Glitchy OS

[UnluckyProf]

Hey guys,

So I'm running Windows 7 and I'm completely stumped as to why my computer would be glitching.
It boots up fast enough, but that's about the end of the positives. If I try and run iTunes and Chrome my music will glitch every couple of seconds, and my cursor will jolt in tandem. This just goes on and on. So I tried a different media player, enter Media Player Classic, thought it a good choice seeing as it's such small program, yet same problem occurs. I finally tried just running iTunes without Chome or any other program running, and it still glitches. All the while CPU usage won't go over 15%, no spikes of any kind.

I don't recall this always happening though, had 7 since January and this hasn't been happening since a month or so back. I can't think of any software or hardware change that I've implemented.

Hope someone can help me out here.

Thanks in advance,

Ed

 

[SailingNut]

Sounds like a performance problem reading from the HD. Do you notice the problem when not playing music?

Did you recently update / switch / install a security program?

 

[gregrocker]

test your memory using memtest86 for 5-6 passes, or overnight to stress test. Reseat memory, swap sticks.

Test your HD using maker's full CD HD diagnostic/repair scan.

Use a lightweight AV that doesn't take over and bloat out Win7, like free MS Security Essentials.

Check your Event Viewer>Admin View to google repeat errors for solution.

 

[Petey7]

since you are having trouble when playing music and you have multiple HDD/SSD I recommend also testing your drives with Seatools I think you should do the quick tests on all and the long tests on the drive with all you music on it. The test might not work for SSD.

EDIT: missed the part where greg mentioned testing HDD already. Usually the manufactures test will at least give you an error code.

 

[UnluckyProf]

Hey, thanks for the replies guys. Can someone confirm with me that this (SAMSUNG Hard Disk Drive - support - utilities) is the right utility for my Samsung hard drive? Also, it says I need to use a floppy drive, but I have no floppy hard drive on my computer. Any alternatives to this?
I already use a lightweight AV, I use Panda Cloud Antivirus.
Will run memtest86 now and see if anything happens. Can I still use it even if I run x64 Windows?
Also, thanks for telling me about that Event Viewer, it's packed with Warnings and Errors I shall look through it and post any I don't understand.

EDIT: Just looking at the Event Viewer, and no new Warnings/Errors appear when the music glitches.

 

[UnluckyProf]

Further Update
I've run memtest86 for 5 passes, took ~3hours. Came up with zero errors.
I've also run SeaTools, short on all hard drives, then long on my one with music. Still zero errors.
I've also determined that it does these little freezes without a media player running; my mouse will freeze for a fraction of a second from as soon as a few seconds after start-up. I tried playing a movie on my main(Samsung 1TB) hard drive, it became glitchy, so I tried it on SSD, and on backup(WD). Movie was glitchy on both. I then tried it on an external hard drive connected via USB2 port(pci card), was glitchy also on that.

So it seems my hard drives and memory are fine, and that my computer glitches when it's not even doing anything...

Quite a puzzler

Thanks for any more advice you have.

 

[Pieloi]

mm, wonder if it does this on another OS.

 

[Petey7]

Open Event Viewer. Go to the start menu and type "Event Viewer" in the search bar. Look in all the tabs under Windows Logs for any red X's. That might tell you something.

EDIT: If you have 64bit windows and use the Live Essentials package, you may see some caused by Live Phote Gallery or Movie Maker. Those can be ignored according to a article released by Microsoft.

 

[chev65]

Hey guys,

So I'm running Windows 7 and I'm completely stumped as to why my computer would be glitching.
It boots up fast enough, but that's about the end of the positives. If I try and run iTunes and Chrome my music will glitch every couple of seconds, and my cursor will jolt in tandem. This just goes on and on. So I tried a different media player, enter Media Player Classic, thought it a good choice seeing as it's such small program, yet same problem occurs. I finally tried just running iTunes without Chome or any other program running, and it still glitches. All the while CPU usage won't go over 15%, no spikes of any kind.

I don't recall this always happening though, had 7 since January and this hasn't been happening since a month or so back. I can't think of any software or hardware change that I've implemented.

Hope someone can help me out here.

Thanks in advance,

Ed

You might try and clear the board by shutting down, unplugging the PSU, push the power button to drain all power, then reboot and see if that changes anything.

If that fails you might want to clear the cmos and see if the problem persists or not.

 

[UnluckyProf]

Ok, so I've cleared the CMOS, it still happens, but it doesn't seem as bad. That may be because I'm not doing much on my computer, does that mean it's cpu/ram related?

