Windows 7: Update Nightmare

Well after successfully updating my PC with some newer equipment and windows 7, I was amazed at how much faster the PC was. Then my youngest Daughter went to play her sims 2 game and the bloody game keeps crashing like crazy with no custom content at all. So after driving some people nuts at EAGames which they just sent me in circles which drove me nuts. I was talking to a fellow about the game not working at the asus forums and he asked if I checked the sound. So I disabled the Soundmax onboard HD audio and fired up the game, well the darn game worked fantastic with the exception of no sound. Windows 7 updated the sound and still it is doing the same thing: Sound disabled, game works, sound enabled game crashes. So I am looking for Ideas and to ask if there is away to fix this without buying a sound card? Thanks in advance

Update the audio driver. Go to the website of the card MFG and update.
Go to search, type device manager. In device manager you will see the audio card.
Also, make sure that there are no yellow warning markers, meaning errors