BleepingComputer.com: Lost audio in speakers, jack in hp mini. Driver update unsucessful

I have an hp mini 110-3000 and o/s is windows 7 starter edition. IDT high definition audio codec driver. ONly firewall is through Norton's security program.
Several weeks ago, began getting browser redirects and brief page flashes on screen. It seemed like something on the background was happening despite only having a document open. Kaspersky did not reveal any virus.
A week later, lost audio in external headphone jack, then days later the speakers stopped working. Device mgr did not reveal any problems. Uninstalled above audio driver without success. audio was not muted and speakers were on default ...all obvious things checked (volume). Reinstalled system back to factory but no change. contacted hp support but after hours of help they could not detect anything. The only thing they did not look at was a virus. They simply told us to return system to their service depot for repair/replacment. At last minute, I did another reinstall with no change in audio (I hear nothing through speakers, but in jack with headphones, I hear crackling noise). When I run audio test on speakers, I see the audio levels go up and down but no sound??? Now, since the reinstall, my system is incredibly slow (dragging)?? Ran malwarebytes with no virus detected. If it was a hardware problem, why would the system speed and internet download speed be affected??? Can you help?