Well you know I reckon the best way out of this is to install a sound card and that will bypass anything you have on the board.
Personally I have the Asus Xonar DG cards in all my machines and are just brilliant. The GUI for it is just superb and it isn't expensive - I paid $35 for it out here so depending on your budget....
No probs Blackdevin sorry I couldn't be of more help but I think truly the grief just isn't worth it and you will get a much better quality of sound anyway.
I am using a Logitec Z 506 system with my main machine and mate it can blast the neighbours off the hill it isn't expensive either and I have rigged as 5:1 plus there is a headphones socket on the main control speaker.
The Xonar is actually capable of driving 7:1 systems by the by
I know it will be so much better .. I wanted to get away with it without buying a sound card but i think that i will
Best way mate the grief really is not worth it and for my money I would automatically build or buy a machine now and install one of these cards if only to have a better quality sound (I am a bit of a fussy listener) and you can "play" with the sound you get