Video from net or CD/DVD player freezes and buffers after a shot while.

[rogerb]

When I try to play video that I have purchased from Itunes or downloaded from You tube I get a buffering effect after about 2mins of watching. The same effect happens if I try to watch video fron my CD drive and the DVD drive. The DVD is less prone to the problem. I have defragged the drive, run Win Optimizer, deleted temp files etc, moved most of the files on C Drive to and external hard drive to free up capacity, reformatted and reloaded only the programmes I need. I have checked the CD's on my work computer and they run fine. After I reformatted and reloaded it seemed OK (not 100%) sure until I loaded iTunes 8.02? now if I try to uninstall iTunes I can't see either the CD or DVD drives. Presumably I would also lose what I have purchased if I uninstall.

 

Thanks in anticipation.

 

1GB Ram/70GB HD (25GB used) Pentium4 2.8 Clevo D500P notebook

Edited March 3, 2009 by DirtyPolo

[rogerb]

I think that it is 1GB. How can I tell for sure?

[BeeCeeBee]

Sorry you already said that so I pulled my question. Are you using the same software for everything you play and if so, what?

[rogerb]

Beeceebee

 

I have Windows Media and iTunes and get the same effect on both. I don't know which software the CD's use when I play them or what Youtube use - sorry I'm a real illiterate.

[BeeCeeBee]

No problem Roger, usually I equate excessive buffering with a lack of sufficient RAM bit 1Gb is fine for XP. Has this always happened or is it something new?

 

Take a look through your "my documents" and I am sure you will find your music files saved in "my music" or some other folder created by itunes. (I am not familiar with it myself) once you are confident that they are there, try uninstalling your itunes and see if that helps.

Edited February 14, 2009 by BeeCeeBee

[rogerb]

beeceebee,

 

Hasn't done it always but I can't figure out when it started and what I had changed.

 

Sorry - I've got to leave the computer for about an hour. I appreciate your help and will pickup with you when I get back if thats OK. Regards Roger

[BeeCeeBee]

No problem just find your files on the way back!

[rogerb]

beeceebee,

 

The only software I know that is media related is:

iTunes 8.02

Windows Media

Quicktime

Intervideo DVD.

 

When I put the CD into the drive it starts itself so I don't know what softeware it is using. If I do "explore" and look at the contents of the disk the file extensions are ".flv". I get the effect on both CD in the drive and if I try to watch You Tube or material I bought from iTune - (New jersey's favorite son !!!).

[BeeCeeBee]

(New jersey's favorite son !!!).

I know you are not talking about me so I'm guessing "The Boss." I suppose that is just me imposing my taste.

 

Buffering on youtube is usually a product of your internet connection or something associated with your browser. It allows you to watch streaming media without the stopping and starting. Problems with internet streams and the playing of a CD from your drive really should not be related. Whatever software you use to play the video will have nothing to do with youtube.

 

Are you certain you are having no other problems with your PC such as program crashes or freeze ups? Do pages load normally from the internet at a speed consistent with your internet connection?

 

Also please try playing a DVD and tell us what program it opens with. (Player: Windows Media Player, Win DVD etc.?)

Edited February 14, 2009 by BeeCeeBee

[rogerb]

You guess right !! I guess it could only be Sinatra or Bruce or you !!!

 

I'm not having any other problems at the moment and since I reformatted and reloaded everything using the disk that came when I bought the computer. Its working as good as gold except for this playback problem. Pages load normally and at a speed that seems normal to me, seldom do I get crashes.

 

If I insert a DVD it gives me the option to play with Win DVD (Intervideo) or Windows Media. I have normally let it use InterVideo. The effect on the DVD playback is much less than when I watch video from CD or from net or iTunes.

 

I note that you say the cause should not be connected. To me as a novice it feels like something is "grabbing" all the processing capability after a while of watching the video - but that is just the intuition of a layman!!

[BeeCeeBee]

I was too obvious a choice.:)

 

There are a few ways to approach this but we need a few more answers.

1. You mention Itunes. Does this occur with downloaded music without video or only music with video.?

 

2. Have you checked your task manager (control, alt delete) to see if there are any applications running that you were unaware of and at the same time check the cpu usage under the performance tab.

[rogerb]

I think it is just when there is music and video but I will check and also check the cPU usage when it is misbehaving. It will take a little while.

