Windows 7: Audio playback skips

Hello,

I recently installed Win 7 on my computer (Core2 Duo E6300@1.86GHz, Intel DP965LT mobo, 2GB RAM, 320GB Seagate SATA HDD, Sigmatel integrated audio, NVIDIA GeForce 7600 gfx card).

I find that audio playback is skipping - every 10-15 secs it skips. This happens regardless of the audiosource (Media player, youtube, vlc etc) and regardless of media format (audio/video).

I recall that I had this same problem when I had freshly installed Vista on this same computer, but after some time the problem stopped (don't recollect exactly how).

I saw a similar thread (but for sound skipping in Vista) where somebody had suggested getting new SATA drivers. I believe I that I have the latest SATA drivers for my mobo.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

-fj

Use a trial of EVEREST to determine the exact model of your soundcard. Afterwards, google it and try finding new drivers.

Hi,

The sound skipping happens only when i use my speakers (connected to rear audio panel ) and not my headphones (connected to the front audio panel).

I installed the IDT sound codec that intel provides as a sound driver for the DP965LT mobo.

the idt configuration application has a window which shows the kind of playback device (speaker or headphone) connected to the rear and front panels.

and i noticed that every time the sound skips the application will quickly switch the device shown for the rear panel to a head phone and then back to the speaker.

any ideas about what's going on here ?

regards,
-firdaus

This doesn't seem like a software problem then, maybe the connector of your speakers is faulty. Have you tried plugging the speakers into the front panel? Maybe there's a problem with the back...

Hi,

The audio plays fine from the front panel. I did consider the problem might lie with the hardware - except that I have an Ubuntu dual boot - and the audio from the rear panel is fine in Ubuntu. Also - I recently upgraded from Vista and the audio was fine with vista too.

Regards,
-fj

If your front panel has two inputs like mine, I would consider plugging the speakers into the first and the headphones into the other. Microphone goes in the back. Just configure everything and make sure it works. Drivers should allow you to point what type of device you've connected for each input.

If you have 1 front input only you're... not lucky.
I'm not really your hardware guy, last thing I'd suggest is a soundcard refresh:
1. Go to the start menu and type "Device Manager".
2. Click the arrow next to "Sound, video and game controllers".
3. Find your audiocard in the list, it should be something like "DP965LT Mobo", as you pointed out.
4. Right click your audiocard and say "Disable".
5. Restart the computer.
6. Go to "Device Manager" again and repeat steps 2 and 3.
7. This time, right click and select "Enable".
8. Test your audio again, if the problem persists, try a second computer reboot.
9. Test everything again.
10. If the problem still persists, read the part before the comma in the 6th sentence in my post. (The one after "If you have 1 front input only you're... not lucky.")

Hi - thanks for the info. I went thru the steps you mentioned - but to no avail.

My rear panel has 3 jacks - the front has 2. The problem is definitely with the rear panel - the audio streams fine from the front panel. The audio driver cannot recognize the audio device connected to the jacks in the rear panel. The rear panel is directly integrated into the mobo - and it works fine from ubuntu - so this is definitely not a h/w issue.

Secondly - if I connect the headphones and speakers, one in each of the front panel jacks - they are recognized correctly - but the sound doesn't stream through the device connected to what was originally the mic jack. It only streams through the original hp jack. Does this matter ?

Thirdly, in Device Manage the sound device shows up as "IDT High Definition Audio CODEC", not as DP965LT as you suggested.

Fourthly, when I freshly installed Windows 7 - it was configured as a Sigmatel Device (which didn't work either). Then I downloaded the IDT driver from Intel's webpage - and now Win 7 won't let me roll back the driver - or reinstall the Sigmatel driver.

Any ideas ?

-fj

I didn't really get that, could you try explaining again?
And If you still got the headphones and speakers to work the way you want to, who cares what the PC does to ensure that! Doesn't seem like much...

Another question - when you open your device manager do you see any unrecognized device? They are automatically set to open up and notify you, most times have a yellow or red warning sign. If you see no such notification, try a System Restore. Found in:


Set a restore point right before installing any drivers. WARNING! Some of your settings will be restored to their earlier preferences. This process (since you're going to restore to a much older point) might take up to one hour or more, depending on your personal computer's performance. Please finish any important work and make sure you have NO APPLICATIONS RUNNING before beginning the process.