I need to update my findings in this thread too I guess.
I discovered the problem with my machine and started a new thread about it as it was so unbeleivable,well to me at least.
Somehow the Karaoke feature had been enabled thus rendering the audio useless for me.
It was really that simple.
Now I do not find the audio through the speakers to be great or really even good but it is useful as I had hoped for at a minimum.
Again,I can not see how they did it but if you can listen to a HP 2133 make sure that you do!
Ed