[SOLVED] Acer Aplire 1642ZWLMi audio/video 'slows'

SLG · 07-26-2008, 10:04 AM

Hi, first of all, after first suspecting viruses, a comprehensive virus cleaning didn't help the problem so i am certain that this is a hardware related program!

When playing audio or video files (includes a screen saver), the computer periodically 'lags' or slow (e.g. music/video plays as if in slow motion for a few seconds). This happens OFTEN and makes these activities not worth doing.

I was hoping for some help/advice regarding the issue, thanks in advance!

p.s. here is some basic specs of the laptop:

Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
CPU Type Mobile Intel Pentium M 735J, 1700 MHz (17 x 100)
Video Adapter Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family (128 MB)
Audio Adapter Intel 82801FBM ICH6-M - High Definition Audio Controller [B-2]
RAM 500MB

Hope someone can help as im not sure how to go about fixing this problem

**TriggerFinger** · 07-26-2008, 11:10 AM

Hi SLG,

I wish to help but it seems you have done the virus/malware part already

May be you can do some steps here (if you have not done so yet):
Is your PC running slow...?

It can be very tricky to know if it is hardware or Windows related. Usually I just run a live CD like linux or XP/BartPE. I prefer PCLinuxOS as I can always connect to the internet while in a live CD environment. From there I watch or listen to steaming video/music and observe if it behaves the same. If it does, then I know it is hardware related. Try PCLinuxOS if it will run on your laptop.

SLG · 07-26-2008, 01:44 PM

hi, i think ive covered whats mentioned in that thread.
I've never used linux before, is there an easy way to try it? (i googled it and it sounds as if i would have to repartition my hard drives.

I couldnt clean my computer due to it being a laptop and besides its only about 2 years old.

Any ideas?

**TriggerFinger** · 07-26-2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLG

hi, i think ive covered whats mentioned in that thread.
I've never used linux before, is there an easy way to try it? (i googled it and it sounds as if i would have to repartition my hard drives. -- you need not install it in your hard drive. that is the good thing about a live CD because it runs in the CD drive. so you can test practically the whole laptop even the internet connection without using the hard drive. in fact you can physically remove the hard drive and still boot into a live CD environment

I couldnt clean my computer due to it being a laptop and besides its only about 2 years old. -- you need not open it up. just use a can of compressed air and shoot some thru the vents.

Any ideas?

SLG · 07-26-2008, 05:22 PM

thanks for the reply,
i created a live cd and ran linux. it ran like a charm, audio and video ran without any problems, which means my initial thought that it was a hardware fault was wrong.
How do you recommend going about trying to solve this problem?

is there any way other than wiping the disc and reinstalling windows?

**TriggerFinger** · 07-26-2008, 05:49 PM

So running linux does not show any of the problems you see in Windows? Before you reformat try doing CHKDSK /R under Recovery Console using your XP install CD. After doing this, do a Windows repair following the steps here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1664082/posts

If you do not have an XP install CD or a recovery CD for ACER Aspire or should you decide to reformat anyway, may be you can try the recovery steps here:
Laptop Recovery Instructions

SLG · 07-28-2008, 04:23 AM

thanks!
Wiped the system and reinstalled windows, thanks for the help in identifying the problem (i thought it was hardware) :)

**TriggerFinger** · 07-28-2008, 06:37 AM

Oh so you decided to install from scratch.

I would do that too since there is no guarantee that a Windows repair would really cut it.

Thank you for the update. I am happy that you got it working again.

07-26-2008, 10:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
SLG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 234 OS: XP	[SOLVED] Acer Aplire 1642ZWLMi audio/video 'slows' Hi, first of all, after first suspecting viruses, a comprehensive virus cleaning didn't help the problem so i am certain that this is a hardware related program! When playing audio or video files (includes a screen saver), the computer periodically 'lags' or slow (e.g. music/video plays as if in slow motion for a few seconds). This happens OFTEN and makes these activities not worth doing. I was hoping for some help/advice regarding the issue, thanks in advance! p.s. here is some basic specs of the laptop: Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition CPU Type Mobile Intel Pentium M 735J, 1700 MHz (17 x 100) Video Adapter Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family (128 MB) Audio Adapter Intel 82801FBM ICH6-M - High Definition Audio Controller [B-2] RAM 500MB Hope someone can help as im not sure how to go about fixing this problem __________________ "Discrimination occurs from experience, Over discrimination occurs from the lack of it" - SLG

07-26-2008, 11:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,853 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Acer Aplire 1642ZWLMi audio/video 'slows' Hi SLG, I wish to help but it seems you have done the virus/malware part already May be you can do some steps here (if you have not done so yet): Is your PC running slow...? It can be very tricky to know if it is hardware or Windows related. Usually I just run a live CD like linux or XP/BartPE. I prefer PCLinuxOS as I can always connect to the internet while in a live CD environment. From there I watch or listen to steaming video/music and observe if it behaves the same. If it does, then I know it is hardware related. Try PCLinuxOS if it will run on your laptop. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

07-26-2008, 01:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
SLG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 234 OS: XP	Re: Acer Aplire 1642ZWLMi audio/video 'slows' hi, i think ive covered whats mentioned in that thread. I've never used linux before, is there an easy way to try it? (i googled it and it sounds as if i would have to repartition my hard drives. I couldnt clean my computer due to it being a laptop and besides its only about 2 years old. Any ideas? __________________ "Discrimination occurs from experience, Over discrimination occurs from the lack of it" - SLG

07-26-2008, 05:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
SLG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 234 OS: XP	Re: Acer Aplire 1642ZWLMi audio/video 'slows' thanks for the reply, i created a live cd and ran linux. it ran like a charm, audio and video ran without any problems, which means my initial thought that it was a hardware fault was wrong. How do you recommend going about trying to solve this problem? is there any way other than wiping the disc and reinstalling windows? __________________ "Discrimination occurs from experience, Over discrimination occurs from the lack of it" - SLG

07-26-2008, 05:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,853 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Acer Aplire 1642ZWLMi audio/video 'slows' So running linux does not show any of the problems you see in Windows? Before you reformat try doing CHKDSK /R under Recovery Console using your XP install CD. After doing this, do a Windows repair following the steps here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1664082/posts If you do not have an XP install CD or a recovery CD for ACER Aspire or should you decide to reformat anyway, may be you can try the recovery steps here: Laptop Recovery Instructions __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

07-28-2008, 04:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
SLG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 234 OS: XP	Re: Acer Aplire 1642ZWLMi audio/video 'slows' thanks! Wiped the system and reinstalled windows, thanks for the help in identifying the problem (i thought it was hardware) :) __________________ "Discrimination occurs from experience, Over discrimination occurs from the lack of it" - SLG

07-28-2008, 06:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,853 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Acer Aplire 1642ZWLMi audio/video 'slows' Oh so you decided to install from scratch. I would do that too since there is no guarantee that a Windows repair would really cut it. Thank you for the update. I am happy that you got it working again. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE