My Computer Loses Sound and Other Problems

[Ash]

I've got a computer question for you guys...

Every now and then, and it seems to be happening more and more frequently, my computer will all of a sudden lose sound.
The sound will work fine and then out of nowhere, it'll just shut off.
I've searched around online and can't seem to find an answer.

It isn't my sound card.  It's fine.
It isn't the drivers...they're up to date.

I have noticed that if I put my computer into standby mode, it'll lose sound after I take it off standby.
It doesn't happen every time...just some of the time.

Also...
After using my p.c. for a while, basic functions such as right-clicking seem to get fudged up.
I'll right click and nothing happens.  No menu pops up...no nothing.
When I try to open a new browsing tab, I'll get that "dunk" sound and it won't open.
Basic functions go out the window after several hours.

Restarting my computer always seems to fix them.
I've done spyware scans, virus checks and found nothing.

Here are some specs for my system:
Processor Information:
    Vendor:  AuthenticAMD
    Speed: 1800 Mhz

Windows Version:
    Windows XP (32 bit)
    NTFS:  Supported

Sound card:
    Audio device: C-Media Wave Device
   
Memory:
    RAM:  1535 Mb
   
I use Internet Explorer...the newest version.

Anyone know what the problem might be?

[RCMerchant]

I have a lotsa the same problems...and I do believe it's all caused by dust. Plain old dirt in the wiring. Bad connections. Of course..I'm not a electronic geek,as far as computers go...
I DO know that my sound goes in and out all the time...as I have lousy connections to my speakers....and random power surges and drops in this old house f**k sh!t up left and right.
 What I guess I'm really saying is...I don't have a clue!

[Ash]

I have a lotsa the same problems...and I do believe it's all caused by dust. Plain old dirt in the wiring.

Funny that you should mention that.
Just yesterday morning I took a can of Duster and blew out all of the dust and dirt from my tower.
I must've used 1/4 of the can because it was pretty dirty.

About 2 hours after I did that, I lost sound again.
AARRRGGG!!!  

[RCMerchant]

As far as the sound goes...it could be just as simple as bad speaker connections. Believe it or not...you can wire any old kinda speakers into a computer. Even stero speakers. Just splice an old speaker onto a computer wire connection. I'm thinking about doing it with some old box speakers I got out in the garage. These tiny table top things are cheap jack sh!t.

[Khaz]

Your windows drivers are going unstable. This happens sometimes on older systems (by older I mean maybey 1 year :P) Over time your hard drive can develop spotty areas, or your RAM can get a little glitchy, and when windows moves a thread to that area, it glitches out. The list of things that could be causing your problems is pretty long. Top things you can try:
!. Try cleaning up your registry with a cleaning tool. May not work but if it does, you are golden in less that 10 mins.

2.Defrag your system. This will sometimes move drivers to other areas of your HD and fix the prob.

3. When all else fails, back up all drivers, save anything you want to keep on CDs or DVDs, wipe the harddrive and re-install windows. I know that sounds a bit extreme, but I do this on a regular basis to my older systems when they start acting up. After they are wiped (and I mean REALLY wipe em'. Re-format, re-partition kind of wipe) and Windows is put back on, they run like brand new.

Most people run screaming from the 3rd option, but I love it. All my systems get a yearly wipe and re-install to get everything running smooth. Well smooth untill teh kids get on there and start downloading everything they see and reducing the computer to the speed of a snail on vallium until the next reformat

[Mr_Vindictive]

I agree with Khaz 100% about the format.  I recommend that option as well.  I usually try to format and reinstall my OS twice a year.  It certainly cuts down on computer issues as Windows seems to get a bit wonky after a year or so.  I use an external HDD to backup any important data and wipe everything else out.

[CheezeFlixz]

Yep the 2 post above are on the correct path.

Another option: HDD are cheap now (Like under $50), try getting another drive load XP on it and see if the problem clears up, if it does you know it's not a hardware problem AND you haven't risk losing your data on the other drive. And if you wish you can run the old drive as a slave and keep the new drive if that is the problem.

