Recently I have started having problems with my sound - have been getting crackles/distortions. I'm worried it might be a hardware problem - the CPU level isn't spiking, but last time my computer messed up the RAM had to be replaced, so maybe its something to do with that again... But first I want to rule out the possibility that it's virus/spyware messing up my computer.
Housecall was clean, Spybot clean, Adaware removed some cookies, Windows Defender was clean.
Here is Pandascan Log:
Incident Status Location
Spyware:Cookie/Atlas DMT Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@atdmt[2].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Adtech Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@adtech[2].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Com.com Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@com[1].txt
Spyware:Cookie/PointRoll Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@ads.pointroll[1].txt
Spyware:Cookie/888 Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@888[2].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Cassava Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@cassava[1].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Serving-sys Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@serving-sys[2].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Serving-sys Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@bs.serving-sys[2].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Tribalfusion Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@tribalfusion[1].txt
Spyware:Cookie/QuestionMarket Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@questionmarket[1].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Azjmp Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@azjmp[2].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Serving-sys Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@serving-sys[1].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Serving-sys Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Cookies\jacob@bs.serving-sys[3].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Tribalfusion Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\jxl05c9g.default\COOKIES.TXT[.tribalfusion.com/]
Spyware:Cookie/Server.iad.Liveperson Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\jxl05c9g.default\COOKIES.TXT[server.iad.liveperson.net/hc/44546139]
Spyware:Cookie/Server.iad.Liveperson Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\jxl05c9g.default\COOKIES.TXT[server.iad.liveperson.net/]
Spyware:Cookie/Xiti Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Jacob\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\jxl05c9g.default\COOKIES.TXT[.xiti.com/]
Spyware:Cookie/Com.com Not disinfected C:\FOUND.003\FILE0005.CHK[.com.com/]
Spyware:Cookie/Server.iad.Liveperson Not disinfected C:\FOUND.003\FILE0005.CHK[server.iad.liveperson.net/hc/44546139]
Spyware:Cookie/Server.iad.Liveperson Not disinfected C:\FOUND.003\FILE0005.CHK[server.iad.liveperson.net/]
Spyware:Cookie/bravenetA Not disinfected C:\FOUND.003\FILE0005.CHK[.bravenet.com/]
Spyware:Cookie/Xiti Not disinfected C:\FOUND.003\FILE0005.CHK[.xiti.com/]
Spyware:Cookie/Atlas DMT Not disinfected C:\FOUND.003\FILE0005.CHK[.atdmt.com/]
Spyware:Cookie/Server.iad.Liveperson Not disinfected C:\FOUND.003\FILE0005.CHK[server.iad.liveperson.net/hc/67809844]
And here is HJT log:
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 21:42:37, on 16/01/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16574)
Boot mode: Normal
Yeah I had a bout of RSI symptoms at one point, which as a guitarist is really important for me to avoid, so I looked into ergonomics, etc, hence the ergonomic mouse and use of Workrave.
Yes fireface.exe and fireface.mix are for my firewire audio interface. Just so you know I've tried disabling them through Control Panel->Sounds & Audio Devices, and using the crappy onboard laptop soundcard instead, but still get the same sound problems (though to a slightly lesser extent).
Ultra Recall is a Personal Information Management program (http://www.ultrarecall.com/). I doubt it would be doing anything untoward...?
Last.fm Helper is from http://www.last.fm/, it tracks the MP3s that I listen to through iTunes and sends them to the site so I can keep track of my stats (here's my user page: http://www.last.fm/user/jacoustic!). Have been using it for years.
I don't know what this is:
I got given a recovery CD with the laptop that re-installs Windows and restores everything back to ideal settings for my laptop (I get a clean slate with my C: drive, and it keeps all the files on my D: drive). I believe it runs a copy of Symantec Ghost.
However, I tried to run it this time to see if would fix the sound problems and it comes up with 2 errors: "Cannot find I:/ghost00001.gho" and then "Invalid Dump File". (Not the exact wording but something like that - I can find out the exact wording if it helps). This happens when I try to restore from the recovery files stored on drive D:, AND ALSO when I try to restore from external backup CDs given to me by the company that I bought the laptop from.
This has never happened to me before and seems very strange. Could it be something to do with it looking in Drive I: instead of the CD drive which is Drive E:?
Yeah I tried headphones - it's definitely not the speakers. Actually, it would probably be better to desribe it as stuttering than cracks/pops, kinda like the computer is trying to catch up with itself.
Thanks for your help Basement Geek - just wanted to rule it out as an option.
I'm gonna try a different firewire card and cable, as my audio interface is firewire-based. Will let you know if that works and if it doesn't I may try asking in the Computer forum.