Midi problem with Windows XP

[Gord10]

It is hard to tell my problem;
I have just upgraded my PC, and started using Windows XP instead of Windows 98. There is a problem with the midi music files. Well, they can run, but they sound very different (and bad) than they were on Windows 98. The instruments are all different from the old ones, and they sound too strange. For example in this one;
http://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/sony/ps2/AloneInTown.mid
It sounds bad now in XP, but it was good in 98. The percussions were like real, but now they sound like a pencil hitting on a table.
I hope I could tell my problem, and this topic is suitable for here.
Thanks

[Sluggo]

Do you have the same soundcard as before? If you do then I have no clue what could be wrong.

[LGM]

Try updating to the latest sound drivers of your card. You could be using the default Windows MIDI synth driver thingies.. Which don't sound THE best.. :-p