Issues, Workarounds & Localization

OK, before I start, I just want to say I've not actually done any investigation into this problem yet... not cleared cache, no log server outputs, not updated drivers, etc. I thought I'd just make this post just to see if anyone else has had anything similar which might save me time and point me in the right direction. Although I've not seen any similar issues in this forum section, so I'm going with a specific issue with my rig.

The problem...

When loading the client (I don't use the launcher apart from patches), it's pretty much a 50/50 chance of the sound working. The option is always enabled in the client, but looking at the Windows audio mixer it may or may not appear in there (if it doesn't, no sound). So running quite a few accounts can take a little while to get all the clients loaded with sound working. Sometimes several might work in a row, sometimes may have 10 clients in a row load with no sound, it seems completely random.

This has been a problem for me for some time now, not in relation to a recent expansion/patch.

So, anyone seen or heard of something similar? I know I'm being a bit lazy and poasting before doing any investigative work, but thought it might be worth a shot.

Relevant rig details:
Windows 8
Creative X-Fi 7.1 Card (can't remember exactly which - poasting from work)

Cheers!
wiLik