Computery Help Thing!

[robwestern]

Dear All,

Here's hoping one, some or all of you might be able to help me with my PC problem.

About two weeks ago, and after two years of near perfect operation, my laptop started developing a very annoying sound/media skipping problem. It's intermittent and lasts from 0.5 to 3 seconds a time and sounds a bit like a record getting stuck. In addition, there appears to be a semi-regular crackling noise too and if it's really bad music and media just stop playing altogether. I've also noticed that the CPU usage jumps to 100% when skipping and seems to stay well over 75% afterwards, not sure if this is a symptom or the problem.

I've researched it as much as I can, and it does seem to be fairly common but with no, as yet, real solution. I'm reasonably ok with computers and tech stuff, but these feels way out of my league and I was hoping that experts such as yourselves might be able to troubleshoot the issue. I use my laptop virtually everyday to listen to music or watch the iPlayer and cannot explain how irritating it is and I am kind of desperate to sort it out without having to dismantle my computer or wipe it and start again. Help me H.Kon.Net forum-types, you're my only hope...

Laptop specs Acer Aspire 6935G here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-Aspire-16-inch-Laptop-Premium/dp/tech-data/B001HK214A/ref=de_a_smtd


 

[H-kon]

Hello robwestern. Welcome to our tiny corner of the internet :-) We're few, but we try to help :-)

Sounds like some program has installed a hook to an outdated driver. In most cases, updating the current driver should be all that is required. The specifications does not reveal what kind of soundcard you have, so what you can do is download the new updated driver from Acer.com directly and install that. Those aren't the newest versions usually, but they should be tested. The bleeding new versions can be found at the hardware manufacturer which i will try to figure out if this first try does not work

[H-kon]

I have so e problems with internet access since i just moved in, but i will do my best in following up :-)

[robwestern]

Ok, so in term of sound drivers here's what I've got:

NVIDIA High Def Audio - Version 1.2.23.3 - Dated 10/05/2011
Realtek High Def Audio - Version 6.0.1.5618 - Dated 07/05/2008

I can't seem to find any newer version of the Realtek one and I did recently update the NVIDIA driver (after the problem started occurring though)

Any further thoughts would be most welcome!

[H-kon]

This might do the trick:

http://www.realtek.com/Downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

When you experience the problems, try also to fire up the task manager (Ctrl-Alt-Delete) and sort the table by cpu usage under processes. There could be a rogue application that steals all the cpu cycles from your computer. Remember to view the processes from all users.  If you find any application that steals more than 50% of your processor, post the offending application here.

I have also noticed that Vista tends to take cycles from audio use if a lot of RAM is being used.

Try the driver first, I think you're using the realtek one, unless you are using a HDMI cable to a monitor/tv etc.  Be sure to download the correct version - Vista 32-bit/64-bit etc.

[robwestern]

Thanks will try these things and report back!

You mentioned about the HDMI cable, I actually do use one to watch the occasional blu-ray or video on my TV. Is this likely to affect what drivers I should be using/downloading? When I first started connecting it up, the laptop would automatically switch sound, these days I have to manually disable the speakers and Realtek Digital Output to get the sound (NVIDIA HDMI Output) to play through the TV and then undo all that when I unplug. Is that a clue at all? Or just an inconsequential anecdote?? 

[H-kon]

Could be the new driver doing something wrong perhaps. Do you experience these problems when connected by HDMI? If so, the Nvidia sounddriver is to blame.

Edit: Check the task manager and report back about the bad application. Could be malware also.

[Elf]

For a good freeware malware checker http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

[H-kon]

Did you get it sorted out robwestern?

[robwestern]

Frustratingly, I have not but also I have been away for the last month or so, so haven't had much time to try and fix it. Will look at the malware link above over the next few days and get back to you. Turns out my laptop has developed ANOTHER strange problem in the last few days but will elaborate next time as I'm in work right now.

Thank you for your help thus far!

[robwestern]

Ok, checked for malware and (thankfully) nothing. Having watched the task manager nothing is it immediately striking me when it starts playing up, although, obviously the RAM usage very suddenly spikes. Any further thoughts? 

[H-kon]

Sorry for not replying sooner, but i have experienced it on my HP too. It had been left on for ages, so a reboot fixed it for me.

Ram usage spikes? Could you perhaps have a failing stick of memory?

Which process spikes ram usage when you experience it?

[robwestern]

Thanks for the reply.

I've been watching the process usage in Task Manager when playing music (as this is when the problem occurs regularly) and I have to say I can't see anything notably spiking. Am I looking in the wrong place? The only thing that seems odd is that when Chrome is open it seems to have an awful lot of resources (two or three at about 60,000k and then another fifteen at about 6-7000k). That doesn't seem right to me BUT this problem exists even when Chrome isn't being used and the wi-fi is off.

You mentioned about a failing stick of memory - is there any way to test this before I fork out for a whole new load of RAM?

This problem is driving me nuts and just doesn't seem to want to go away!

Thanks

[H-kon]

These things can be a bit hard to troubleshoot.

Install this one and leave it overnight.

http://www.memtest.org/

it's free.

I don't see any problems with Chrome, Chrome is quite hungry when it needs to. Got 5 tabs open right now and it uses around half a gig of memory at the moment

Did you install the driver linked to above?

[H-kon]

Here is the newest from Acer:

http://global-download.acer.com/GDFiles/Driver/Audio/Audio_Realtek_v6.0.1.5618_Vistax86x64_XPx86x64.zip?acerid=633639767503530656&Step1=Notebook&Step2=Aspire&Step3=Aspire%206935G&OS=V08&LC=en&BC=Acer&SC=PA_6

It's from 2008

[robwestern]

Ok, so I ran the memory test overnight and it came up with no problems found. I did save a screenshot of it in case you think it might be worth looking at (let me know and I can get it to you).

I installed the latest driver as one of the first things. It installed fine, although if anything the audio sounds slightly worse now as it appears to have lost its surround capability (unless there is an option I'm missing) and seems quite tinny. The original skipping problem is still present too! Gaaarggh.

Any further thoughts as I've already started pricing up new laptops!? 

[H-kon]

I would probably try to install the old driver linked to above (2008) if Windows even accepts it. Otherwise, i'd backup all my important things and do a re-install to see if that would cure it.  it should be quick and quite painless, except for the backup of course if you got a lot of things on there.

Have you tried a different media player?  www.videolan.org has a good and simple one (free).  do you experience these sound issues with everything?

Have you installed any codec packs?

[H-kon]

I am curious if the problem fixed itself :-)