Or at least that's the best way I can think to describe it. Every minute or so everything on the screen will stop and the audio will make a sort of slow buzzing noise, like it's playing the last tiny bit of sound over and over. This only lasts for less than a second, but as you can imagine, it's quite annoying. Makes it impossible to listen to music.

This is accompanied by a small CPU spike, usually around 30-70%, but it seems like this is more a symtom of, rather than cause of, the problem, as there are times when I get much larger spikes without any problem, and it doesn't seem to do it any more frequently during something such as gaming than it does when I'm just doing web broswing.

If anyone has any idea as to what could cause this, it'd be great... cuz I'm stuck.

I presume thou hast defragged knave?

If you have Windows XP or 2000 you can go to task manager and check which process is spiking whenever the computer slows down. If it's nothing.. then it's probably a hardware problem.

How do you figure?

And, also, this is a terrible thread. Come back when it's dancing. :D

Could your computer perhaps be being used as an instrument of communication by some kind of alien being? I'm not being facetious, incidentally, that's a genuine question.

I realize this isn't what you want to here, but... Is your processor overheating a bit?
I've been having a similar problem on my laptop (although mine locks up completely) and when I make sure to keep it extra cool, it doesn't happen.
Also do all the regular maitainence things (i.e. Delete temp files, scandisk, defrag, etc.) Those help more often than you'd think. And make sure you're shutting off the computer occasionally.
Beyond that... I'd say you're fucked.

If it's a heat problem, he's not fucked at all. There's all kinds of way to cool your CPU more than the stock heatsink, if that's the problem.

delete any useless programs or uninstall with an uninstaller email
innovative@xnet.ro ask for advanced unistaller
also clean your registry with something like ashampoo winoptimiser suite from http://www.ashampoo.com
remove any spy/adware these really slow things down use something like ad-aware 6.0 free download form lavasoft sweden also clean your hard drive with system disk cleaner and then defrag
things will start to run smoothly then
ok hope this helps :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Well.. I've tried just about all that now except for improving the cooling. Any idea why this would come up now? I've been using this machine for quite a while with no problem.

Also, I'd appreciate any suggestions on what cooling to get. I'm willing to go top-of-the-line for this, because I don't like the idea of the rest of my parts all getting fucked up by this one bit of my system that's pretty mediocre.

Liquid Nitrogen.

...but the post doesn't sound anything PS related to me...

Might explain how you became an executive instead of a technician...

I was with el supremo on this probably just being the work of something gobbling the system resources, but I have my doubts now. My system has been doing a peculiar thing where it just freezes up for no apparent reason, usually around 1 AM saturday mornings. I've done everything short of replacing serious hardware in it, and have had no effect...

Yes, I replaced the P/S.

Always my favorite solution.

Actually, yes, with zero success. Cock.

Ok, here's my 2-cents worth...

Perhaps it's not in your computer at all. There are plenty of external 'things' that could be doing it...

- A new cell site nearby. Cell towers regularly 'blast' a transmission out to announce themself to any/all devices. It is a regular, timed & (i believe) slightly more powerful transmission than its usual activity.

- BPL testing in your area? As this nuisance becomes more widely tested & evaluated it will be causing more & more interference problems.

- Things in your own place... some other item of electronics beginning to die & buzzing the airwaves or power line?

- A new neighbor with RF-noisy gizmos, or an old neighbor with a new gizmo.

- did you move anything closer to your 'puter recently, or move your 'puter? Even something so sub-concious as placing your own cell-phone too close to could have an effect.

- AC Line Noise can pass through regulated switching power supplies. Particularly if the power supply is starting to die. The power supply itsef could also be creating regular power spikes/dips if it is dying.

I realize that none of these are easy to detect or find, sometimes requiring power line monitoring equpiment or frequency counters (RF and line). But just take a look around, stick your head out the window, talk to your neighbor(s) especially if you're in an apartment building.

Yes, i'm a computer geek too & first thought of all the things that could be wrong with your system. But most of the other PC-related ideas have already been suggested.

good luck.

- L

I had a similar problem myself. I always imagined it to be my video card. When I was playing a game or doing something else very CPU/Grpahics intensive like playing a game, full screen visualisations or the huge flash driving sim thing Craig posted everything would just freeze and winamp would play the last note over and over again. The only way to get it to work was a hard reboot.

This happened after I installed a new soundcard, videocard and processor. I removed all of them and tried my original components in their place but it stil crashed.

