6 months now and still no solution to audio Crackling/Popping/Dropouts

I reinstalled all of the drivers.
Still no change.

Does not anyone else have any suggestions?

ICit2lol said:

kwitel said:

I reinstalled all of the drivers.
Still no change.

Does not anyone else have any suggestions?

Hiyya Kwitel the only thing I can think of my friend that something is loose within the machine. I know Toshiba laptops have small ribbon cables attaching various components together so any bump or hard knock could have loosened something up like that.

You haven't dropped or spilt anything on the machine have you?

**To the previous member (lorrettshaw) post I don't think that is a very helpful comment to be making and in fact is not in the general interest or the accepted form of goodwill of this forum. Perhaps you might think it jovial but I am sure Kwitel needs help not jocularity if indeed if that was your intention??

Thank you.
Im sure the previous poster meant it jokingly; I take no offense.
Your point is well taken and I will definitely look into it.

Is it Occams razor that states that the simplest answer is usually the correct one?
I think I need to at least consider thinking a little more along those lines...

ICit2lol said:

Yes Kwitel myself I always go looking for simple stuff first as you are right as a general rule and we are all guilty of it - go looking for the most involved possibilities when in fact they don't exist.

Now I am thinking do you have it hooked up to an after market sound system?? ie one that plugs in visa USB?? or even have something plugged in to a USB port that may be causing that crackling problem?

As for the other post I am sure you took no offence but I just thought it was wasting time and frankly had no place in this thread. If there had been a possible solution offered and then a remark like are you sure you are not near the cooker and frying eggs then yes it might have been funny but on it's own - not funny. Don't get me wrong I have a very warped sense of humour and use it quite often but not in that fashion if you get my drift:)

I do.

I am listening through a Audio Advantage Micro.
I know...I should have thought about this sooner...

I will do some testing and see if this has been the culprit all along. Although it would be odd as when I disable my network adapters, the problems cease.
Unless the AAM is somehow interfering with my network adapters or, vice-versa?

With Windows I guess anything is possible.

ICit2lol said:

Just out of interest what exactly is the difference it makes as I cannot quite work out how if there is two phone drivers how they could be made to sound surround?

Im sorry but I dont think i understand this question...

That aside, Its not the audio device.
I completely removed it from my system, and I still have the same problems.

The problem creates: intermittent static, "pops" (that occasionally startle me they are so abrupt and annoying), "crackling" sounds (akin to a record player) and flat-out drop-outs in audio (never longer than 1 or 2 seconds).

Both adapters cause problems although the land-line "seems" to be the culprit.
When I disable both the problems go away (although i still experience some latency issues).

Im lost.

EDIT: I dont know if this helps, but my pops/crackles/latency issues occur when i do something on the computer (ie, open a window, close/open a program, etc). Basically any CPU usage prompts an audio issue.
Maybe its related to throttling?

My computer (and the whole Latitude line) has had/is notorious for throttling issues and over-heating.

ICit2lol said:

Sorry Kwitel I was assuming you were still using the device as I said I haven't come across it myself.

Now you mention this happens whenever you use the machine ie prompting some response from the CPU.
Now logic tells me that this involves some reaction / transfer / interaction between the CPU and the hard drive plus it would also require also some interaction with the memory.

I am now thinking maybe the hard drive is not working as it should be or that the RAM sticks are siting loose in their slots. Because you have done all the drivers and whatever anyone else has suggested and have had no resolve.

As for the CPU it could be that the thermal compound needs replacing or that the heat sink has come loose and allows some movement over the pins . I am just trying to eliminate any physical causes here.

So as I can not find any mention of the age of the machine or what CPU is in it can you run Speccy and let us know what the temps are in the machine. It would be interesting to see what the CPU actually is and the specs and temps are in general.

http://www.piriform.com/speccy/download < from piriform

If you are able to can you reseat the RAM sticks too? Plus can you listen to the hard drive when it spins up it should be reasonably quiet with no loud clicks or rattling.

By the way, thanks for your time with this.
I downloaded Speccy; what a cool application!

FYI-I am using a 256GB SSD. I havent even thought of the drivers for that...its listed as an "Unknown Manufacturer" in Speccy. I will have to open up my machine tomorrow to check for all of your physical-related points listed above.

As for the CPU:
CPU
Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P9600
Cores 2
Threads 2
Name Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P9600
Code Name Penryn
Package Socket P (478)
Technology 45nm
Specification Intel Core2 Duo CPU P9600 @ 2.66GHz
Family 6
Extended Family 6
Model 7
Extended Model 17
Stepping A
Revision E0
Instructions MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, Intel 64
Virtualization Supported, Disabled
Hyperthreading Not supported
Bus Speed 260.8 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 1043.1 MHz
Stock Core Speed 2666 MHz
Stock Bus Speed 266 MHz
Average Temperature 48 °C
Caches
L1 Data Cache Size 2 x 32 KBytes
L1 Instructions Cache Size 2 x 32 KBytes
L2 Unified Cache Size 6144 KBytes
Core 0

Memory:

RAM
Memory slots
Total memory slots 2
Used memory slots 1
Free memory slots 1
Memory
Type DDR2
Size 4096 MBytes
Channels # Single
CAS# Latency (CL) 6 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 6 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 6 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 18 clocks
Physical Memory
Memory Usage 83 %
Total Physical 3.95 GB
Available Physical 660MB
Total Virtual 7.90 GB
Available Virtual 4.31 GB
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules 1
Slot #1

Overview:

Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P9600 @ 2.66GHz 47 °C
Penryn 45nm Technology
RAM
4.00 GB Single-Channel DDR2 (6-6-6-18)
Motherboard
Dell Inc. 0U692R (Microprocessor) 57 °C
Graphics
DELL P2211H (1920x1080@60Hz)
DELL P2211H (1920x1080@60Hz)
Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
Hard Drives
238GB LITEONIT LAT-256M2S (SSD)
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-U20N
Audio
Audio Advantage Micro Device