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I have just purchased a new computer but as i installed programs, a problem was introduced. I think I had seen the same problem on my previous computer, but that is a long story!
The effect is that the computer freezes for about 5 seconds and then continues. Associated with that is a message from the Realtek Audio informing me I have just plugged a device into the audio input. It does not require there to be any audio playing at the time this happens, though if there is audio, then that either goes silent or issues what can best be described as a buzz until the system resumes. The audio can also go into a state which i can only describe as like a stutter, where maybe it freezes for a few milliseconds at a time over a period of about 5 seconds. Sometimes this produces the Realtek message, though not always.
It seems that sometimes this can be triggered by activity, e.g calling a new web page in the browser. Often on returning to the machine after a period away, where the screen has blanked, waking the system up causes the Realtek message, but no obvious freezing of operation.
But the problem can also occur when the machine is not being used. I can be in the next room eating lunch and hear the audio freeze for the period associated with the problem.
With the new system, I started by sequentially installing the programs I required. This was a processed performed over several days as I was also working on the machine as well. Among the programs I had always installed was OpenOffice, I had been using this since it was first available, though I think generally LibreOffice now does better. But as I installed OpenOffice after several days without a problem, I heard the quality of the sound change and the problem started. On average, the problem manifests itself about once an hour, so i think the initial trouble free period up to the installation of OpenOffice identifies the culprit, but uninstalling it did not help. Windows repair tool claims to identify a problem and to have repaired it, requiring a reboot, but the problem still returns, so something somewhere is damaged. Google does nothing but confuse attempts to find the Realtek drivers which could be reinstalled.
I don't know where to go. I can't believe I am the only person suffering from this problem, yet I cannot find reference to such a problem on Google. So this is my last ditch effort to solve the problem before resorting to a clean install.
Regards, Paul Dixon
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
I have had the same problem. I believe it is related to Intel CPU and Windows 10. Reading through many posts, i don't recall reading any AMD CPU users having the issue. Im running an I7 8700k at stock clock speeds. When the freeze occurs I notice my cpu fans (noctua fans) ramp up quite a bit and once the freeze stops, the fans will slow back down. And yes if the sound is playing during the freeze, it turns to an annoying studder till the freeze is over. Anybody with RYZEN cpus have the issue?
I don't know if this will help anybody but I have a similar setup as others within the replies and this problem occurred with my computer.
Intel i7 8700k, Asus Prime z370, Nvidia Quadro P2000, AMD Rx 580, 16GB of Corsair memory, 500GGB Samsung 860evo and 2TB Seagate Barracuda. This entire time while this problem occurred I would get no stutters while gaming but only during normal browsing, YouTube and Spotify I get stutters/hanging. I figured I had a CPU since was spiking during the freeze or HDD issue since I keep my games separate from my OS drive. I did all the benchmarking, diagnosing, made sure AHCI was on for the storage drives, reset the bios and update all the drivers, but I could not figure out what the problem was. So, a couple days ago I decided to uninstalled Intel Rapid Storage Technology and let windows reinstall its own storage drivers. Since then, I haven't gotten a stutter or freeze by my computer. I feel like the Intel RST was conflicting with windows or another driver I am not sure. If I do end up getting a system freeze by the end of the week I will give an update.
That is interesting about the Intel RST app. I do remember a failed install of this program which wouldn't allow me to open it or run the uninstaller so I manually removed it. I'm trying a fresh install of RST and see if the studdering still occurs. If it does, ill try removing it via the uninstaller and see if it goes away. Its worth a shot.
When i reinstalled Intel RST, i began having more studdering than before. I did a clean uninstall and removed the registry files. Its been roughly 5 hours without any studdering or freezing occuring. This just may have solved the problem. Thank you Capt Crunch.
I have under the IDE ATA/ATAPI controller only Standard SATA AHCI Controller which means that I don't have Intel Rapid Storage Technology installed on my computer.
