Multiple System and hardware issues and errors for Dell 8400 Dimension

Question

I have a Dell 8400 Dimension computer, which I've had for 2 years now. I had to replace my motherboard a while back because I was told it was damaged, and certain hardware was not getting the proper power, etc. Anyhow.

It wasn't until after the change and maybe before...or whatever, I don't know...but now....I have being getting POPS, CLICKS, SKIPS, in any audio file (mp3, etc) that I play. Doesn't matter what application I use, whether it's Winamp, WMP, etc, I still get the pops and clicks, etc. Even when I play a Youtube video, I hear the same problem.

When I do a CTRL/ALT/DEL to bring up the Task Manager to End Task a program or process, the PING, that you would hear when clicking yes or no to end it....I would hear pops and clicks.

Shutting down my computer, where you get the audio outro from Windows before it shuts completely down, I would get those pops and clicks.

Running along side that issue, my Mouse halts. Usually I can drag it across the screen fine, but after a while stops for half a second or jumps. When I scroll down a webpage or Microsoft Word file, etc, if I'm playing an mp3, I can hear the skips and pops, etc....or even when moving the mouse a lot.

It seems like the system is lagging at times, like not enough power is getting to it or something.

Usually I can start up and it will run fine for a while, and even with moving the mouse, viewing a webpage, while playing an mp3, it will be fine, but then after a while, all those issues come back.

I've run all my spyware programs, which are good at finding ANYTHING and have come up with NOTHING.

I've talked to a Dell Tech and am waiting for a callback....but when working with the Dell Tech.... we've Disabled the Intregrated Audio in BIOS so it runs off the Soundblaster Card, got rid of all the junk and temp files (that hadn't been removed), changed some system settings, reinstalled Soundblaster and it's drivers, reinstalled some of the audio player programs, stopped some of the programs and processes that aren't needed at the moment or don't need to run on Startup.....

but I STILL get the pops, clicks, mouse halts and all that.

I have no idea why I'm continuing to have these problems, but I think all these issues are Hardware related, and think I have to replace my motherboard, sound cards and mouse. Am I correct in this assumption?

Overall does any have any idea what these problems mean, why they are happening, or could offer a fix or suggestions? I would appreciate it.

Message Edited by thezeppo on 06-28-2007 09:55 AM

Message Edited by thezeppo on 06-28-2007 03:06 PM

Message Edited by thezeppo on 06-29-2007 03:04 PM

DELL-Donald K · Answer

#1  Flash the motherboard BIOS to the latest version. #2  download PIOtoDMA.exe from support.dell.com and run it to ensure all optical drives are in DMA mode #3  Try reinstalling the Intel Chipset utility. #4  Remove the soundblaster card, enable the onboard audio and see if the issue still occurs

RoHe · Answer

And if none of the good suggestions from DaGeezerUS help, make sure Windows Indexing Service is turned off. That's one which can cause the problems you're having.
Click start>run
Type in: services.msc
Click ok
Find Indexing Service in the list, double-click it and set to "disabled".

Ron

thezeppo · Answer

>>> #1 Flash the motherboard BIOS to the latest version. #2 download PIOtoDMA.exe from support.dell.com and run it to ensure all optical drives are in DMA mode #3 Try reinstalling the Intel Chipset utility. #4 Remove the soundblaster card, enable the onboard audio and see if the issue still occurs <<< On the first two options, could you tell me how to Flash for the motherboard BIOS as well as how to run that PIOtoDMA.exe. and concerning the PIOtoDMA.exe file. I did a search on support.dell.com and couldn't find the file. Any help on that would be appreciated. Thanks Message Edited by thezeppo on 06-28-2007 02:09 PM Message Edited by thezeppo on 06-28-2007 02:10 PM

shesagordie · Answer

thezeppo

PIOtoDMA.exe or you could try this "Go to Device Manager > IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers > Right click Primary IDE Channel > Properties > Advanced Settings and select transfer mode. Make certain all the channels are set to the DMA mode"

BIOS: Dell Dimension 8400, A09 with instructions.

Bev.

