Crackly internal sound, some USB devices not working properly

Msprg · 20 Oct 2020

First of all, I caonsider myself a power user. Which means lot of installed programs, apps, utilities etc...

WinVer: 1909 (18363.1139) Professional X64

It looks like something in my Win10 install in taking too long time in ISRs which causes some HW devices to "stutter" for example occasional cracks in audio, or stuttery output from USB RTL-SDR.

When running on clean install, everything runs smoothly. Then I install programs as I need them, and I can never notice when, but always after about 6 months from clean install, I notice occasional crackles in my internal soundcard's output. Doesn't matter if playing on internal speakers or via AUX outptut. Also related issue might be that I experience gradual shift (desync) in sound while watching videos, (sound falls behind video) no matter videos on youtube or in VLC from local drive.

For some time, I "solved" this problem by using cheap USB soundcard, which, compared to the "crackly" internal soundcard, was playing buttery smoothly. But my USB soundcard broke for - to me - unknown reason, and so I am forced to use my internal soundcard reminding me of my system's long ISRs once again. On the top of that, I decided to play a bit with RTL-SDR dongle, and the sound as well as the displayed waveform are... eh, choppy, or stuterry I would say, I just think it's for the same reason as why my soundcard is crackling.

I tried running latecymon, and statistics for my system are pretty bad - unusable I would say... Screenshots here: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

But, when I run latencymon on the clean install of windows, I get good values, not excellent, but good enough for sound not to stutter, and RTL-SDR to run smoothly as well.

So, I am asking you, oh great people of tenfoums, what I am doing wrong, to deserve such hell-like latency? (Btw I already disabled that... battery ACPI device or whatever, yeah it did help a bit, and... we are staying in that "bit" part. it's like 10% improvement...

dalchina · 20 Oct 2020

Hi, as I've posted in similar situations: you have two basic options.
a. an analytical one using Windows Performance Analyser (free from MS- technical- graphical presentation showing delays.
Search for that on tenforums and you will find example threads and screenshots.

b. a process of elimination. You say htings are fine after a clean install, so there are two basic possibilities:
- an update
- something you've installed.

Do you always clean install exactly the same build?

Elimination:
a. Perform a clean boot and compare performance.
b. If problem still present, use Autoruns (free from MS) - tick check boxes to disable further non-MS items perhaps starting with drivers.

Ensure you have an approprate backup before starting.

Note: I don't normally click on imgur images. The most helpful way to post screenshots is as per the tutorial:

Crackly internal sound, some USB devices not working properly-screenshot-.png

f14tomcat · 20 Oct 2020

"When running on clean install, everything runs smoothly. Then I install programs as I need them, and I can never notice when, but always after about 6 months from clean install, I notice occasional crackles in my internal soundcard's output"

Instead of a clean install of 1909, do an in-place repair of 1909.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

In-place does a complete "refresh" of the OS and it's supporting files, and leaves all your apps and data as is.

If after the in-place you still have the Crackle, 99.99% chance is it one of your apps and you'll need to follow the advice Dalchina gave on diags. If it's gone, give it the "6-month" test again. See if it creeps back in. Diags again.

In-place is a lot faster than clean install and re-install of all your apps. Dependent on machine, 30-60 minutes total. Mine is 30 mins. It varies. In-place repair will hurt nothing.

dalchina · 20 Oct 2020

And if you wish to perform an in-place upgrade repair of 1909 you have 2 options:
a. Assuming you have a bootable disk for 1909, then log in, insert that disk, and run setup.exe
b. Download an iso file for 1909 using e.g. Heidoc's iso downloader, as per tutorial.

f14tomcat · 20 Oct 2020

Yes, that's all in the tutorial via the link.

dalchina · 20 Oct 2020

Granted the information to do that is all there, but you've got to read it knowing what you're doing and keep making the right choices as you read. Anyway, let's leave that discussion there as more would be a distraction and see what progress is made.

f14tomcat · 20 Oct 2020

Of course, of course. Normally, the OP would be back with any questions so we could assist, as opposed to assumimg the questions and providing answers to questions not asked yet.

And, by definition, a tutorial is to teach. There is an assumption that the person reading does not know much about the subject, therefore is worded accordingly. If they knew all about it, unlikely they would be reading to learn.

Let the OP decide the steps. It's his thread and question.

Msprg · 20 Oct 2020

Hello guys!

Thank you for caring about me not understanding some info correctly. I would ask on my own though.

For now I got a system trace recorded (Turns out I have had already almost all components of WA/DK installed) but I am not sure about myself analyzing it properly, so I would like to ask, if it would be viable idea to send the trace to one of you, for analysis. I have marked spots just as crackling occured (markers will be delayed of course) there may be just 1 false positive, and several false negatives - that I didn't catch.

If not viable, maybe just try suggest me some main markers to look out for in trace analysing.

dalchina · 20 Oct 2020

Hi, only one user, @zinou, is familiar with these.

Meanwhile, do feel free to search for
WPA
Windows Performance Analyser
Windows Performance Recorder

to find examples of use and settings.

Do try some basic elimination steps as I suggested - added startups, services and drivers, and any updates since your clean install esp. drivers.

Msprg · 20 Oct 2020

I have actually the clean one in dualboot, so I can switch between my current "dialy driver" version of windows, and "clean install" version that I use mainly for audio focused tasks - for obvious reasons.

So I can try to look between some specific differences if you would suggest so.