was an older instance of something I already had, so I ignored that as instructed and continued. At the end, no sounds and still 3 messages on every boot-up and #1 was now a new message:
1. the installshield wizard will now install your IDT audio system. To continue click NEXT. This is the name of the audio system I had.
2. cannot initializee (yes it is spelled initializee) Dolby Logic Encoder API"
3. Wizard has found new hardware PCI device

Setup.exe worked from inside the AUD_allXP_5682_PV_IDT_v006_IAS folder but does not work from: the installshield wizard will now install your IDT audio system. To continue click NEXT.
I get an error that says either my system does not support the driver or the driver is not there.

Now in my program list I have:
still NO high definition audio package KB835221
two Intel Audio Studios of different sizes (9 and 15mb)
and IDT AUDIO.

I checked my sound devices in Sounds, and Audio Device Properties and it is showing NO audio device.

I was told that:
Intel Audio Studio has nothing to do with KB835221. You shouldn't have removed it. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/835221. Also, go to Windows Update and download and install the KB835221 file if you have removed it. http://www.windowsupdate.com
I have not done the above.............not sure what the consequences will be since someone who had done the high defintitioin audio package MANY times should have known there was a number or code associated with it and mine was KB835221.

So, here I am with these 3 messages upon bootup:
1. the installshield wizard will now install your IDT audio system. To continue click NEXT. This is the name of the audio system I had.
2. cannot initializee (yes it is spelled initializee) Dolby Logic Encoder API"
3. Wizard has found new hardware PCI device
and no sounds except "a faint beep" when I receive a new e-mail and this beep is coming from within my tower and not out my speakers.

Need help.........
I have these two disc is my possession:
1. Intel Express Installer Driver CD for desktop boards D945GCZ  (it says install this CD FIRST....before what? XP?)
2. Intel Maximize Digital Media (looks like it contains Norton and other utilities and programs.

By the way, during the 2nd download above that resulted in this folder:
AUD_allXP_5682_PV_IDT_v006_IAS

this comment was made to me:
Or did it stop after you installed the KBxxxxx?
.....................As far as I know I never downloaded that. I used the download link you gave me and the one someone else gave me, both shown in my message before the one where I said, no I have no sounds..................
The KBxxxxx I am referring to is the Intel High Definition Audio Package KB835221 you installed.
...........as far as I know it NEVER got installed...................where is it, it is not in my program list and it was before this whole process started.

...........THIS could be part of my problem.......the download are thought to be installing the above package but the above package is not on my system.

I doubt I can get any more confused unless someone says BIOS, re-format, backup, re-install XP.
I'm hoping there is an easier and less expensive fix because I will not be able to do a backup myself.

Looking for FRESH eyes, brain power, knowledge, and ideas.

Answer : Problem: any top notch expertly experts on sound-audio systems etc.?

The HDA driver you need is this one:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/confirm.aspx?httpDown=http://downloadmirror.intel.com/11036/eng/kb888111.exe&agr=&ProductID=954&DwnldId=11036&strOSs=&OSFullName=&lang=eng

It is a newer version than the one you had and should be installed prior to the Audio drivers. If possible, find your audio drivers, then uninstall all your audio. Go into Device Manager if necessary and View Hidden Devices to be sure you get them all. Reboot after that. Then install the HDA from the link I gave you here. After that, reinstall your hardware driver. Please report back.