Left is Right, and Right is Left

Just wondering if anyone knew how to swap the audio channels in windows xp
(home). i have a 5.1 speaker system with a 5.1 channel sound card. The
speakers are in there correct position but when you play a game, or use the
'balance' slider sounds come from the wrong speaker. i get avertaken by a car
on the right hand side, but it comes throught the left hand speaker.