Audio Purgatory -how i got here and why my head hurts

i am also getting "Failed to play test tone" again with my audio devices

it's going to suck when this turns out to be something simple like a registry line that says "CLASSID {000-000-000-000} links to {000-000-000-000} driver/layer"

"Disable All Sound Effects" option fixed the test tone

uninstalled drivers again.... this time i also uninstalled VIDEO drivers.
(uninstalled chipsets, video, audio)
reinstalled all drivers from the motherboard CD and the latest AC'97 drivers.

Now everything appears to be working.
Movies play.
directx apps appear to work.
etc... etc..

All of this was tied to VIDEO drivers?

so far it seems to be working. i'll revisit this thread if something appears to not be working.
but i'd still like to get my Realtek Audio Manager to work.