Yup, this would be a genius idea. Doesn't Windows have its own disk imaging, though? Also, is this Free Edition of 7 for sure not the trial version? One question I do have regarding imaging: are files other than system files also imaged, or would I need to forego doing my own things in the meantime? (For instance, Steam DLC, etc.)
I should add that I think my computer has Acronis Full Image. Would this be a suitable option for this purpose?
Backup and Restore (Windows 7) is, as has been said here many times, deprecated. There for legacy only. MS itself recommends go 3rd party for disk imaging.
If you like Acronis, feel free to use it of course.
Disk imaging: the typical use is that you create an image file whose contents are a compressed copy of the used parts of the disks and partitions selected.
To labour the point: e.g. restoring Windows partitions (usually plural) means also restoring all data whatsoever to as it was on the date the image was created- because the whole used area of each partition is recreated.
OK, so in other words, any files I work on on my desktop or in my Documents folder will also get recreated. But if I use those documents on Google Docs or Microsoft Online instead, I can continue to work on those because they are online copies, and not saved on my disc. Anything done locally will wind up reverted, so when I take to doing this, make sure I keep working at this and don't start working on important files.
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So going to post a minor update. The laptop, I just checked its system page, and it's also on build 1903. It was installed - well - much earlier than November 24, and has no lagging issues. The laptop only has Intel and Realtek. So I am more convinced that one of my other sound drivers is the cause of my issues. I think that is where we should start, but let me do some file movements and also handle my race commentary this evening and then I can start working on the latency (hopefully fixing it) this weekend. I'm thinking disabling the Elgato is a great first step to try as I originally identified that as a possible source of the problem..
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So I have not reached the spikes again yet, and am kind of holding in place until I do. As I noted, it takes a few days. Here're the latest screens. Interestingly, bdservicehost (BitDefender) has 11 hard pagefaults, the most, while LAtencyMon itself has 10. Nothing else is registering. I am holding out hope that reinstalling RealTek might have fixed it, but I don't think this is the case. Three days is the general time I start looking for audio playing issues. If I go a couple more days without more problems I'll try to amp up the video playing to try to make it happen.
Last edited by CycloneGU; 28 May 2020 at 22:07.
Another update: I ran another set of tests after being in a voice chat room on Discord for several hours, and noticing the latency crop up mid-broadcast (I was assisting with a qualifier heats broadcast on a speedrunning channel). The results showed the NVIDIA Windows Kernal high on the drivers, but no other clues there. On the apps panel, it showed Chrome with 153 hard pagefaults in 30 seconds, with a BitDefender service registering 16 and an IRC chatting program triggering exactly two, nothing else registered.
I closed Chrome, waited, and ran the test for 25 minutes. I got one mild spike, and that was when a Discord alert came through. Otherwise, I ran no issues at all. I rebooted to run the evening broadcast after looking up threads on the GeForce site regarding build 1903 causing all sorts of issues. I am starting to believe there is a problem with the NVIDIA drivers. This might be where to focus efforts.
At this point, I think it's time to start experimenting. I call a race tomorrow, but am unavailable earlier in the day. That said, if I can have a guided process for trying to fix this (including backing up my disk image, of course, and I think I have Acronis Disk Image for that anyway), then I can proceed from there.
Remeber this that I mentioned from your LatencyMon txt report a while back?
Highest reported total DPC routine time (%): 0.125827
Driver with highest DPC total execution time: iaStorAC.sys - Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology driver - x64, Intel Corporation
I made some general suggestions in post #10. Sorry, there's no way I can help give blow by blow steps for this. Each solution can be unique.
I'll quote that post.
The thread in question was for build 1903. This happened after 1903 was installed. It may be similar principles, and it's most likely a driver, and my first disable attempt will be the Elgato Sound Driver since I've now disconnected the only Elgato device. That might fix the problem, it might not, I'll see once I have the file moving done and the disk image ready.
That also is one of the things that was changed. I thought I first connected the Elgato device over the summer, but I don't have the time 100% nailed down for that. I do know trying to reinstall the Realtek driver was not the fix because I clearly had the issue recur today after 3 hours in a miced up environment, but the issue seems to be somehow tied to Chrome because it WENT AWAY after I closed Chrome (tested with a video in Firefox). Do I really have to not use Chrome for two weeks and see if the problem recurs?
It could also be disk space, hence why I plan to move files. I have 50 GB available. I can drop another 100 GB of stuff, and I can eventually remove other "expensive" Steam games in terms of space. It seems auto racing related games tend to fall in that category. I could also buy and install a second hard drive and move all documents to that, but that won't solve the Steam install situation.
Could I clean install? You bet. But again, I have to back up my entire computer before doing that. Along the way, I can find out if clearing drivers and relocating some files helps, and a clean install might not be warranted.
The main thing is, if I want to go back to, say, build 1809, am I still somehow able to do this and uninstall 1903? Will doing that mess things up extremely badly for me?
Are the threads I'm finding with problems between NVIDIA and 1903 something that has merit to audio latency issues? Or is that more likely a video or gaming issue? Could my videos be part of the problem, or even my use of Flash on commentary streams?
Finally, what should I try adding to the performance monitor in order to make it search the things I really need to check, that might help us narrow down the problem?
- makes no odds.The thread in question was for build 1903. This happened after 1903
The easiest thing to try initially will be simplification and elimination.
In Device Manager disable any devices not essential, including your video card.
Uninstall Intel Rapid Storage Technology
See if LatencyMon reports anything different. You might be lucky.
The only way to do that would be to download an 1809 iso file, create a bootable disk, and clean install 1809.The main thing is, if I want to go back to, say, build 1809, am I still somehow able to do this and uninstall 1903? Will doing that mess things up extremely badly for me?
I've suggested a couple of times that you remove the graphics card/disable it for test purposes.Are the threads I'm finding with problems between NVIDIA and 1903 something that has merit to audio latency issues?
I meant to say the thread was for build 1809, not 1903. I think you picked up on that.
So I think we agree NVIDIA is the first step, but I should definitely make a disk image first? Again, I'll reduce some files before doing that for obvious reasons. I needed an excuse to finish organizing my music folders, anyway.
So I finally decided I wanted to try the driver issue with NVIDIA. Got some directions from a NVIDIA person who also checked my system info and seemed to agree changing NVIDIA drivers was a good step (either that or they were a version back in the 300s). The swap has been completed cleanly, and I am now running on the current drivers. Unfortunately I can't conduct any new test today or tomorrow as I will be moving tomorrow, but I will be testing video going into the weekend and seeing whether it once again starts to get bad, or whether the lag issue is licked for good. I did intentionally leave the system on after I noticed it again a few days ago and noticed my typing start to process apparent typos, which was the system lag not registering key presses frequently to the point I had to fix four or five "typos" in two lines of text (with no errors while typing this post just now, on a fresh reboot). So even if I don't find too much video lag, that will be a clue to me that something is amiss and we would have to run the next test. I will update in roughly a week from tomorrow if I find I am having no lag, possibly sooner if I do.
Sorry for the lack of updates. Powerouts periodically have delayed my tests.
I can now confirm that latency issues have returned. I noticed it pick up when I went to play an OST track on Youtube, and tested with an actual video of something else to notice a lot of fuzzing noise. I could take a recording of a video if it helps, but I can now determine that NVIDIA driver updates were NOT the solution. That said, at least my NVIDIA drivers are up to date now.
If you have any additional suggestions, I'm all ears. I can also run new tests if necessary; please let me know what I should try to do and attach to a next reply. I will have time tomorrow afternoon to run said tests and they can run on the system prior to me rebooting it for the usual temporary fix to the issues.
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