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Need Computer Help, Having Sound Problems (Vanity - Tech)
Thursday, August 28, 2008 | Momaw Nadon

Posted on 08/28/2008 7:36:53 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon

The sound on my computer is not working properly.

When I play mp3, mov, wav, wmv, wma, rm, and avi files, there is a beeping/crackling noise. Most of the time the jibberish noise is complete. Sometimes, a bit of the intended audio can be heard through the beeping/crackling.

The only audio that plays well is from YouTube videos and .flv files.

I have a Creative SoundBlaster Audigy sound card.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers for the sound card with no success.

I have removed the sound card and reseated it with no success.

My speakers are 6.1 Cambridge Soundworks.

All of the hardware was purchased in 2003. I have been having this problem for about 6 months. The computer is currently running Windows XP Pro.

I tried plugging in a couple sets of headphones, but I still get the same result as with the speakers.

At this point, I'm not sure what the problem is.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: beeping; computer; crackling; noise; popping; screeching; sound; soundblaster; tech
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Any advice is greatly appreciated.
1 posted on 08/28/2008 7:36:53 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon
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To: ShadowAce

Ping!


2 posted on 08/28/2008 7:37:16 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon ("...with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.")
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To: Momaw Nadon
When I play mp3, mov, wav, wmv, wma, rm, and avi files, there is a beeping/crackling noise.

What program are you using to play those files?

3 posted on 08/28/2008 7:39:55 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: Momaw Nadon

YouTube/flv is Flash content - if I’m not mistaken the player/engine does the decode work and passes the signal on to the sound card for amplification only.

The other formats ask the sound card to do the decode work so perhaps the sound adapter itself (or chipsets thereon) is kaput - software reloads and hardware reseats won’t have any effect.


4 posted on 08/28/2008 7:41:19 AM PDT by relictele
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To: Momaw Nadon

Have you tried the Creative Diagnostic Software?


5 posted on 08/28/2008 7:42:13 AM PDT by politicalwit (AKA... A Tradition Continues...Now a Hoosier Freeper)
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To: Momaw Nadon

You might check to see if there is a firmware upgrade for the soundcard, or at least try reloading the firmware. You should be able to find the firmware executable on the soundcard website. Otherwise, I suspect you’ll be shelling out for a new card (which isn’t that much, actually).


6 posted on 08/28/2008 7:44:13 AM PDT by Little Pig (Is it time for "Cowboys and Muslims" yet?)
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To: raybbr
What program are you using to play those files?

Windows Media Player, WinAmp, RealPlayer, Quicktime and a few others. All of these programs are the most recent version. Also, the same effect happens when I try to play video games.

The only things that seem to work are YouTube videos on the Internet and .flv files on FLV Player 2.0. In addition, streaming audio from music sites such as Pandora.com seem to work.

7 posted on 08/28/2008 7:46:05 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon ("...with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.")
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To: raybbr; Momaw Nadon
What program are you using to play those files?

This information would be helpful ...

8 posted on 08/28/2008 7:46:25 AM PDT by tx_eggman (Privatizing profits and socializing losses is no way to run an economy)
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To: politicalwit
Have you tried the Creative Diagnostic Software?

Yes, but I have not been able to fix the problem using the Creative Diagnostic Software.

9 posted on 08/28/2008 7:47:52 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon ("...with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.")
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To: Little Pig
You might check to see if there is a firmware upgrade for the soundcard, or at least try reloading the firmware.

Already tried that.

10 posted on 08/28/2008 7:48:53 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon ("...with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.")
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To: Momaw Nadon

It sounds like the sound chip on your card is fried. Did you have a power spike or lightning storm at the time? Did you handle the card without a ground strap?


11 posted on 08/28/2008 7:53:17 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: Momaw Nadon

Had anything changed on the PC before the problem occured? A new video card or something like that.


12 posted on 08/28/2008 8:04:55 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: Momaw Nadon

If you have a built-in sound chip, disable your sound card, enable your onboard sound, plug your speakers to the proper plug in and give that a try. If it works your problem is in your sound card.


13 posted on 08/28/2008 8:05:02 AM PDT by politicalwit (AKA... A Tradition Continues...Now a Hoosier Freeper)
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To: raybbr

The problem already existed when I tried reseating the card. (I wasn’t wearing a strap, but did ground myself by touching the metal computer case to prevent ESD.)

The only other thing I can think of is blowing out dust with a can of compressed air. I think this was sometime before the problem started.


14 posted on 08/28/2008 8:08:00 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon ("...with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.")
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To: AppyPappy
Had anything changed on the PC before the problem occured? A new video card or something like that.

No changes. I periodically blow out dust with compressed air.

15 posted on 08/28/2008 8:09:40 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon ("...with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.")
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To: politicalwit; Momaw Nadon
If you have a built-in sound chip, disable your sound card, enable your onboard sound, plug your speakers to the proper plug in and give that a try. If it works your problem is in your sound card.

Bump! That's next.

16 posted on 08/28/2008 8:10:10 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: politicalwit
If you have a built-in sound chip, disable your sound card, enable your onboard sound,

Do you know how to do that?

17 posted on 08/28/2008 8:11:12 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon ("...with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.")
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To: Momaw Nadon

I wonder if the cable has worked itself loose.


18 posted on 08/28/2008 8:12:32 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: Momaw Nadon

Immediately when you turn your computer on, enter your BIOS (Normally either F1, F2, or Delete). Depending on your BIOS manufacturer and version, there should be an Advanced menu with different options. Inside one of the options is an option to enable/disable the on-board audio. Be sure to only change this option, changing the wrong options can make your system unbootable.


19 posted on 08/28/2008 8:14:58 AM PDT by politicalwit (AKA... A Tradition Continues...Now a Hoosier Freeper)
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To: Momaw Nadon
IBTRULI

In before the "are you logged in"

20 posted on 08/28/2008 8:31:52 AM PDT by showme_the_Glory (ILLEGAL: prohibited by law. ALIEN: Owing political allegiance to another country or government)
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