Member Avatar for Ryokushin

Well, I don't know if this is a computer issue--because I doubt it is. Yet I do not know if it is a Vista issue. I have Windows Vista 32 Home Premium, and here's the thing. My computer will take a long time to load web pages--but that's not the issue. The issue is, when the pages load--the sound card seems to be messed up. Such as:

1. Load daniweb.com > Song will begin to "buffer" and "skip" or just sound awkward in general, skip portions, become

However, to solve it I just go to:

2. Device Manager > Disable High Definition Audio > Enable High Definition Audio > Restart

Everything is fixed. So I can go to youtube, and then play videos and it works for, maybe, a day and then it happens again. Is there anything I can do to fix this besides continually do "2" over and over again? Also--if anyone tells me to "Format" I'm telling them now "No" will be the answer.

So--is it with the computer, or with Windows Vista?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by caperjack

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Because ’s temporary fix (toggling the High Definition Audio device) makes the problem go away for a while, the behavior points more toward a driver/service/interrupt (DPC) interaction than a pure dial-up/bandwidth problem. ’s hint about drivers and the connection is sensible, but narrowing the root cause quickly will save time.

A focused diagnostic sequence that has helped cases like this:

  • Reproduce the stutter while playing a local audio file (no network) to separate network/Flash/browser causes from audio-stack problems.
  • Try a different browser or run the browser with plugins disabled; hardware-accelerated Flash or a bad plugin can spike CPU/DPC time when pages load.
  • Observe Task Manager/Resource Monitor during a hitch to note CPU, disk, or network spikes and which process is responsible.
  • Check Windows Event Viewer for audio/driver errors around the time of the dropouts.
  • As a quicker alternative to disabling the device, restart the Windows Audio service in Services (services.msc) to confirm the issue is service/driver related.

If diagnostics point to driver/DPC latency, common fixes that reliably resolve recurring stutters:

  • Install the vendor-supplied audio driver (or test an older vendor release) rather than the OS-generic driver; also update chipset and NIC drivers and BIOS since low-level drivers often cause DPC spikes.
  • Disable browser/Flash hardware acceleration and any audio “enhancements” in the sound device properties.
  • Disable aggressive power-saving on NICs and set Windows power plan to High Performance (power management can affect I/O and DPC timing).
  • If available, use a DPC/latency tool (LatencyMon or similar) to identify the specific driver causing high interrupt/DPC time; swapping or updating that driver usually fixes the problem.

If the issue persists after these steps, substituting an external USB sound device can quickly show whether the on-board audio hardware/driver is at fault.

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Member Avatar for caperjack

could be a high def audio drive issue ,did you check website of the computer maker and try downloading and reinstalling the audio drivers

Member Avatar for Ryokushin

Yup, I've uninstalled and reinstalled before. Happens after a while. It's like, the buffer reaches its max limit or something, it will work for a while, then it will just stop working well.

Member Avatar for caperjack

didn't know there was a song when daniweb.com was loading .i don't hear any
also after reading 1st post agin .you may be having a internet connection/bandwith problem,you do have high speed internet and not dialup right !

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