[BeeCeeBee]

It would also be helpful if you can tell us what form of protection you have on the pc. (Antivirus, Antimalware (spyware) Firewall?)

[rogerb]

I have Avast anti-virus protection, Windows Firewall is disabled and Windows Virus protection is On. Should I disable the latter given that I have Avast?

[BeeCeeBee]

The short answer is yes. You should not have more that one real time antivirus program at a time and Avast is quite good.

 

I am also getting a sense that exploring any possible hardware issue would be futile at least until this computer is disinfected. I know that Windows firewall may not be the best but why is it disabled in the absence of any other. In addition I notice that you have no antimalware protection at all.

 

I am also curious why you felt the need to format the drive. Are you sure all this stuff is coming straight from iTunes?

 

I strongly suggest that you follow the the procedure set out below and retain the 2 antimalware programs when you are done.

 

If nothing is better when you are finished we can then look toward your hardware.

 

Your computer may be infected with Malware. Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It is a combination of the words malicious and software. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.

 

It is in your best interest to note the following:

1. Please disable your resident security applications (such as AVG, Spybot, WinPatrol, etc.) before performing the below procedure so that they do not interfere with the process.
   
2. Perform all the steps in the order listed to avoid any conflicts.
   
3. If unsure, please stop and voice your doubts.
   
4. You might be required to go offline during the disinfection process. Therefore, it is recommended to print off the instructions below for ease of reference.
   

If you stick to the above guidelines, all should go smoothly.

 

================================================

STEP 1

1. Download ATF-Cleaner by Atribune.
   
2. Save the file to your Desktop.
   
3. Double-click on the file to run the program.
   
4. On the Main tab, check the Select All button.
   
5. Next, click on the Firefox tab (if applicable) and check the Select All button.
    
   Note: If you would like to preserve your saved passwords in Firefox, then click No at the corresponding prompt.
   
6. Now, click on the Opera tab (if applicable) and check the Select All button.
    
   Note: If you would like to preserve your saved passwords in Opera, then click No at the corresponding prompt.
   
7. Press the Empty Selected button and click OK to acknowledge the corresponding prompt.
   
8. Click on the Exit button to quit the program.
   

================================================

STEP 2

1. Please click here to download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.
   
2. Save the file to your Desktop.
   
3. Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
   
4. At the end, make sure a check mark is placed next to:
   
   1. 
      
   2. Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
      
   3. Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
      

 

[*] Click Finish.

[*] The program will download and update itself if it finds the necessity to do so. Please allow this.

[*] Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.

 

Note: Depending on your computer specifications, the scan may take some time to complete. Please wait patiently and do not interrupt the process.

[*] When the scan is complete, click OK, and then Show Results to view the results.

[*] Make sure that every entry is selected, and click Remove Selected.

[*] Restart your computer.

================================================

STEP 3

1. Please click here to download SUPERAntiSpyware (Free Version).
   
2. Save the file to your Desktop.
   
3. Double-click SUPERAntiSpyware.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
   
4. Open SUPERAntiSpyware.
   
5. Under Configuration and Preferences, click the Preferences button.
   
6. Click the Scanning Control tab.
   
7. Under Scanner Options make sure the following fields checked:
   

    

   [*] Click the Close button to leave the control center screen.

   [*] On the main screen, under Scan for Harmful Software click Scan your computer.

   [*] On the left, make sure you check mark C:\Fixed Drive.

   [*] On the right, under Complete Scan, choose Perform Complete Scan.

   [*] Click Next to start the scan. Please be patient while it scans your computer.

   [*] After the scan is complete, a Scan Summary box will appear with potentially harmful items that were detected. Click OK.

   [*] Make sure every entry has a check mark next to it and click Next.

   [*] A notification will appear that Quarantine and Removal is Complete. Click OK and then Finish to return to the main menu.

   [*] Restart your computer.

   ================================================

   STEP 4
   1. Please visit the ESET Online Scanner, using Internet Explorer to initiate the scan.
       
      Note: If you are running Windows Vista, then you will need Administrative privileges to complete the latter part of the procedure. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select the Run As Administrator option in the shell context menu.
      
   2. Check mark the YES, I accept the Terms of Use box.
      
   3. Click the Start button.
      
   4. Click the Install button on the following screen.
      
   5. Click Start. This will will initialize and update the scanner engine.
      
   6. Check mark the box beside Remove found threats.
      
   7. Click the Scan button. This will start the scan. Please be patient while it is in progress.
      
   8. Restart your computer.
      

   ================================================

   STEP 5
   1. Click on Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and select System Restore.
      
