Win XP SP2 hiccup

[AaronG1980]

I have been getting what seems to be a hiccup periodically during the day while working on my laptop.

I listen to music stored on the second partition of the HDD with WMP and the sound will cut out for a second. Or while moving the mouse from one side of the screen to the other it will freeze in one place and resume moving across the screen from a different place. Almost like it jumped there after pausing for a sec.

I have no idea where to even begin on this one.

[antgross@pacbell.net]

Originally Posted by AaronG1980 I have been getting what seems to be a hiccup periodically during the day while working on my laptop. I listen to music stored on the second partition of the HDD with WMP and the sound will cut out for a second. Or while moving the mouse from one side of the screen to the other it will freeze in one place and resume moving across the screen from a different place. Almost like it jumped there after pausing for a sec. I have no idea where to even begin on this one.

Did you check your device manager to see if you have any devices that are conflicting/not properly installed, i.e., are there any (!, ?) next to any items?

[AaronG1980]

Okay I just checked them, and they all say that the devise is working properly.

[antgross@pacbell.net]

Originally Posted by AaronG1980 Okay I just checked them, and they all say that the devise is working properly.

It could be a lot of things.

Start simple: Make sure you have the latest drivers for your sound card.

I gather you are using non-beta version of WMP?

Also, check sony website for issues you just mentioned with your make and model of laptop, etc.

[AaronG1980]

I checked the driver for the sound card, and I have the most recent update.

I am using WMP 10. I was using WMP 9 when all this started so I tried downloading the newer version to see if it would help. It didn't

The only thing Sony mentioned was a new driver for the USB mouse. I downloaded that and installed it, rebooted and I have the problem still.

Please don't give up! These are all things I havn't tried yet, and quite frankly didn't think of.

[antgross@pacbell.net]

Originally Posted by AaronG1980 I checked the driver for the sound card, and I have the most recent update. I am using WMP 10. I was using WMP 9 when all this started so I tried downloading the newer version to see if it would help. It didn't The only thing Sony mentioned was a new driver for the USB mouse. I downloaded that and installed it, rebooted and I have the problem still. Please don't give up! These are all things I havn't tried yet, and quite frankly didn't think of.

I'd like to help you but I've run out of ideas. Without being there in person, it's kind of tough. Can someone else here suggest something new?

[glc]

Have you scanned for viruses and spyware?

[AaronG1980]

I've run Adaware, Spybot S&D, and Nortons 2004 full system scan. All came back with little or nothing.

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

Could this be a performance problem? Norton 2004 is known to be a big performance hog, have you tried disabling it, or switching to an alternate for a little while, to see if the problem stops.

[Markoman01027]

run a scan with this:
http://www.softpedia.com/public/cat/...0-17-150.shtml

and also post your HJT log . Get HJT here:
http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html

[AaronG1980]

Originally Posted by WhatsThisBoxFor? Could this be a performance problem? Norton 2004 is known to be a big performance hog, have you tried disabling it, or switching to an alternate for a little while, to see if the problem stops.

Isn't there a way to check and see in the task manager? I'd rather not turn off Norton's before I find something else. I spend a lot of time on the internet and I send and receive tons of E-mails every day.

What would you recommend switching to? I'm a bit tentative about switching to a different antivirus software, but that may just be a false sence of secruity I've been lulled into by Norton.

[AaronG1980]

Originally Posted by Markoman01027 run a scan with this: http://www.softpedia.com/public/cat/...0-17-150.shtml and also post your HJT log . Get HJT here: http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html

I ran CWshredder and it came back with nothing.

I downloaded and ran Hijack This and I got this insane bit of nonsence. Anybody out there read hieroglyphics?

