.WAV files playing too slow

Trying to use a few of the standard .WAV files supplied in /Windows/Media,
I find them usually low in volume and badly distorted. They sound like
phonograph records running v-e-r-y slowly. It's intermittent; sometimes
the system boots up with the .WAV sound effects working properly and
sometimes it boots up with slow mush instead. (Whichever way it boots,
so it stays until shut down.)

I'm running Win98SE, and reinstalling WinAmp, Windows Media Player 9,
and DirectX made no difference. Suggestions, explanations, pointers,
and useful prayers will be gratefully accepted.

--
R. N. (Dick) Wisan - Email:
- Snail: 37 Clinton Street, Oneonta NY 13820, U.S.A.
- Just your opinion, please, ma'am: No fax.

Cross posting reduced for reply. This is just a guess. Since it is an
intermitent problem, that suggests that something starting at boot and
running in the background might be the problem. It could be intermitent
because of the order in which the conflicting program is loaded.

I would start by doing a full scan with an up to date anti virus program
followed by a scumware hunt:

Spyware/scumware/adware are causing numerous system problems. I recommend
you download and use the following programs and consider removing everything
these programs identify. Be aware that there are frequent updates to these
programs and you need to check for them before every use.

AdAwa http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

CWShredder: http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html (download
link near the bottom)

Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/
**********

Then I would check to see if there are programs running in the background
that don't need to be. My personal rule of thumb is that if I don't use a
program nearly everytime I start the PC, then it is not started at boot.

To cut back on the number of programs starting at boot, check the programs
themselves for an option not to load. You might have to double click an
icon in the tray (others might require a right click) and then look for
preferences or options. If you cannot find an option, look for the program
in the following start up points and remove the reference to it:

Start up folder on the start menu, the load= and run= lines in the win.ini
and these registry run keys (use regedit.exe):

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run

2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run

3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunOnce

4. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\RunOnce

5. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\ RunServices

6. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\
RunServicesOnce

7. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\
RunOnce\Setup

There is a freeware program that makes this process a lot easier to manage:
Startup Manager,
http://home.ptd.net/~don5408/toolbox/startupcpl/

You can use msconfig.exe, startup tab, to disable programs; however, by
doing so, you may lessen its value as a troubleshooting tool. There might
be some double entries in msconfig--leave those for your AntiVirus program
and load power profile alone as they are required. If you disable an entry
in msconfig or remove it from the start up point and the program loads again
after a reboot, that is an indication that you missed an option on the
program itself. If you don't know what an entry is, check he
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
**************
If the problem still exists after cleaning up your system, then use the
technique described he

How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=192926

Finally, even if your problem isn't solved, this good cleaning may help your
performance some. Also, when you use a valid email address in a public
newsgroup, chances are you are going to get tons of spam and emails with a
virus attached.

--

Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP, W98 System
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo


"Dick Wisan" wrote in message
...
Trying to use a few of the standard .WAV files supplied in /Windows/Media,
I find them usually low in volume and badly distorted. They sound like
phonograph records running v-e-r-y slowly. It's intermittent; sometimes
the system boots up with the .WAV sound effects working properly and
sometimes it boots up with slow mush instead. (Whichever way it boots,
so it stays until shut down.)

I'm running Win98SE, and reinstalling WinAmp, Windows Media Player 9,
and DirectX made no difference. Suggestions, explanations, pointers,
and useful prayers will be gratefully accepted.

--
R. N. (Dick) Wisan - Email:
- Snail: 37 Clinton Street, Oneonta NY 13820, U.S.A.
- Just your opinion, please, ma'am: No fax.

Ron Badour says...

"Dick Wisan" wrote

Trying to use a few of the standard .WAV files supplied in /Windows/Media,
I find them usually low in volume and badly distorted. They sound like
phonograph records running v-e-r-y slowly. It's intermittent; sometimes
the system boots up with the .WAV sound effects working properly and
sometimes it boots up with slow mush instead. (Whichever way it boots,
so it stays until shut down.)

I'm running Win98SE, and reinstalling WinAmp, Windows Media Player 9,
and DirectX made no difference. Suggestions, explanations, pointers,
and useful prayers will be gratefully accepted.

[excised a lot, ending with:]

If the problem still exists after cleaning up your system, then use the
technique described he

How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=192926

Finally, even if your problem isn't solved, this good cleaning may help your
performance some. Also, when you use a valid email address in a public
newsgroup, chances are you are going to get tons of spam and emails with a
virus attached.

To report back. You were right that a good cleaning would do the
trick. From your note, I learned a lot, collected some of the data
you pointed to, tried disabling many things, finally returned (via
back-up Ghost images) to a prior state of the system --and then to
a _yet_ prior state, all to no avail.

While chewing on my imaginary moustache-ends, I thought to revive the
techniques from my former hobby of hi-fidelity audio (driven out by
interest in computers).

If set won't play:
(1) Make sure switch is turned on.
(2) Be sure plug is in.

If set will play but sounds bad:
(1) disconnect all leads and reconnect.

That did it. All's well now. Moral: Never trust a miniature phone
plug. Why do they use 'em so much in computer things? Full-size
quarter-inch phone plugs and jacks are reliable. Little ones aren't.

But, many many thanks for the letter. Whatever else, I learned a lot
and had sorta fun (between puffs of steam from ears) exploring.

--
R. N. (Dick) Wisan - Email:
- Snail: 37 Clinton Street, Oneonta NY 13820, U.S.A.
- Just your opinion, please, ma'am: No fax.