Sound looping and frame freeze during gaming

Hello,

I'm at the end of my know-how, I have sound looping during gaming my computer could handle in the past, also my screen freezes. (eg. Enemy territory) I have a Elitebook 8530p, and a ATI mobility Radeon HD 3650 grafix card.

I installed (using the tool from AMD) the latest driver for my card, I also installed the sound updates from HP. But nothing worked.

I tried to contact HP but there new website won't let me speak to a technician w/o a "read" from my computer, however my computer is not supported. (yeah its a joke)

I fear some of my hardware might be broken, but I cannot find much info on the web. I still got a pickup and repair service for a few months, so I'd like to see it fixed. I will reinstall windows 7 but I doubt this is the cause.

Any help is very much appriciated !

Svenn

// edit

I reïnstalled my window 7 (only installed winrar and ET) and the issue remains, when loading the game. I use ET cause its 'old' and I know my computer should be able to run it!

// edit 2

This is how I see every game right now : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcmG-LiTqLQ (this isn't mine, just as reference to the "looping")

Hello svennd,

Could you help us cover a few bases by following the gaming troubleshooting tutorial from this link?

Tips on Troubleshooting Game Issues

This should help get you started in determining the cause(s).

The AMD High Definition Audio Device is the audio chip that allows for HDMI audio out when you've connected your laptop to an external monitor or television. This is not the one to look for.

The High Definition Audio Device is the device you want to update drivers for general audio production on the system.

EDIT:- After perusing your problem again, and seeing how it's not just limited to games, you may indeed have general hardware issues.

Please download GPUz and CoreTemp (graphic card and CPU monitoring software), and please post screenshots from those two softwares please by using the following links:-

GPU-Z Video card GPU Information Utility

Core Temp

Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

How to Use the Snipping Tool in Vista - Vista Forums

For example, here're screenshots from my own system:-





(My temps are high from encoding video using Handbrake)

Hmm.. all temperatures and clocks look normal so far... well within tolerable parameters.. so thats some good news, it indicates there're no pre-existing overheating issues with your machine at idle.

To know the correct driver for your sound card (Soundmax digital audio from your system specs) can you go to Device Manager:-

Start|type in device manager|enter|head to the high definition audio device|Right click|Properties
Details Tab|Select Hardware Ids from Dropdown menu|

Take a screenshot and upload it here please.

Example from mine:-

In Device Manager:-



Properties Box:-

Hmm... Thanks for the youtube videos demonstrating the problem(s)...

It's definitely the Soundmax sound card at fault, you said you installed the sound drivers from HP right?

Does the same issue occur using Windows 7 default sound drivers?

(The ones that came automatically installed when you did a fresh install of Windows 7)

Also try and disable the AMD High Definition Device for now, we want to isolate the problem completely to just the Soundmax Integrated Card...

Right Click on AMD High Definition Audio Device|Disable|Yes

Thx, Yes the default sound drivers give the same issue. I clean installed and I forced windows not to update, I installed the game and the problem was there. Updating and installing the drivers from HP result in the same issue.

I don't know if you see it, but the screen freezes aswell, normally the enemy territory game startup is a fluent all-action intro. While now fps hit 0.

I disabled the "AMD High Definition Audio Device"; Issue remains.

I added a view of most items on that screen, I noted on "Systemdevices" (Systeemapparaten) that there are 2 "High Definition Audio controllers" (translated; see screen) Though I have no idea what they do. Should I stop one ?

// disabling this din't make any difference

I also disabled the SoundMax HD audio device (so I have no sound anymore) but when I load up ET by example I see framerates drop aswell.

I just think I found a important piece of the bug. When I Install my game on my external drive, and fire it up, the loading works just fine. No lag, perfect sound. Also when the lag occurs when I use my c:/ game, my drive is-working-led is on (like its really working hard). So I think the issue is related to the hard drive.

However when playing on my external hard drive the issue shows aswell but allot lesser. I checked my hard drive for errors, but nothing big came up.