videos pause when played

[redmental1]

When playing videos on my computer, about every 12 seconds there is a slight pause or skip. I use Windows Media Player and have tried EVERYTHING. It also happens when I watch videos on Youtube.com  or any video music web site  or when I insert a dvd into the drive.  This just started happening about 2 weeks ago.

I have NOT added or upgraded any drivers and I have defraged, cleaned out, scanned and check disked the entire hard drive several times.

Every now and than the videos play fine, but than they go right back to pausing/skipping the next time I watch them.

The audio files play back fine.

PLEASE HELP ME SOMEBODY :-?

[GX1_Man]

See below. More info is needed.

[redmental1]

Very sorry that I forgot to include enough info:

I have an emachine T2682, running XP professional w/ SP2 installed, 80 gig HD, 2.6 g. cpu, 768 mb ram, NO video card installed. Using Windows Media Player 10.

System runs fine, EXCEPT for the above mentioned pause/skip problem that occurs about every 13 seconds when playing videos.

In addition, I have tried playing videos through RealPlayer, Quicktime and Divx, The problem still occurs when using any video software.


If there is ANY additional info needed, please ask. I desperately need help.


Thank you very much.

Redmental1

[GX1_Man]

Sometimes onboard video can cause this problem. Has it always been this way? What virus/spyware protection are you using? How is your routine maintenance habit - debris removal, defragmenting, etc.? How much free space is available on the drive?

[Fed]

Panda Activescan
Ewido/AVG Online Scan

[redmental1]

This video problem has just started occurring about 10 day ago.

I use System Mechanic, in which I remove all junk files, fix any registry errors, windows errors
I also use Ad-Ware SE, Sypbot and Nortons Utilities.
I have an 80 gig drive and have about 25 gig's of free space.
In addition I also use Diskeeper weekly to defrag the hard drive.
I run my spyware twice weekly.
I also have Computer Associates firewall and AV software running always.

Hope this helps.

Redmental1

[GX1_Man]

So you are ruinning Norton Antivirus AND CA antivirus? Have you always done this?

What has changed with the system approximately 10 days ago? There is always a cause-effect relationship.

[Fed]

Panda Activescan
Ewido/AVG Online Scan

It's only a few mouse clicks but if you're too busy then we could start a guessing competition.

[redmental1]

I only have Norton's Systems Works utilities installed on my computer.
I only have CA firewall and antivirus running on my computer because I am aware that running more than one antivirus software program can cause conflicts.

I have tried as suggested both panda's and AWG virus software programs and the skipping while playing videos is still happening.

I have not installed or deleted anything when this started to happen.

I understand the cause and effect on computers and am at a loss to understanding why the video's are skipping during playback.

Someone mentioned that onboard video can cause this. Is it possible that I may need a new motherboard to correct this error.

As always, any and all suggestions are GREATLY APPRECIATED

Thank you all very much.


redmental1

[Fed]

Re-boot your computer, when you get to the desktop and all HDD activity has stopped hit Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up your Windows Security screen.
Select Task Manager>Processes, what is the CPU usage and Memory usage shown at the bottom of that screen?

[redmental1]

When in Task Manager, and all HDD has stopped, the CPU usage will fluctuate from a high of 100% briefly than back down to 2%.

Memory usage remains constant at 208M/1873M.

I would like to add that using System Mechanics tools, while in the Recover Memory screen, I just noticed that the CPU usage spike's at about 71% at 12 second intervals.

This is the same time frame that the videos always skip at.

I am sure there is some connection here, but I don't know what is causing this usage spike.


Thank you for continuing to help me with my problem.


redmental1

[Fed]

Start>Run>Msconfig>Startup>Untick the boxes and re-boot.
If the pausing has stopped, tick the boxes one at a time re-booting after each one to find the culprit.
Disconnect from the internet while you're trying this.

[redmental1]

Fed,

     I did what you instructed me to do and THAT was exactly the problem.

     It was the startup Guard from System Mechanic. It runs three different processes and they were consuming large amounts of the CPU at 12 second intervals.

    I am so gratefull for all your assistance and the advice I received from others in this forum.

    THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH

    Take care and have a GREAT Holiday Season.


    redmental1

[Fed]

Thanks for the feedback, happy holidays to you too.