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 10:28:01 AM, on 9/29/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\MsPMSPSv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Apoint\Apoint.exe
C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\stacmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ezSP_Px.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 6\AudioCentral\RxMon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint\Apntex.exe
C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 6\AudioCentral\Playlist.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe
C:\Program Files\Trillian\trillian.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Aaron\Desktop\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://g.msn.com/0SEENUS/SAOS01
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.sony.com/vaiopeople
O2 - BHO: NavErrRedir Class - {00D6A7E7-4A97-456f-848A-3B75BF7554D7} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AE7CD045-E861-484f-8273-0445EE161910} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Adobe PDF - {47833539-D0C5-4125-9FA8-0819E2EAAC93} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Apoint] C:\Program Files\Apoint\Apoint.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Mouse Suite 98 Daemon] ICO.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SigmaTel StacMon] C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\stacmon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ezShieldProtector for Px] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ezSP_Px.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZTgServerSwitch] "c:\program files\support.com\client\bin\tgcmd.exe" /server
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VAIO Recovery] C:\WINDOWS\Sonysys\VAIO Recovery\PartSeal.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RoxioEngineUtility] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\System\EngUtil.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RoxioDragToDisc] "C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 6\DragToDisc\DrgToDsc.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RoxioAudioCentral] "C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 6\AudioCentral\RxMon.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MoneyAgent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyexpr.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo! Pager] C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\ypager.exe -quiet
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MI1933~1\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: AIM (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Real.com (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger (HKLM)
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.sony.com/vaiopeople
O16 - DPF: {01FE8D0A-51AD-459B-B62B-85E135128B32} (DD_v4.DDv4) - http://www.drivershq.com/DD_v4.CAB
O16 - DPF: {319B9BA1-E335-4F8D-96CA-A89A1DFE778D} (ikmSoundPlayerInstaller Class) - https://ikc1.iknowmed.com/downloads/ikmSoundPlayer.cab
O16 - DPF: {9A0F2B30-FEFF-42C8-9C56-F4FE3215C00C} (Preview Class) - https://ikc1.iknowmed.com/downloads/ikmPrinter.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.co...028.5004398148
O16 - DPF: {B38870E4-7ECB-40DA-8C6A-595F0A5519FF} (MsnMessengerSetupDownloadControl Class) - http://messenger.msn.com/download/Ms...Downloader.cab
O16 - DPF: {B9191F79-5613-4C76-AA2A-398534BB8999} - http://us.dl1.yimg.com/download.yaho...tocomplete.cab
O16 - DPF: {BB609657-8E59-4175-9E74-86BD28208880} (IEWrapper Class) - https://ikc1.iknowmed.com/downloads/ieWrapper.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/s...sh/swflash.cab



I have no idea what any of this means. It looks like it's just telling me what's running on my computer. I don't know how to make some of these things not run if it is a system resource problem ie: Money Agent.

[AaronG1980]

Okay I guess everybody's out of ideas. I'm going to try a clean install, maybe that'll clear things up.

[AaronG1980]

Okay, I reinstalled everything using my slipstreamed XP SP2 disk and downloaded all the newest drivers. Got back on the internet to tell you all about it, turned on WMP 10 an as soon as I got to this forum and found my thread the same problem happens right off the bat. I'm so bitter.

This is a laptop so I didn't asseble it, but I would assume Sony would put in parts that aren't worthless, but you know what happens when you make an assumption...

Is there some sort of diagnostic that I could run that would tell me what's not working? I'm at a loss.

[glc]

Why don't you try WMP 9 or a different media player instead? Latest is NOT always the greatest.

[Rebel_526]

Just as a test, if you have a ps/2 port, switch your mouse out. Also, is the laptop plugged into a AC outlet, or running from the battery?

[AaronG1980]

Originally Posted by glc Why don't you try WMP 9 or a different media player instead? Latest is NOT always the greatest.

I upgraded form WMP 9 when all this started thinking it was the player's fault.

Turns out it's the WHOLE computer pausing, It's just more noticable when I'm listening to music stored on the second partition of the HD, because the music stops.

But I'll try anything. Is iTunes an okay substitute?

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

I still stand by my original suggestion, it could be worth switching from Norton to AVG ( www.grisoft.com ) for a hour or two, and see if anything changes. I have seen perfectrly good systems freezing and slowing right down thanks to Norton 04.

