HP dv5000z Audio Skipping 1

[CriTiCaLops]

I've had this problem 3-4 times now and fixed it with a clean reinstall of windows.

I think it's a hardware problem. It comes randomly as far as i can tell, i haven't installed anything recently. I just booted it up one day and it the problems started.

Here's what's happening:
-Boot time takes AGES. probably 10x longer than it used to.
-When the windows theme plays at boot up, it is chopped sounding. This is how all sound or video is - choppy and skipping. Even simple tasks take longer, but the skipping audio/video is the most noticeable problem.


I've checked out all my processes, and run an up-to-date virus scan (Antivir) and adware scan (Ad-aware) and can't find anything which leads me to believe it's hardware.

I can do a HijackThis or something if it helps, but my computer is useless for all things involving video or audio until this is fixed.

 

[wahnula]

I've had this problem 3-4 times now and fixed it with a clean reinstall of windows.

I think it's a hardware problem.

OK, what is your hardware?

Complete list including PSU is helpful.

wahnula

 

[CriTiCaLops]

XP Pro Version 2002 Service Pack 2
HP DV 5000z
AMD Turion 64 Mobile Tecnology ML-34
1.79Ghz 512MB Ram

FujitsuMHV2040AT Hard Drive

I don't really know how to find anything else.

 

[wahnula]

CriTiCaLops

Sorry, didn't see the make/model in the title. If it is fixed with a clean install of Windows, it probably is not a hardware issue. Start->Run-> msconfig-> startup see what is starting up w/ Windows. Un-check everything, do not connect to the Internet. Does it boot faster now? If so, start adding things one at a time until you find the culprit.

If not, do a disk defrag and cleanup (in Programs->Accessories->System Tools). If still bad then you could have a damaged HDD (download & run Fujitsu diagnostics).

I have a feeling it's something you "picked up" or installed voluntarily. I would start with a fresh install ox XP, load chipset drivers & AV, Windows update, then start adding your apps until you find the hog. Of course there could be other problems, i.e.power utilization, but these are DIY tests.

Does it perform differently under battery power vs wall power? Many laptops throttle down when running on battery but not 10X.

Tony

 

[CriTiCaLops]

Thanks for the help.

I'll check that stuff when i get home, i'm at work right now.

I know about msconfig and i have already disabled anything that isn't necessary. But the process of elimination method you suggested won't hurt to try.

I forgot to mention that the last clean reinstall of windows was less than two weeks ago. I've been thinking that it's the HDD, and the diagnostic sounds like a good idea because it just seems like it's unable to load info from the HDD fast enough.

 

[wahnula]

I have had a recent slowdown on my laptop too but it's been two years since the last clean install, not two weeks. And it is of the magnitude of 10% not 10X. I found out that Diskkeeper was not scheduled as I had thought and I had a fragmented mess of a hard drive.

Are you getting any blue screens or strange Events in the Event Log? Look in there for clues.

Tony

 

[CriTiCaLops]

I did a general Fujitsu diagnostic on my HD. Made sure the diag was compatible with my model #. It didn't even find a hard drive to run the diag on. and I tried it twice.

and i think we can rule out HDD damage because it has happened before but was temporarily fixed via a windows reinstall.

i'm gonna do some "culprit" hunting soon. right now i have a %#$@#$!@#@%#@%$@#$% calculus 2 exam to study for.

 

[CriTiCaLops]

I just found out something that might help solve this mystery.

I thought that it may be an audio/video problem at first due to music skipping when played in WMP. I just tried to play a song, and although it skipped for the first 10-15 seconds it eventually (buffered?) reached the point were it could play the music smoothly. I then moved the slider back so it would play the beginning of the song, where it had skipped a lot before, and it played smoothly.

Then as a test, as it was playing smoothly, executed firefox (normally a near-instant task) and the mouse became jumpy and the music started skipping again. (suggesting memory problems?)

note that most performance problems i have are at the execution point (opening a program or starting a song). right now for example, i have only firefox open and it notice no problem.