Windows 7: Strange buzzing sound while playing media files

Yesterday I needed a tool for conversion of MOV files to WMV files and I found this program:

Free Convert MOV AVI to FLV Flash WMV Converter - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

During the install, it said that some of my media drivers were "obsolete" or something like that and offered to delete them from the registry. The dialog box said "Yes - recommended". I clicked "Yes" to all prompts - there were at least 15-20 of them. Then the program installer installed some codec packs. I am pretty sure that ffdshow and K-Lite were installed although I don't know which version. I think there was also some 3rd type of codec pack but I can't remember the name. It also installed some strange version of media player classic (1.3.1976.0).

Anyway, the program didn't actually work after installation, it was shareware and asked me for money to convert entire files. So I uninstalled it from the Control Panel/Programs.

Unfortunately, now I have a problem when playing ALL media files. It manifests as a strange intermittent buzzing sound during music playback (in Winamp, Windows media player and Foobar - they all have this problem). Also, the buzzing sound appears during playback of video files in KMPlayer or Windows Media Player (it seems that in WMP the problem is more pronounced).

The buzzing sound occurs unpredictably. There is no specific rule to when it will occur. So if I play a sound file 5 times, it will be heard at different places all 5 times. Also the frequency of its appearance varies: sometimes it can be heard only once or twice, sometimes many times.



I think it's obvious that this problem is caused by some faulty media codec. So does anyone have an idea how to remediate this problem? Can all media drivers be deinstalled and then reinstalled? What would be the correct procedure for doing this?

BTW. I can't do a system restore because System restore doesn't work on this PC for some time (that's another issue which I will ask about in a separate message). I also tried System Restore in Safe Mode but no luck.

I have Windows 7 64 bit OS.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Try a repair install at boot F8 Key...Aslo maybe those tutorials will help:

Advanced Boot Options

And:

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Thanks, but unfortunately none of this helped. When I booted from the safe mode and chose Repair windows install, the System restore did not work (again). System restore doesn't work from normal Windows 7 either. This is the error message I always get:

Also, the SFC /SCANNOW command returns this message:


Any more suggestions on how to (re)enable System Restore on my PC? I tried uninstalling my antivirus program (Avira Antivir) but it didn't help. Today Avira found some viruses in my Java installation and removed them, but System Restore still doesn't work.

I can't remember exactly when System Restore stopped working. I know for a fact that it did work until about 2 months ago because I used it several times successfully.

It might have been disable...

Better check in your Control Panel=>System=>System Protection....

When you boot on F8 key to the repair install, skip the System Restore (cancel) and let the repair's running. It will continue to make its own work repairing.

Well, it was not disabled.

As for the System Repair, it always shows that menu where I can choose 1) Repair Windows Startup 2) System Restore 3) Command Prompt 4) Test Memory 5) Restore from Image etc. (Not in this order).

It doesn't seem as if it would start doing anything on its own - I have to choose some option.
System Restore doesn't work from here either. It LOOKS as if it is going to work, because it restarts the system and displays all the messages as if it is working OK.... but in the end it displays the error message I already mentioned.

Maybe the only 'cure' is to reinstall the whole windows 7?

Option 1) when be choosed apply the restore option aswell...just skip (cancel) the pop-up windows asking "restore" and do not click "cancel" on the other open windows. It will continue repairing...
If you're sure restore doesn't work at this time, let it repair itself. At reboot if all working again you should be able to create yourself a restore point.

And also could have a look at the "event viewer" to trace the probs at maybe bring here a screenshot..

I have this problem and it affects not only videos I run on a second monitor, but even Youtube playback on my main monitor. I can even hear a momentary buzz on bootup, when the chime sounds. I hear the buzz with VCL and with the Windows Media Player and any other way I playback videos with sound.

My son diagnosed this--correctly I think--as a video problem. During each buzz, the video hangs for an instant. He even saw the hangup in my cursor movements, which were not entirely smooth, even when done with great care.

So he found the latest drivers for my video card (ATI) and downloaded and installed them. He told me that the update would not take effect until I rebooted, which I did. And lo and behold, no buzzing. I thought the new drivers had fixed the problem.

But over the next few days, the buzzing returned. At first, it happened only occasionally, but as time went on, the buzzing rate increased until it hit one buzz every 10 or 15 seconds.

It then occurred to me that what had "cured" my problem was not the new drivers, but the reboot. Ordinarily, I rarely reboot--I can go for weeks without rebooting. Anyhow, I decided to reboot, without any further changes, and lo and behold, no buzzing.

I expect the buzzing to return in a few days, first infrequently, then more frequently, as though something is "building up" in the computer somewhere. But I expect to temporarily vanquish the buzzing by rebooting.

This is not an elegant solution, I know, but it does work, for awhile.

This is a relatively new machine and I am getting the same thing.

sometimes I can play a sound file, video no problem and other times it buzzes and slows the system down and eventually bluescreens, the message and log doesn't really help,

I've tried lots of different ati and realtek drivers and nothing works, but because its intermittent I'm lazy and not fixing it. If it buzzes I restart and its fine.

Love to have a solution .........anyone?

Here's a wild guess .. have you checked the voltages being supplied to your CPU?

I've noticed in the past if the vcore is out for example it can cause all sorts of problems .. including sound!

Worth checking anyway ...

Same problem here.
It strted with da computer turning off randomly(sometimes showing a blue screen for a second)
So i did a system restore and the problem stopped.
Then the sound problem began.
I don't think it is the problem with the sound,
It just that we notice the problem when a media file is playing as it produces a buzzing sound.
I restated my laptop and its ok(FOR NOW)
I hope da problem does not come back
But if it does, my nest guess would probably be the power supply