Music hardware problem...

[surfnkid]

I've got a problem that has completely baffled me. I have eliminated every possibility I am aware of and tried every applicable suggestion I can find on the internet. I hope somebody here can help me.

My music is crackling, popping and jumping slightly: just enough to throw off the beat and totally ruin the music.

IÂ’m no expert, but let me tell you the possibilities I think IÂ’ve eliminated and why:

--My speakers: they work fine with my iPod.
--My sound card: the problem persists with either my internal or external sound card.
--My drivers: IÂ’ve updated these, and as I said above, it doesnÂ’t work with either card (they do use different drivers donÂ’t they?).
--My hard drive: IÂ’ve tried both my internal and external drives. Both have plenty of space and are freshly defragged.
--My processor: closing down everything hasnÂ’t helped and it doesnÂ’t run at more than 50%.
--RAM: IÂ’ve made sure plenty is free.
--My mp3s: CDs have the same problem.

Other notes:

--IÂ’ve tried various outputs. The headphone jack doesnÂ’t work any better than the USB output to my external sound card.
--I’ve also tried switching to “waveOut only” in the Quick Time settings.
--This problem is new. IÂ’ve never had trouble with it before, no matter what I was running in the background.
--My external sound card is new, but the problem started before I got it.

Thanks!

 

[Law]

The processor running at 50%..that's not good, if it's running at that rate constantly. Have you tried using another mp3 player beside Quicktime?

 

[surfnkid]

I think the 50% I'm talking about doesn't include system idle. I'm getting that number from the "Performance" tab with the graph in the Task Manager. I have tried WMP also, and it has the same problem.

 

[jeremy]

thats defintly 50% in idle , your pc is infected with some spyware or some program that runs on startup is real processor hungry , check usage in the *processes* tab

scan with ewido & windows defender & trend micro anti-spyware (and of course update before scanning)
http://www.ewido.net/en/download/
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/msantispy.html
http://www.download.com/Trend-Micro-Anti-Spyware/3000-8022_4-10440658.html?tag=lst-0-1

when done with all 3 , download hijackthis
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/hijackthis.html , click "do a system scan and save a logfile" , then open a new thread at this section and copy & paste http://www.techist.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=126&s=

 

[surfnkid]

I may have mislead you again about the 50%, that's WITH music playing. With nothing at all, and most apps closed down, I'm getting 0-15%. I followed all of your advice though, and posted the log. Maybe something will show up. Thanks.

 

[Law]

Is this the laptop on your sig that's having the problem?

 

[surfnkid]

Yes.

 

[Law]

I'm pretty much out of idea myself. I can't understand why your CPU is at 50% just playing music. It shouldn't be like that; something is hogging alot of resources on your system. The only thing left I got for helping you is to check device manager and disable any hardware that you don't use. Perhaps this might be another hardware conflict or causing the problem.