Computer Sound playback sounds HORRIBLE

Ok, I built my computer 2.5 years ago and rebuilt the OS just over a year ago. I have a P4 3.2ghz, 2gb RAM, and a built in sound card on my mother board which is an ASUS P4P800-E Deluxe and a 120gb HDD. I'm also running Win XP Pro.d
I have my OS on a 12gb partition and my programs and data on the other partition. Just recently my sound replay quality has been getting VERY 'glitchy' and it almost sounds like a scratched CD. I did a disk clean up of my C: drive and I have 3gb free space and 8.7 used space on C: drive. I don't think it matters, but I have 75 used and 25 unused on my other partition.

Could it have something to do with memory usage and page files on my computer?

I've also noticed my sound played better on VLC Video LAN player than when on Win Media Player. If I am in the wrong forum, please direct me to the right place.

I also play computer games like HL2 and Counter-Strike:Source. There doesn't seem to be any problem with playing these games. I have only noticed a problem with music playback.

Thanks

Could be serious disk fragmentation, or lack of processor resources. Defrag your drives first. Running a Hijack This report could help us determine if you're crushing your proc under the load. If you're hearing pops and clicks, it could be the soundcard or the power supply.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ProfessorU

Could be serious disk fragmentation, or lack of processor resources. Defrag your drives first. Running a Hijack This report could help us determine if you're crushing your proc under the load. If you're hearing pops and clicks, it could be the soundcard or the power supply.

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I'll get a HJT log in a second.

I do hear some noises like someone is scratching a record like a DJ on a turn table. But only briefly and only once in while. most often it just sounds, well, glitchy. The sound is broken up and it gets small little gaps of no sound at all.

I have also defragged recently. I use Perfect Disk 7.0 and use the 'Smart Defrag' option.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 5:20:15 PM, on 11/8/2006
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\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
e:\Program Files\ewido anti-spyware 4.0\guard.exe
E:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\FrameworkService.exe
E:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\Mcshield.exe
E:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\VsTskMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Raxco\PerfectDisk\PDSched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint\point32.exe
E:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\SHSTAT.EXE
E:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Network Associates\TalkBack\TBMon.exe
E:\Program Files\D-Tools\daemon.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_08\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\CLI.EXE
E:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
E:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasDtServ.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
E:\Program Files\Cisco Systems\Clean Access Agent\CCAAgent.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe
E:\Program Files\Trillian\trillian.exe
E:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\Steam.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
E:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
E:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - E:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - e:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Ipswitch.WsftpBrowserHelper - {601ED020-FB6C-11D3-87D8-0050DA59922B} - e:\Program Files\Ipswitch\WS_FTP Pro\wsbho2k0.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_08\bin\ssv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Launch Ai Booster] e:\Program Files\ASUS\Ai Booster\OverClk.exe 1
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelliPoint] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint\point32.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ShStatEXE] "E:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\SHSTAT.EXE" /STANDALONE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [McAfeeUpdaterUI] "E:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe" /StartedFromRunKey
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Network Associates Error Reporting Service] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Network Associates\TalkBack\TBMon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [gcasServ] "E:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools-1033] "E:\Program Files\D-Tools\daemon.exe" -lang 1033
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_08\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [REGSHAVE] C:\Program Files\REGSHAVE\REGSHAVE.EXE /AUTORUN
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATICCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\CLIStart.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "E:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [updateMgr] "E:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\AdobeUpdateManager.exe" AcRdB7_0_7 -reboot 1
O4 - Startup: Adobe Gamma.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = E:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Clean Access Agent.lnk = E:\Program Files\Cisco Systems\Clean Access Agent\CCAAgent.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://E:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_08\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_08\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - E:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - E:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Adobe Systems - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: ewido anti-spyware 4.0 guard - Anti-Malware Development a.s. - e:\Program Files\ewido anti-spyware 4.0\guard.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Framework Service (McAfeeFramework) - Network Associates, Inc. - E:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\FrameworkService.exe
O23 - Service: Network Associates McShield (McShield) - Network Associates, Inc. - E:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\Mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: Network Associates Task Manager (McTaskManager) - Network Associates, Inc. - E:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\VsTskMgr.exe
O23 - Service: PDEngine - Raxco Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Raxco\PerfectDisk\PDEngine.exe
O23 - Service: PDScheduler (PDSched) - Raxco Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Raxco\PerfectDisk\PDSched.exe
O23 - Service: Remote Packet Capture Protocol v.0 (experimental) (rpcapd) - Unknown owner - %ProgramFiles%\WinPcap\rpcapd.exe" -d -f "%ProgramFiles%\WinPcap\rpcapd.ini (file missing)

The log looks pretty normal. There's no major excess of programs running on your PC, which is fairly high end in terms of processor and memory, that would cause the problem.

I'd try reinstalling the sound card drivers first and then if that doesn't work I'd reinstall whatever codec packs you're using... sometimes either of those can have files that get corrupted.

May even be worth while if those things don't help tor run an sfc/ scannow to fix any system files that may be missing or corrupted as well.

I've already reinstalled my sound card drivers. But I have not reinstalled my codecs. And what is a sfc and scannow? Is it a program that come with XP?

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

You'll probably need your XP install CD.

Have you tried playing any audio files in safe mode?

I did the sfc and there doesn't seem to be be much of a difference. I'll try to reinstall my drivers again and also reinstall my audio codecs. I think I have AC3 Filter.