Topic: Help Needed: Another reason i hate my computer

[Lethmoor]

Ok, so recently i've been having an issue where randomly a windows error will pop up saying something to the effect of:

"Win 32 has encountered a problem with something or other blah blah blah"

(I'll get a screen shot of it next time it happens).
Now the symptoms: After this error happens it reads that my soundcard is bassicaly not there, My software that goes with it says the device isnt there. Also, when this happens if i go to play a movie (just normals .avi's) it'll say:

"This file contains a  track in the MPEG-1 Layer-3 Audio (mp3) (code "85") format. You may need to install a DirectShow Decoder for this Audio Format in order to hear the soundtrack of this file."

Now I'm assuming this has to do with the same problem with my sound card shutting down. (Just fyi I usually use DivX but I've tried it on a variety of other players and none will play audio once the errors occurred)

Also after the error i can't hear any system sounds (IE. That little click you hear where browsing through folders in explorer.). However, i can use other things like WinAmp (Which i find odd since those are mp3's) i can also hear sounds from MSN and i can use Skype without a problem.

Now here comes the tricky part. Today I decided to just go ahead and do a fresh windows install to 'clear up the problem'. Low and behold, several hours later with a new install of windows, it starts happening again. Now I'm stumped. The only guess i can make is that 'maybe' its a hardware problem with my sound card? But if thats the case why would it be effecting windows like that? Could it be something with my BIOS somehow? Just looking for some input and maybe some solutions if you've had similar problems. Thanks.



Note: I fix the problem by restarting the comp, but it never fails that after a random amount of time (usually within 6 hours) the error will come back up.

[mephisto_kur]

Sounds like a bad sound card.  Is this an add-in board or an onboard sound card?

[aldog]

It could certainly be a hardware problem, i.e. a short that takes a while to show up if the computer is heated up, or you're playing a lot of Soulja Boy.

Seriously.

[Lethmoor]

Sounds like a bad sound card.  Is this an add-in board or an onboard sound card?

Yeah, this is an add-in meph. Its my Audigy 2 Plat. Though now its got to be atleast 5-7 years old.

Oh and Al, Thats a good idea. I mean I have like 20 instances of Winamp running all at the same time playing Soulja Boy. Why listen to only one when you can hear twenty of his amazing vocal skill.

[mephisto_kur]

So, uninstall it, turn on your onboard sound and run for a couple days and see if the problem goes away.

[DAwG]

you could try moving ur sound card to another pci slot

[Lethmoor]

Thanks Meph and Dawg, i'll give both a try.

[aldog]

Hey, I thought I was kinda helpful?   

[anomaly]

i had the same problem a wile back, i just kept uninstalling and reinstalling the card from my system tree, trying different drivers and switching it to other pci slots.

it eventually worked with no more issues. to be completely honest i don't know what it was for sure. but i would take a good guess and say that it was probably a bad pci slot.

[Lethmoor]

Hey, I thought I was kinda helpful?   

Haha, You were al, sorry, Thanks! I'm gonna start working on it in a second here. Gonna try switching up the slot first. And i'll have to cut back on my Soulja Boy usage of it.

[DAwG]

There was another thing I just thought of, go to accessories->system tools-> system information->sharing/resource conflicts, check to see if your sound card is sharing any resources with another component, especially the IRQ numbers, usually resource conflicts don't show up under the device manager, that's microsoft for you...

[Lethmoor]

Tried switchinig slots, still happening, tried looking at the irq numbers dawg, its gibbersish to me but it had the same number as "microsoft ACPI-Complaint System"  I dont know weather thats because of the issue or whatever, but yeah.

[DAwG]

nah that sounds alright, it would be farely obvious, like if it was the same IRQ number as your LAN or something, like mine was 

[quorn]

I had a similar problem, thought it was the sound card, turned out the RAM just wanted attention.  Seriously. 

[DAwG]

you'd think windows would be smarter now, but anywho you could try to up the memory settings, it should be in your soundblaster control panel thing