===================================================
Please don't send me questions about your system by DCF Messenger.
Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

thezeppo · Answer

>>>> thezeppo PIOtoDMA.exe or you could try this 'Go to Device Manager > IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers > Right click Primary IDE Channel > Properties > Advanced Settings and select transfer mode. Make certain all the channels are set to the DMA mode' BIOS: Dell Dimension 8400, A09 with instructions .Bev. <<<<<< Thank you Bev for your help. I did try the Device Manager to the Primary IDE Channel option, like you suggested.....but the settings and all the channels in the Advanced Settings mode, were already at 'DMA mode.' I'll try the Bios option you provided next....and see if it helps....though I think I still might have to change out my motherboard (which I had replaced), Intel chipset (which the chipset had been a, and THE, primary problem, since I bought my computer) and sound cards....maybe. But I'll give the Bios option a shot, and see if it helps. Thank you. Message Edited by thezeppo on 06-28-2007 07:01 PM

RoHe · Answer

If you haven't already done it, change the setting for Windows Updates from Automatic to Notify Only.

Open System control panel
Click Windows Update tab
Change the radio button to "Notify me"
Save the change and reboot.
On some systems, Automatic Updates hogs the CPU and causes these kinds of symptoms.

And did you turn off Windows Indexing Service as I previously suggested?

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 06-29-2007 01:55 PM

thezeppo · Answer

Dell techs are telling me not to flash the BIOS.

Worked again with the Tech Supervisor today, some settings were changed, but I'll have to see whether they work or not.

Because....

A: If I keep the system on for a while, whether I'm working on something, running a single audio file and just scrolling the mouse........or just let the computer idle for a while and then play a file or youtube video or whatever...it will pop, skip etc.

B: I notice that when my audio pops and clicks or my mouse starts to lag or whatever....when I do a CRTL/ALT/DEL to bring up the task manager, I notice the CPU Usage is at or near 100%. It will then usually go down....but the pops and clicks, etc....continue...unless I completely stop using the computer, etc, for a while, and then it runs fine again for a while.

C: Sometimes when the computer is on for a long time, and it's in the cooling mode, where the system gets a little louder, because of the fan or whatever...sometimes the pops and clicks occur there.

Next week we're gonna try removing the Soundblaster card, and going to onboard audio and seeing if that works. If not....they keep saying it's a software issue, but I don't really know...but anyhow....

The Supervising Tech said that, if anything else, I would have to install my OS and run it parallel to my previous OS. I forgot how it was said, but, I would have two OS's going somewhat, or the new one would be going, but I would have to move everything over.

He said all my files and such, would remain intact and I wouldn't lose ANY of them, if I did this install....but I'm not sure.

But he said by doing this, I would have a clean OS, and any errors would be on the old OS, or whatever. I hope that made sense...but that was the last option given, if nothing else works.

Cause last night while playing a Youtube video, my audio was popping, mouse halting more than before, and then I noticed I was having Video playback problems as well....which was the first time I noticed it.

So, I don't know what all that means on top of the prior issues.

thezeppo · Answer

^ I did set the automatic updates to Notify Me.   As for the Windows Indexing Service. Just for my understanding. Why do I need to turn it off and why could it be a reason for the pops and clicks or whatever. Just wondering?     Also, the pops and clicks would happen after the system had been on idle for a while.

RoHe · Answer

Windows Indexing Service runs in the background to index the location of every file on your hard drive so searches run faster. It hogs a lot of system resourrces and could slow things down to the point where you might hear noise when the audio file isn't read fast enough because the drive is busy being indexed. Indexing Service typically starts when the system is idle so it could be busy when you decide to play audio.

A lightbulb just lit up in my head! What video card (yes, video card) do you have in this 8400? If it's nVidia geForce 6800, go to this link and download free Process Explorer. Run PE and on toolbar set Options>Always on top. Adjust the PE window so it's small and off in a corner. When the audio acts up, look in the PE window to see what's using CPU time. If DPCs (deferred procedure calls) are using more than ~2-3% of CPU time, your video card is acting up and may need to be replaced.

Dell has had problems with failing nVidia 6800 cards generating lots of DPCs in the Dimension 8400 and making the audio snap, crackle, pop like a bowl of rice krispies and causing the mouse to lag.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/systeminformationutilities.mspx

If you see lots of DPCs, first thing to do is remove and reinstall the nVidia card driver. If that doesn't fix it, then you have to consider that the card is on the way out.

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 06-30-2007 06:46 PM

Locked Topics – Desktops General

Multiple System and hardware issues and errors for Dell 8400 Dimension

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