[AaronG1980]

Originally Posted by Rebel_526 Just as a test, if you have a ps/2 port, switch your mouse out. Also, is the laptop plugged into a AC outlet, or running from the battery?

The mouse is a Logitech optical mouse. It's a USB connection.

I have it pluggen in to the A/C outlet almost all the time, but the problem does happen when unplugged. The only difference is it's happening while using the touchpad, not the mouse, drains battery life to fast if I use the mouse.

[AaronG1980]

Originally Posted by WhatsThisBoxFor? I still stand by my original suggestion, it could be worth switching from Norton to AVG ( www.grisoft.com ) for a hour or two, and see if anything changes. I have seen perfectrly good systems freezing and slowing right down thanks to Norton 04.

Should I untistall Norton? Or is just disabling Norton's good enough?

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

I would just disable it (stop it from starting up), since if it does not affect anything you might want to use it again, since if you have no problems using it, then there is no real reason for the change.

[AaronG1980]

Thanks, I'll give that a try for a few hours. If that doesn't work I'll give glc's advice a shot.

-Aaron

[AaronG1980]

Quick note

While online (with firefox) and listening to music I checked my task manager, interesting...

PF Usage with Norton's running 258MB

PF Usage with AVG 7.0 Pro running 206MB

Can that be possible? Norton's can't possibly use that much, can it?

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

The only thing I could find on google was a story about corporate edition taking up 500Mb, but no figures on Norton 2004 (just to mention - I use Norton Corporate Edition, and the memory usage in Task Manager is just 40K). Did the music skipping stop?

[nubbler]

Originally Posted by AaronG1980 Quick note While online (with firefox) and listening to music I checked my task manager, interesting... PF Usage with Norton's running 258MB PF Usage with AVG 7.0 Pro running 206MB Can that be possible? Norton's can't possibly use that much, can it?

Yes, Norton hogs a system's preformance, i know from experience. I only use AVG for the last 2 years and no problem.

[AaronG1980]

Originally Posted by WhatsThisBoxFor? The only thing I could find on google was a story about corporate edition taking up 500Mb, but no figures on Norton 2004 (just to mention - I use Norton Corporate Edition, and the memory usage in Task Manager is just 40K). Did the music skipping stop?

I've only been listening for the last 10 min, but they have been without skipping.

I find it hard to believe that norton could use that much memory that it would effect everything else like that.

I went into msconfig and turned off a bunch of things that run at start up and got that page file useage number down to 189MB.

Why do all these programs insist on having something running in the background? I think they shouldn't turn on until I want them to be on.

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

You also might to want to tune your list of services (if you didn't do it in msconfig, although really you should do it using services.msc) according to www.blackviper.com

[AaronG1980]

Okay it's been 2 1/2 hours and It's back again. It happened 8 times over the last two hours. This is getting silly now. I'm gonna convert my music library tonight to iTunes and see if that helps.

[zero_cool]

Hi!

I got the same problem on a newly installed Windows XP Home with SP2. The system seems to stop every about 2 minutes for almost a second. Not only the music stops playing either th mouse and the keyboard hangs too.
I also tried out every update from MS and fetched the newest drivers for my mainboard (Asrock) and sound. Nothing helped.
I looked at the taskmanager to find a process which may cause this behavior but didn't figured out one. There are no CPU or memory peaks when the hicups happen. I use McAfee Antivirus and Firewall. But never got such problems with this software before. I don't believe that this comes from Antivirus software because as Aron wrote it didn't helped stopping the AV software.

Are there any other suggestions meanwhile? Are there other ways to track down the cause?

Thanks

zero_cool

[zero_cool]

I found a strange solution for my problem. I had a USB Keyboard and USB-Mouse connected to my PC. Then I switched to a PS/2-Keyboard and the problem got lighter. The hicups accoured not that often. Then I finally switched to a PS/2 Mouse and the problem dissapeared. So this seems to be a hardware problem with my mainboard.