Bobby Nox

After continued issues my previous hard drive, I finally invested the time to
install a 500 gig drive I'd had (brand new). I do a lot of media work, run
video as well as music/sound from my computer using computer speakers, my
stereo amp, or both. Previously, before the new install, the sound was crisp.
Now, the speakers buzz when there isn't sound playing and, most disturbing,
any keyboard strokes stutter any sound files being played at the time. I
can't play sound and type as it is a garbled mess.

- I've tried another keyboard and the problem didn't go away (not a USB
connected keyboard)
- The computer uses the Yamaha AC-XG sound driver
- It's a mini-studio, so sound inputs include a Web cam (used for Skype
calling), a Tascam USB box I hook pro-microphones into for recording, iPod
that's hooked up, and a digital camcorder. Again, all were previously
installed simultaneously.
- The only output signal, for everything, as far as I know, is the Yamaha
driver with the standard sound card the computer came with.
- It's about a five-year-old Sony Vaio (1 gig ram, 3+ gigs processing speed,
first hyper-threading model) and, until the previous drive failed, has always
been reliable, even when heavily taxed with multiple programs/hardware.

A few noteable quirks from the past:
- After the initial writing of XP (Home Edition) onto the new drive, I
realized the absence of the sound driver. I found the Yahama it had always
used on-line and installed. Because the initial Sony recovery disks were not
in cases (it was a display model), they were beaten and never able to
complete a re-install. I had tried once before. I had issues two years ago
where the anti-virus program fought the registery until it was unuseable. I
didn't know what to do with bad disks, nor why the performance suddenly was
crap. Geek Squad figured out the conflict, they couldn't get the recovery
disks working either, but issued me an upgrade disk instead of having to pay
full retail. I have to start with the Sony disk, or my laptop recovery disk,
which validates the old software and allows me to run the upgrade disk to do
the install. Dunno if that creates issues or not. Didn't when Geek Squad did
it.

Sorry it's long, but that's all the details I think I can provide.

Advice?

Bob

Mark Adams

"Bobby Nox" wrote:

> After continued issues my previous hard drive, I finally invested the time to
> install a 500 gig drive I'd had (brand new). I do a lot of media work, run
> video as well as music/sound from my computer using computer speakers, my
> stereo amp, or both. Previously, before the new install, the sound was crisp.
> Now, the speakers buzz when there isn't sound playing and, most disturbing,
> any keyboard strokes stutter any sound files being played at the time. I
> can't play sound and type as it is a garbled mess.
>
> - I've tried another keyboard and the problem didn't go away (not a USB
> connected keyboard)
> - The computer uses the Yamaha AC-XG sound driver
> - It's a mini-studio, so sound inputs include a Web cam (used for Skype
> calling), a Tascam USB box I hook pro-microphones into for recording, iPod
> that's hooked up, and a digital camcorder. Again, all were previously
> installed simultaneously.
> - The only output signal, for everything, as far as I know, is the Yamaha
> driver with the standard sound card the computer came with.
> - It's about a five-year-old Sony Vaio (1 gig ram, 3+ gigs processing speed,
> first hyper-threading model) and, until the previous drive failed, has always
> been reliable, even when heavily taxed with multiple programs/hardware.
>
> A few noteable quirks from the past:
> - After the initial writing of XP (Home Edition) onto the new drive, I
> realized the absence of the sound driver. I found the Yahama it had always
> used on-line and installed. Because the initial Sony recovery disks were not
> in cases (it was a display model), they were beaten and never able to
> complete a re-install. I had tried once before. I had issues two years ago
> where the anti-virus program fought the registery until it was unuseable. I
> didn't know what to do with bad disks, nor why the performance suddenly was
> crap. Geek Squad figured out the conflict, they couldn't get the recovery
> disks working either, but issued me an upgrade disk instead of having to pay
> full retail. I have to start with the Sony disk, or my laptop recovery disk,
> which validates the old software and allows me to run the upgrade disk to do
> the install. Dunno if that creates issues or not. Didn't when Geek Squad did
> it.
>
> Sorry it's long, but that's all the details I think I can provide.
>
> Advice?
>
> Bob

You said Geek Squad "issued" you an Upgrade disk? Download all of the
drivers from your machine from the Sony website and save to flash drive or
burn to CD. Beg, borrow, or steal a Windows 98 install CD and make a copy of
it for yourself. Use the XP Upgrade disk to make a clean install and use the
98 disk when prompted during the install. Use the Product Key that came with
the Upgrade disk. Install the drivers for the machine, chipset driver first.
Turn on Windows firewall and go to Windows Update for latest Service Packs
and updates. Reinstall your applications. If you still have trouble, you have
some hardware failure or continuing conflicts with your applications.