no, what u hear will not create a ground loop. what u hear simiply INTERNALY (software mixer) routes the output back to the input so that you will get the output recorded with the input you're recording all on the same track.

laptops are notorious for having grounding problems with DAWs.  if you unplug the power cable and run on battery only - does the hum go away?

and ASIO4ALL is not really "DIFFERENT" drivers - it's an ASIO wrapper that uses your soundcard's WDM drivers in ASIO mode.  just being pedantic, tho. 

I didn't know that about ASIO4all.  this isn't on my laptop.  I was probably not clear with what I said.  I cant get sonar to run for crap with that laptop.  with or without the asio4all.  but it is running on the old xp2500  just a little noisy   no crackle in the audio though just some hiss and hum

sorry, I thought you said this was the laptop.

I'd definitely look at ground loops, make sure everything is plugged inton the same outlet (if possible). 

you said your "receiver" - is this a home stereo type receiver? if so, I would move that OFF of the same power circuit (at least disconnect it for troubleshooting purposes)

k  I just put sonar 8 back on thsi computer and I cant get it to record in 24 bit.  The card is supposed to be 24 bit.  If set sonar at anything above 16 bit in audio options the channel meter goes right to being pegged in the red on the channel/track.  any ideas?  it is on its own irq  windows xp sp3  I have disabled onboard sound

No not a ground loop but an audio loop. When you said above that it pins the meters this was my first reaction. This can happen when you use "what you hear"
But now I'm confused, Are we talking about a Laptop or a Desktop??

When you said SB Audigy I assumed it is this model ( the same as mine) we are talking about. Or??

no we are not talkin about the laptop.    my card is just asimple audigy with no box

well it is working ok at 16 bit.  When I get bad hum is when I am plug something into my mackie 1402vlz mxer such as a direct out from a line 6 amp while the computer audio outs are plugged into mixer.  If I unplug the computer I dont get as much hum.  Nor do I get it  bad when the computer itself is plugged into the mixer.  So the chain is this.
Mixer outs LR are going to a tape in on my reciever, This is a good onkyo 3 pin plug grounded reciever.  everything is going into the same wall outlet.  there are a few power strips involved. computer audio outs are plugged into one of the stereos channels on the mixer.  that is when the hum really starts thoif I have the line 6 plugged into another channel.  If I unplug the line 6 or the computer audio outs the hum reduces quite a bit.  gotta be somekind of a ground loop.  I also get it on my other computer with the same mixer. 

by the way it is recording pretty good at 16 bits.  and handling a few plug ins too  at least for a few tracks.

you could look into a transformer isolator to try to eliminate the ground loop.  I do not recommend a simple 3 to 2 prong adapter.  those can be dangerous.  they are useful only for troubleshooting, do NOT leave one in the circuit permanently.

I'd also check your power strips.  one of them may be a culprit.  anything can be a culprit - even the "really onkyo 3 plug reciever" - ground faults can happen internally.

Ok those SB cards are a different animal and only a step above an onboard. 

It might just be the line 6 is noisy, unplug everything else and use a set of phones and see what happens. 
Sometimes line level ( 1/4 ") inputs will hum if there is global Phantom power on the mixer turned on. 
Noisy guitar feeds are common so it will give your recording an authentic vibe.  

thanks.  I dont think the hum is the sound card.  I get hum with the same mixer on a different computer that has a delta 44.  I guess ground loop is a different topic.  Thanks again.