Oddly enough my power supply blew up the other week. I haven't noticed it crash since I got a new one...

Indeed you did, ostensible's problem sounds like a minor version of mine, perhaps he's in the initial phase and I was near the end.

Then again it could be a completely different problem.

As it is at the moment though, I'm thinking the power supply would be a good thing to check

How would the power supply have this effect, though?

Okay, I just pulled the PS out of an old Compaq. I'd like to swap it with the one I'm using.. only I don't know much about this. Last time I tried putting a new PS in a machine I fried the motherboard and CPU. At that point I had assumed that if the plug fits it must be the right one, but I guess I was wrong. What do I need to know to make sure this PS is compatible with this machine?

Actually, I always thought that it's pretty much "if the shoe fits..." as well.

One of the machines I was swapping out last time was a Dell. I've heard they have weird power supplies. I want to make sure this isn't true for Compaqs as well before I put in a Compaq PS... however, what I've been reading online makes it appear that it's generally an "if the shoe fits" thing, and I'm pretty sure it's PS related now. It's advanced to random restarts and a freeze in the middle of checkdisk during the Windows boot. So I guess I'll try switching them now... if you don't hear from me for the rest of the day, assume the worst...

Okay.. the Compaq PS wouldn't fit in the case. The screw holes were in the right pattern, but each was just a tiny bit too far to the right. I've ordered a new PS, because the Compaq's was a puny 200W anyway. The one I've ordered is 450W. I'm on my mum's laptop for now, which is having wireless problems... or else our Internet is going really slow at the moment. :-/

"Technology is stuff that doesn't work yet."

Fuck.

Not fixed. Got the new PS. Installed it, after having to drill holes in my case, as it seems they were offset just a bit from the standard. Installed it. No difference.

Holy fuck this is aggrivating. I was thinking of what Lurker said, when I suddenly realized that this started about when I installed my wireless card. I disabled the WLAN and three songs go by with no glitching. Turn it back on and they start again. I'm pissed that they would sell me a product that causes this kind of problem.

I'll be calling their tech support as soon as business hours resume. In the meantime, anyone else have ideas on how to fix it? I've thought it might be good to move the antenna away from the comp, but it's attached directly to the back of the card. Maybe they sell some sort of extension...

Or you could try a WLAN adapter that connects to the computer via USB.

I could, but that presents a couple problems. One is that I've already spent money on this card and I doubt I can return it now.. although it is possible that I can. The biggest problem with that, however, is that I've yet to see a USB 108Mbps wireless network adapter.

...

Why would you need one? Are you running a T3 connection?

If so, will you share?

I'm running a fileserver for the other computers on my network.

And 54Mbps isn't sufficient for that?

Probably, but I bought the router and all.

Not so much of a need thing, really. More of a want.

Ready for this? I thought not.
The only help you are likely to get from your Wlan Mfgr is an offer to replace it IF if is in warranty AND found to be defective.
The Wlan card is an "FCC Part 15 - Unlicensed intentional emitter" or RF energy. Meaning it is designed to transmit & receive radio waves and you do not need an FCC license to operate it.
The PC in question is an "FCC Part 15 - Unlicensed un-intentional emitter" of RF energy. which means that it is not designed to, but it might, emit RF energy.

Unlicensed products, though convenient & easy-to-use, get no ssympathy, help or support from anyone when it comes to interference. Part 15 states that an unlicensed device may be subject to receiving and possibly transmitting RF emissions. It is up to the owner of the unlicensed device to either remediate or tolerate any emission recevied that is found to cause interference to a Part 15 device.

So basically what the FCC & Wlan card Mfgr & PC Mfgr are saying is "It sucks to be you."

My only suggestion at this point is IF (and that's a big if) the antenna is detachable from the card, get a 4-foot(ish) piece of "hard line" coax (with proper adapters on each end) and see if moving the antenna away from the PC does any good.

As always, good luck.

- L

I tried the coax thing already, but the connection is too small... the female end of the wire won't fit into the threading for the male end on the card.

Ya know.. when I was buying this thing I came really close to deciding to go for the slightly more expensive one with the completely seperate antenna.

And yes, you're right. The manufacturer isn't gonna do shit for me. However, I contacted Outpost.com, and I apparently have some time left to return it yet. I can bring it right into my local Fry's, actually.

God bless Fry's Electronics.