Possible Audio Driver Problem - Tried Replacing Speakers

Hi, I am not quite sure if this is an audio driver problem or not, though it definitely seems like a software issue.

Last week my sound started crackling weirdly every so often - it's hard to describe, but it's like a "stutter," like if a game crashes for example, except this is any sound, and the computer itself doesn't crash, though sometimes it slows down.

Also my computer is a Dell XPS L501X, Windows 7 64 bit. My sound is Intel(R) Display Audio, and Realtek High Definition Audio. All drivers were the latest versions available and I made no changes to the computer in terms of installations before or immediately around when the problem started.

A technician replaced my motherboard with integrated sound card. It did nothing. They replaced the speakers, which actually fixed another latent problem (my left speaker apparently came dented and without proper mounting, right one was a little dented too, thank you Dell).

Previously I reinstalled drivers, which did nothing. I also rolled back my drivers to the microsoft drivers, also doing nothing. I just ran audio diagnostics by booting from a diagnostics cd, and everything sounded normal.

They're in the process of sending another new motherboard and new speakers to replace my new ones again, by now, as bad as my speakers apparently were before, I think the problem has been isolated to software. They wanted me to reinstall my operating system, but I am reluctant to do so. Also, one of the technicians mentioned that the XPS Studio systems have had a similar software sound problem based on the sound she heard coming from mine, if that helps.

Are there any ideas on this? Thank you!

 

Hi and welcome to MG's,
It could be down to the quality of audio chip that they have on their boards, if they are keep offering to exchange boards, I would give up the ghost and ask for a different model for around the same value or more due to the inconvieniance they are causing, google first though before deciding on a different model as you may end up with a similar issue, I have noticed recently that people are having a lot of issues like this with sound and video with Windows 7 64 bit systems, I am wondering wether or not it has something to do with the 64bit OS.

iain.t :major

 

Thanks for the advice! This is actually already a replacement model for a previous XPS M1530 model I had, so I actually dealt with getting a replacement system already! Issue is my warranty ends in a few weeks so I need to work fast, and I'm definitely not willing to ever give any of my money to dell due to all the problems they've caused me! I've actually essentially memorized the entire routine they put you through on the phone!

Since you said that you've heard of this issue with Windows 7 64 bit operating systems, do you know of anything that people have done to fix this sort of problem?

 

I have not heard of any fix's to be honest, You would be better off looking on the dell forums for similar issues and try fix's there that have worked for others, You might want to try running the driver in compatability mode, so that it's maybe running in Vista 64 bit mode... take a look here.....

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html

If I was you I would contact Dell and request a new machine, especially with the warranty soon to expire,or, demand that they give you an extended warranty for free so if the problem persists you aren't left with a dud :cry,or, get your money back and get a different brand, threaten them with bad press!!!

iain.t :major

 

I spent the day on this after posting in the Dell Forum as well, and learned a lot of info - I don't know how familar people are with it though.

Basically it seems like my problem is with DPC Latency.

I downloaded DPC Latency Checker and had very large peaks (at one point over 300000) that would usually coincide with audio stuttering when playing a wmp file. They occur without playing such a file, though not as frequently. Sometimes a more subtle sound will not register. However, when the sound is obvious the peak is obvious. So at least I know this could probably be the problem.

However, isolating the problem to a specific driver hasn't been possible so far, and something I encountered has left me stumped. I ran xperf in an effort to isolate the driver, and obtained a maximum at ndis.sys, and the maximum wasn't high. I turned off my wireless adapter and ran DPC checker. I still heard the popping and still got peaks. However, after runing xperf again, there was no problem with ndis.sys, or anything else for that matter. So xperf and DPC checker seem to be in conflict - one says I have a DPC problem and the other doesn't. I've also disabled every other driver possible without messing up the system, and nothing worked.

I don't know if this will change your opinion on the situation, but I figured I should add this information. The major conflict between what xperf and what DPC checker are each telling me is really confusing!

 

Hello,
I am not sure if this relates to your problem but some antivirus software has caused DPC latency issues. If you disable your antivirus software, does the issue go away?

A lot of good info here also.

 

Disabling Antivirus software does not do anything to help. I previously thought that network usage could have been the problem, but disabling any network wi-fi usage didn't help. Using xperf to track DPC latency, I found that the ndis.sys network driver that people usually found to be the culprit was not bad on my computer.

