Sound Trouble

[rainbore]

Hi!

I run Windows 98 on a AMD K6-II based system and I've lost track of the upgrades I've made to Direct-X and Win 98 itself - when the little Windows Upgrade pop-up alert says an upgrade is available I just blindly go get it. My problem is that Windows Media Player (all versions for a year or more) and a couple of other utilities output a repeating clicking noise when I play music CDs or MP3 files. The kicker is that a simple CD-player that came with my computer and Netscape WinAmp sound just fine with either CDs or MP3s. I know enough to know I need to coerce Media Player and the other utilities to use the same driver/codec/whatever as WinAmp, but I don't know how to do it. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Richard L. Trethewey
www.rainbo.net

[Ddr]

This is just a shot in the dark, but perhaps you need to go to your sound card manufacturer's site and download/install the latest drivers for your sound card.

It is possible that the updates you did to Windows and Media Player have it calling for drivers that you just dont have in your machine.

Its worth a shot, anyway. Hope this helps....let us know.

Dale

[d1skreet]

Seems to me that your computer is a bit outdated for Windows Media player. It's quite hardware intencive. If you have an older HP you have a combo 56k modem/sound card -- and that is bad. I suggest getting an older SoundBlaster for $40 somewhere. That clicking happens on my moms computer (400 mhz celeron) and never happens on mine (1200mhz soundblaster live! card).

I'd suggest doing all the driver updates first and cleaning up your system of Spyware and other unnecisary software. then as your last resort do some upgrading. TCWO.COM and TIGERDIRECT.COM have good prices on parts, so does CompUSA.

Hope this helps,
Kyle j Smith

[SBGlasby]

I had the same issue a while back on one of my older PC's I use for testing.....

It was actually the speakers.... I was about to pull my hair out... resetting drivers... un-installing them... re-installing them... ect....

the power supply for the speakers was frying itself... causing the noise.... why it only did it when I ran media player? I'll never know....

but Yes Windows updates are notorious... for re-writing files you PC is already using.... If you try some other... " non-powered" speakers.... or plug headphones into the sound card... and still get the popping noise.... "Driver Update".......

[rainbore]

Hi Guys,

I appreciate the input, but I'm not sure it will help. As I say, the confusing part is that some programs play music CDs and MP3's just great, but WMP and a couple of others emit this repeating "click". I am totally up to date on all files and drivers, which is where I think the problem lies. I just wish I could find out what drivers the programs that work are using and then set those that are not working to use the drivers that do work. Sadly, I think its a lost cause. Thanks again!

Richard L. Trethewey
www.rainbo.net