Audio problems.

[Longhorn]

Last night, I tried to listen to my streaming radio program through headphones, as I have done every night for at least a year, but the sound was very muffled and distorted. I tried another headphone set and same problem. I restarted my computer and the Windows music was also distorted as are my digital files. I couldn't do anything else at the time as I was in bed and my husband was asleep.

Today I listened without the headphones and the music coming from the built-in laptop speakers has the same fuzzy distortion and when I plugged in the headphones, there was no sound coming from them at all.

Any idea what could be wrong and how to troubleshoot? Thanks!

[bemildred]

1. See if you have any crapware running, memory/CPU hogs, etc.

Type CTRL+ALT+DEL (exactly once) and see how much crap is
running and sucking up resources. Run the system monitor
stuff and see how it looks.

Edit: I'm speculating, based on your description, that it's a
performance issue.

[ConsAreLiars]

2. To add to that, viruses, etc. can severely degrade performance

See this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=242x1314 for advice on how to eliminate such things.

[Berserker]

3. Try

turning the volume down on your computer and then turn the volume up on your headphones. If the volume gets to high on your computer it will distort the sound. If you have the little yellow speaker on the bottom right double click it and try adjusting it from there.

[Longhorn]

6. I made the volume adjustments and it's working now but

this doesn't make sense to me. I only have two places to adjust the volume (that I know of,) on the advanced volume control and on the Real Player or itunes volume control. I use cheap mini-headphones since I listen when I'm going to sleep so there's no volume control on them.

On the advanced volume control, I moved everything to the halfway point and the same at Real Player. What I don't understand is that I didn't change anything to cause the distortion in the first place. I usually control volume with the button on my keyboard and I keep that very low. Is that a third control?

Anyway, thanks so much for your help. I'm glad it wasn't anything more serious -- I need my radio to get to sleep! :D

[bemildred]

7. The keyboard control may just tweak one of the other controls.

Being on the keyboard, maybe it got out of whack by
accident when you were not listening. Who can say.

How about an extra big shoutout for Berserker?
:toast:

[Longhorn]

8. HOLLA!

That's how Ellen DeGeneres does it!

:yourock:

And so does MeDeMax, who PM'd me with the same advice!

:yourock:

[Longhorn]

5. I'll bookmark that thread.

Thanks! :hi:

[Longhorn]

4. I couldn't find anything obvious.

I run virus software and adware remover, plus I have an adware prevention program. I checked the CPU usage and it was running at 8 to 11 percent. I didn't have any extra applications running but I have no idea how many of the processes working are crap.

Thanks for your suggestions! My audio is working fine now, perhaps due to volume adjustments? (Further discussion in other replies.)

[LiberalUprising]

9. To find out what crap is running in background

Go here for list of startup items, it will tell you what the function of each is and whether or not it's necessary for your puter to operate. If you can't find an entry here you can google it, though most will be on this list.
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

Then download the free version of Startup Cop here to disable or remove unwanted running processes
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,2173,00.asp

Startup Cop will list everything running in backgroud and lets you disable and remove unwanted and uneeded running processes. It's easy to use, I've been using it for 4 years now, much more efficient and easier than the msconfig command and will not let you disable or remove critical running processes. I believe this program is still free, if not PM me or leave message on this thread.

Description:
When Windows starts up, it automatically launches a number of programs for you. Some of these come from the Startup folder. Windows also looks in six other locations for files that should be launched at startup. Startup Cop helps you handle problems with programs that are automatically launched at startup by listing them and letting you disable, enable, or delete them. You can save the list of programs that are currently enabled or disabled as a profile that can be restored at a later time.

[Longhorn]

10. Thanks! I'll make some time to go through it this weekend. n/t