At this point I really might try to get a full refund. This XPS L501X is a replacement that I got for free for an XPS M1530 which had a huge amount of problems (I went through I believe 5 motherboards, and that's just the tip of the iceberg!). I have had this one for about 3 months. I researched this issue online and found that other users of this model, as well as the XPS L502X have had this same problem, and no one has been able to ever figure it out yet. Not only that, but apparently they had this problem a few years ago with their Studio XPS and Studio models, as well as many Inspirons. If that is the case, then they have no possible equivalent computer to upgrade me with since XPS L501X and L502X are their current top XPS models. Therefore I am going to try for a full refund. I found a thread where a few people had the same problem with their Studio XPS's and were furious enough to get the refund. Only issue is that I'm almost 3 years after the purchase date, but honestly I've had so many issues throughout my 3 years and never would've paid for a computer that never worked correctly.

Here is the link I found that I can empathize with btw: http://www.virtualdj.com/forums/976...Dell_Studio_laptops____Warning___.html?page=1

If I don't get this or at least something new then they'll be getting much bad press, and I can tell the bad press has hurt them and taken effect! Anytime now I call tech support and I'm about to finish, they have me talk with a "supervisor" to see if everything was to my satisfaction, never did that before! It'd honestly make more sense for them to give me a refund, as they have a lot more potential customers to lose from online word of mouth, and I'm sure they're well aware of this!

Sorry for the rant, I only get angry when it comes to Dell!

If anyone has anything else they can think of it'd be much appreciated though!

In the words of one of the home techs who remembers me at this point: "Man you've had REALLY bad luck with Dell!"

 

Thats a lot of hassle you've had with these machines :cry.Search for one that has a good rep and demand that model as a replacement and try for compensation, take a look on consumer action websites and get them on side too, it'll frighten the big man at dell .
keep us informed about how you get on.

iain.t :major

 

Thanks! The tech support is on his way to replace the motherboard and speakers again, though now I know it will do nothing

I'll definitely keep updated - honestly this way also some other poor sucker googling away with the same problem like me will have something to go off now!

Out of curiosity I am wondering if it would be more prudent to call tech support like I've been doing (got me the replacement in the past) or customer support at this point (since now I'm going for either a replacement or refund and/or courtesy warranty extension)? Only issue with replacement is that this is really the best they can do all ready! Whoever it is is gonna get a mouthful

 

I would go through tech support first as they are the ones that are dealing with your issues, just explain to them that they wouldn't like to have the issues that you have had to deal with themselves,and to look into the amount of tech history that you have had to put up with, which points to the sale of goods act.... where it is that if the goods are not of the standard that was described ie... working!!.. then the consumer is entitled to a full refund or a replacement of the same value. so basicly you've got them over a barrell try and get a hold of any tech history that you have had done on paper, records of what work has been done and the replacement machine invoice, these will give you more fire power. One other thing also is to no matter how frustrated you are always be POLITE and COURTIOUS "NEVER" swear or curse and ask for all correspondence to be followed up by letter (cannot deny a paper trail) and record phone calls ( but you need to warn them of this, or it is illegal).

Good Luck

 

This is governed by British law but the USA/Canada will have a very similar one....

1 Implied term about quality.E+W+S+N.I.(1)In section 14 of the M1Sale of Goods Act 1979 (implied terms about quality or fitness) for subsection (2) there is substituted—
“(2)Where the seller sells goods in the course of a business, there is an implied term that the goods supplied under the contract are of satisfactory quality.
(2A)For the purposes of this Act, goods are of satisfactory quality if they meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as satisfactory, taking account of any description of the goods, the price (if relevant) and all the other relevant circumstances.
(2B)For the purposes of this Act, the quality of goods includes their state and condition and the following (among others) are in appropriate cases aspects of the quality of goods—
(a)fitness for all the purposes for which goods of the kind in question are commonly supplied,
(b)appearance and finish,
(c)freedom from minor defects,
(d)safety, and
(e)durability.
(2C)The term implied by subsection (2) above does not extend to any matter making the quality of goods unsatisfactory—
(a)which is specifically drawn to the buyer’s attention before the contract is made,
(b)where the buyer examines the goods before the contract is made, which that examination ought to reveal, or
(c)in the case of a contract for sale by sample, which would have been apparent on a reasonable examination of the sample.”
(2)In section 15 of that Act (sale by sample) in subsection (2)(c) for “rendering them unmerchantable” there is substituted “ making their quality unsatisfactory ”.

I hope this helps to toward you getting a SATISFACTORY RESULT