Which OS do you suggest I try? I have a copy of xp somewhere, should I go for 32 or 64?

 

[gregrocker]

Try reseating your RAM, swapping sticks. Then test your RAM again.

Uncheck all startup freeloaders besides AV and gadgets in msconfig>Startup. Restart.

Check system file integrity by running from elevated CMD: sfc /scannow

Consider a Repair Install which reinstalls the OS while keeping all files, programs and settings in place.

 

[UnluckyProf]

Are there any risks involved with a Repair Installation? Should I create a shadow copy before doing it?
/sfc scannow came back with corrupt files found and successfully repaired. There is a log, that is massive, so I've had to zip it get it on here. Hope that's ok.

 

[Tews]

If you are still having problems, then a repair install would be your next step... It is perfectly safe to do this, and is recommended when you are having problems that you cant nail down...

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

This will show you how to do a repair upgrade install to fix your currently installed Windows 7 and preserve your user accounts, data, programs, and system drivers.

 

[gregrocker]

Run sfc again to make sure, uncheck all startup items besides AV and gadgets, replace any bloated AV with MS Security Essentials, then clean and order the HD using CCLeaner "Run Cleaner" and REgistry tab followed by Auslogics Defraggers.

Then if the problems persist after testing performance for awhile, check the Event Viewer>Admin View to google repeat errors to solution. Generate a System Health Report, looking for any cued problems on the Advanced Tool page there. Consider the Repair Install. Back up your files first to be extra safe.

 

[UnluckyProf]

Ok, sorry to have led you guys round in circles, but I think I've found the problem.
I was also having problems with my network which I thought was unrelated; desktop internet was ridiculously slow, but laptop was lightning fast. Desktop was running with a wireless-N card, laptop only G. I decided I'd run ICS from laptop to desktop to see if it was the wireless card causing the internet problems. Turns out it was, so that's one less thing to have to investigate.
The additional bonus I've found is that my computer hasn't glitched once since I've stopped using the wireless card. I tested it, and reconnected to the wireless and low and behold the glitching recommenced. So now, I guess the question is why was the card doing that, and how on earth to fix it? Obviously ideal solution is NOT to buy a new wireless card.

Thanks for all your help so far guys(and girls?).

 

[Petey7]

It sounds like the wireless card either has old drivers installed, or is faulty. If it is the drivers, look on the manufactures website to find new ones. If the wireless card is faulty, it will need to be replaced. Sorry.

 

[UnluckyProf]

Hey, I'm trying to look for drivers, but I'm not sure of the model number of my wireless card. Device manager just skips over it, calling it a "802.11n Wireless LAN Card" There something that can tell me a little more specifically?

 

[Petey7]

A lot of times it will be somewhere on the card itself. Turn off the power to the computer, unplug it, and touch something metal to avoid shocking the card, then remove it. It might take some time before you see where the name actually is on it.

 

[JakeSherlock]

So. I have been reading and reading and reading and reading etc. My issue I found on my own. I have a Dell Studio 1735 Laptop. It has a IDT Audio "Card". I dual boot into windows vista and 7. 7 Never has issues. But vista does and I didn't know what it was until today. A well timed pop sounds like a sine wave issue from raw power ie the power supplier. I run through an APC backup power supply and then the dell adapter then the laptop... Doesn't seem likely it is a power issue although I have had this issue in the past with desktops. Living in a remote area caused all sorts of issues. BUT never the less I had popping happening. How did I fix it? I removed the battery from the laptop. GONE. Listening as I type and no more glitchyness with the mouse or sound... or at all.

Notes:
I attempted the following.
Removing drivers - For just about everything
Rolling back
System Restores
Reinstalling Windows fresh
Uninstalling programs
Disabling startup items
Safe Modes
Updated drivers
Monitored the "Reliability and Performance Monitor" for glitchy threads
I EVEN HAD the motherboard replaced by Dell

I have read that with this model with sound and wireless card it has can cause audio issues. Which it does in a NON timed manor. The glichyness is random and can be stopped but turning of the wireless so it isn't in use. I notice it mostly in movies.

Hope this helps the next guy.

-Jake

 

[blen]

Hi guys. I registered just to say thanks. I have spent the greater part of today trying to solve this problem with my "glitchy mouse" or "lagging sound." This is genius! Thanks for everyone's input on this thread. I simply removed the battery on my laptop (which was already dead) and updated my wireless internet's card. I believe that the main issue was the PS though because I am up and running with no problem! If you can edit the title to solved I'm sure many people would appreciate. Cheers!