System Freeze and Audio Problem

Anonymous
2020-02-11T18:37:30+00:00

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

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-06-03T19:13:04+00:00

    After finding this thread I see I am not alone in this. MY computer is home built and I have been doing this type of thing from the early 1980"s. It is a fairly high end system with quality parts. I am using a pcie sound card and graphics card. I'm also using ssd drives. This problem started in early March I think. Same problem as the rest of you with screen and mouse freezing and buzzing noise coming out of my speakers. At times you almost cannot use the computer. So far I have removed the sound card and graphics card and tried the onboard stuff. Them I pulled the memory and reset it. Them I pulled the CPU cleaned off the heat sink and reinstalled it. Then I took an older samsung evo 840 ssd and did a clean install of windows on it. None of these things have fixed anything. I also ran long memory tests on it just for fun to no avail. My case is a Corsair full tower with lots of fans so I really don't think it's a cooling issue. I also am using an APC battery back up so my power should be clean. Anyone out there with answers to this would be really nice.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-05-18T12:11:23+00:00

    Please let me know if any solution is found!  Similar audio issue here I’m asking about on reddit - 

    https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/gltgej/fried_onboard_sound/?

    I’m so annoyed that i did a factory reset and still the problem is there!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-05-17T10:55:25+00:00

    I think i managed to fix it by using a spare HDD and by using an external audio device. Not sure if it will work for all of you, though

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-05-17T02:20:42+00:00

    Hello

    I also have the same problem as him. Although I don't have any problem with the audio. But I think what causes this problem for me is that there are many lines on my screen. I tried to investigate either it was my screen that was causing the issue or something, so I tried downloading an app called Splashtop which lets me mirror the screen of my computer to my phone. But the same thing happens. The cursor and screen was still lagging.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-05-17T01:51:28+00:00

    I really am not much closer than in my last report. An event is usually, though not always, coincident with a flurry of Ethernet activity. I am also getting BSODs at a rate of about one every one, maybe two, week(s). Stop Report varies in cause.

    I don't tend to watch much online video on this machine, it is audio that stutters, whether streamed online or playing from my disk. Stutter can occur whenever I switch windows, though I have about 5 freeze events per day, as I said previously, not always while I am at the keyboard.

    I have had trouble with the retired machine which now acts as my media server, that has times when video and sound will not stay in sync. It also has had freezes, though not very frequent. These as stated previously required power off to clear. This has only minimal installs and I only run what I need to view streamed video, which is typically just a browser, so it is not heavily loaded with applications like my working system but still exhibits problem.

    I am suspecting drivers which block in some way. I am also suspicious of my router, supplied by AT&T and manufactured as far as I can tell by a company called Pace. I have had to have one replaced because it frequently failed to respond for several seconds and my impression is that they are very poor in reliability.

    So still struggling to make sense of the problem, but will report if I make any sort of breakthrough.

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