Sound control panel on Panther is damaged!

[Oh No!]

I'm using a Dual 867 G4 with Panther 10.3.6 and an Audiophile 2496 card installed.
When i'm trying to open the control panel in the system preferences the Mac just freeze.
Every startup makes the gong sound full volume, which is not supposed to happen cause i fixed the volume in low position.
Fixing permisions did not helped...

:(

[Oh No!]

I've took out the sound card and turned on the Mac in safe boot 3 times.
Everything besides the loud startup chime is back to normal now.

[StarbucksSam]

I'd try zapping the PRAM.