But I agree it sounds like corrupts registry files to me. You can also get tools to check your RAM too, which is also cheap to replace nowadays.

[ulthar]

Most people run screaming from the 3rd option, but I love it. All my systems get a yearly wipe and re-install to get everything running smooth.

and

 I recommend that option as well.  I usually try to format and reinstall my OS twice a year.

 

Holy Mackeral, that is SAD.

I've got multiple computers here that have run for  YEARS....and I mean that literally.  As in not even turned OFF except for very occasional hardware replacements (PSU, CPU fans, etc).  They get used HARD in a computationally demanding environment and are just as stable as the day they were installed.

Hint: none of them run Windows.

This reinstall derby is ONE of the reasons I quit using Windows.  I don't have that kind of time - a two day down time to backup, reinstall OS and reinstall SW for each of multiple systems.  These computers are part of my business (actually, they sorta ARE my business), and an OS reinstall once or twice a year = MONEY LOST, and not much confidence to my clients who would be experiencing down time as well.

I guess it boils down to what your priorities are.  If you want a truly stable platform, don't use Windows.  If you want what Windows seems to offer, seems like you just have to live with OS reinstalls, drivers going "wonky" and garbage like that.  The rest of us DON'T live with it.

Sorry, but I HAD to comment.  If I can convert just ONE person per year from this "I have to accept reinstalling my OS" mindset, I'll consider my holier-than-thou computing evangelism to be a success.   

[Mr_Vindictive]

Ulthar,

No conversion needed.  I LOVE linux.  Seriously - love it.  I'm a Ubuntu and Red Hat fanboy.  The reason why I use Windows is that I am a hardcore PC gamer.  WineX doesn't work well enough for me to strictly switch over to Linux.  I'm currently dual booted between XP and Ubuntu.

[ulthar]

No conversion needed.  I LOVE linux.  Seriously - love it.  I'm a Ubuntu and Red Hat fanboy.  The reason why I use Windows is that I am a hardcore PC gamer.  WineX doesn't work well enough for me to strictly switch over to Linux.  I'm currently dual booted between XP and Ubuntu.

 

Fair enough.  Far cry from a hobby box to something you depend on.

Actually, I keep Win 2000 on a drive in one of my computers...occasionally I get ( poor, misguided, hehe, just joking) clients that require me to do something in Windows.  When I power off Linux and reboot to Winders, it's to me like parking a Mercedes to drive a beat-up, completely worn-out 1976 Datsun B-210.  But if they are paying me, I'll do it.

I've got a friend who is a serious Linux enthusiast - hates Windows ALMOST as much as I do - that makes a good chunk of his living fixing Windows systems.  I just cannot do it.  Sure, I'm turning down an awesome revenue stream, but I just cannot do it.

(Part of my problem is that I learned computing on OS systems that work; I logged a lot of hours with VMS and SysV R4 before Windows even came out....)

[Khaz]

Sorry, but I HAD to comment.  If I can convert just ONE person per year from this "I have to accept reinstalling my OS" mindset, I'll consider my holier-than-thou computing evangelism to be a success.   

Hehe, while I DID say my computers, I didn't mean MINE. I too am a Linux user, unfortunately the wife, kids and father have problems with it. Those are the systems I am constantly re-formatting (and, like Skaboi, my gaming system) Have you ever tried to run dora the explorer or Spongebob games on a Linux plat.? Not pretty.

[ulthar]

Have you ever tried to run dora the explorer or Spongebob games on a Linux plat.? Not pretty.

I DO let the children run the Dora games on NickJr.com....it's flash based, so not platform dependent.

[CheezeFlixz]

I have a couple of Linux boxes but I must admit I don't use them as much as I should, I have XP Pro or everything else and rarely ever turn anything off and don't remember the last time I had to reload Win except in dumping Vista off new machines. Honestly I'm not a big Windows cheerleader, but I must admit I haven't had really any problems with XP Pro. I to play a lot of PC based games that just don't fly on Linux, that and I don't have time to teach the rest of the family to switch. (Pick your battles.)