   2. Choose the radio button marked Create a Restore Point on the first screen and click Next. Give the restore point a name then click Create. The new point will be stamped with the current date and time. Keep a note of this so you can find it easily should you need to use System Restore.
      
   3. Next, click on Start > Run, type Cleanmgr and click on OK.
      
   4. Click on the More Options tab.
      
   5. Click the Clean Up button in the System Restore section to remove all previous restore points except the most recent one.
      

   This will remove any infected files that have been backed up by Windows. The files in "System Restore" are protected to prevent any programs changing those files. This is the only foolproof way to ensure the deletion of those files.

    

   Note: Please don't use it on a regular basis as this will clear all previous restore points. The feature might be very useful to revert your computer to working condition if something goes wrong.

    

   Re-enable all your security applications and please return here and tell us how the computer seems to be operating.

    

   Happy Safe Computing! http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/../images/additional-smilies/thumb.gif

Close browsers before scanning
Scan for tracking cookies
Terminate memory threats before quarantining

[rogerb]

beeceebee,

 

Thanks a lot for your help and patience - I'll follow your recommendations, but it will have to be tomorrow now. I'll let you know how we do.

Best wishes to NJ and all it's superstars!!!!

[Tootech]

I'm wondering if this may be a video chip issue.

 

Not a fault, just a limitation of your system.

 

If you could watch DVD's before iTunes was installed, there may be some kind of issue there also.

 

Removing iTunes may have caused an upper/lower filter issue, which does hide your drives.

 

Let us know after you have worked through the other advice, if you want to remove iTunes and deal with the DVD drive issue.

 

It's worth hopping over to the Clevo site and downloading the drivers for your machine. Install them, reboot and try again. That way you know you are getting the best out of your system.

 

I had a look on the Clevo website for the spec, but for some reason I couldn't download the manual. Could you let us know the video chip spec, and if you know, how much memory it uses.

Edited February 15, 2009 by Tootech

[rogerb]

beeceebee - I have been through the process you suggested. The only scan that showed any threats was the superantispyware. This showed 7 adware tracking cookies. It hasn't solved the problem and I get the effect much earlier now and more pronounced. I may be wrong but the computer seems slower also.

 

I had disabled Windows firewall as I had (mistakenly) thought that the Avast was doing the same thing. I have now enabled both Windows Firewall and Avast anti virus.

 

When I decided to re-format the disk a few weeks ago it was because the computer was running very slow, crashing frequently as well as not playing videos properly. I have the disk that came when I bought the machine so thought it would be a good idea to get it back to as it was when I bought it and then bring back the files I needed from the external hard drive and re- download any software I needed.

 

tootech

 

See above.

I've looked at the Clevo site but am unsure of which of the downloads listed against my model that I should download and if I make matters worse if I choose a wrong download?

 

You ask about the video chip spec. I have looked at the spec that came with the machine but don't really know what tells you what you need to know.

It says:

WXGA 1440x900 Res

ATI Mobility Radeon M10P with integrated AGP 8X

128MB DDR DEdicated SGRAM

128 bit 2D/3D hardware GUI graphics accelerator.

 

Does that help?

[BeeCeeBee]

I would suggest waiting for tootech to get back to you on that. In the meanwhile go to your device manager and see if there are any warning signs next to any of your audio or visual devices.

[rogerb]

Sorry to be thick -where is the device manager? I've been to Control panel and looked at the sound and audio devices heading but they say everything is working properly.

[rogerb]

Sorry - found it and no warning signs.

[rogerb]

I don't know if this provides a clue to the problem.

I have just inserted the CD that contains video and watched Task Manager Performance tab as it was running. When the "buffering" effect starts the CPU Usage leaps to 98-100% !!

[rogerb]

Anybody any ideas about what I should try next?

[rogerb]

Have I breached a protocol that I don't know of and offended my helpers or am I not using the forum correctly or have we reached an impasse and the problem has stumped everybody? I hope it is none of these !

[BeeCeeBee]

NO Roger you have not breached any protocol. It does seem that this thread has been overlooked for some reason. It can happen. I do have a question though.

 

Does the cpu usage just spike and come down or does it stay at the high level while the dvd is trying to play?