lock ups

[Daynarr]

Did you restart your game when you made sound changes in Dom II? They don't have any effect until you restart game (no need to reset PC unless it freezes completely).

Sound bLaster live cards are known to have issues and very often have both software and hardware conflicts so it may be the source of your problem. You could try installing OLDER drivers (maybe the ones you got with your card) for sound bLaster and see if it works.