choppy video playback-computer question

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

When I play one of my videos, the playback is choppy.  The picture freezes and the music still plays and then the pic catches up and freezes again etc

The odd thing is, I'm playing these right off my computer but if I go to you tube, those play fine.

??????

Usually it's the other way around.  A buffering issue.  Any suggestions?

new version of media player recently downloaded but it's the same w/ realplayer,etc

[cart7t]

I've been having a similar type problem.  

Installed a new motherboard due to a different reason.  I started having problems immediately afterwards.  Intermittant, Complete freeze up which forces me to hit reset since the mouse and keyboard is frozen.  It was almost gauranteed to happen watching you tube or any other Online streaming video.  It happens just surfing the net as well but I have noticed that just watching video's off my hard drive seems just a little choppier than before.  I'm running a 128meg GForce 5700 card.  I had to drop my memory on the new board to just 1g but that should be plenty enough.  I'm wondering if I don't have a power supply issue.

[Glenn]

First thing I would do is de-frag your HD.  If it's still an issue, then go to your respective video card's website and install the latest driver - there's probably a newer version.  That usually cures most issues.  If it doesn't, then it's time to do a little more digging before doing anything else.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

defrag hard drive-How to?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

nevermind, found it, defragging now.  Thaks guys.

[fishingrulz]

Pause it until it buffers completly. I was just watching videos and they were breakin like that, so I paused it and it buffered then it worked.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

read back, it's not a buffering issue, it plays on-line videos fine.  Just not the ones saved on my computer.

[cabela10]

It means you don't have enough memory on your computer. Purchase a bigger memory stick. Might need to take it in to get it installed. They are cheap, should be a fix for under $100. With all the videos on your computer, you ran out of memory to operate those videos correctly. Memory issues is always the answer to those questions. If you don't want to pay money, then go through your computer and delete huge files that you don't need/use. I bet that will fix any issues you have with your computer running from your hard drive. Online videos are different because it doesn't use your hard drive to run them.

[justfishin]

                         www.tech.msn.com/howto/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1233128

[Guest Texas_Bass_Pro]

Low_Budget_Hookers

new version of media player recently downloaded but it's the same w/ realplayer,etc

That might be your problem as well.  Try going back to the old player if you can and see what happens.

[Glenn]

Woa guys.  Try the things I listed above first.  Then, BEFORE you run off and start buying more memory, reverting software, etc., stop and do some investigating.  Otherwise it's just a shotgun approach in the hopes you stumble upon the fix.  You could compound, or mask, the problem if you take that approach.

By investigating, I mean check for device/driver conflicts, see if there's issues with ALL videos on the computer, or just certain ones, run diagnostics on the computer, etc.  Just gather information before taking any further action.  The results of your investigation should point you to the exact problem, and fix.

[cabela10]

Glenn, I said what I did because I went to school for computers.  I got right to the point, the things you listed are great starting out points but I think the real issue is the memory.

[edbassmaster]

Its your computer...you can produce the video with software and it will not do that anymore. I had to do the same thing than once I produced the video through the software it was fine.

[fishingrulz]

read back, it's not a buffering issue, it plays on-line videos fine. Just not the ones saved on my computer.

Sorry didn't catch the last post, I was doing a lot of stuff at the time.

[Glenn]

Glenn, I said what I did because I went to school for computers. I got right to the point, the things you listed are great starting out points but I think the real issue is the memory.

The issue could be memory.  It could also be the download of the new media player had a corrupted file, and reinstalling a fresh download could solve it.  It could also be the new player is designed for new drivers, and installing the latest video card driver could solve the issue.  It could also be that just the HD is terribly fragmented, so defragging it could clear it up. It could be something else too.

There's lots of possibilities.  Doing the investigation should reveal the problem.  

But what would I know. I only have an A+ certification, CIW Associate, CIW Professional, and 3 CIW Master Certifications.

[cabela10]

Glenn,

I also have the A+ certificate and I'm a Certified Novell Administrator.

I wasn't saying the things you said weren't a great starting point. I just have a strong suspicion that he has low memory issues from all the video files on his computer. I'm sure the computer wasn't bought in the first place to operate possibly hundreds of videos. Those videos usually require a lot of memory to run properly.

The issue could be his car. It could be his house. It could be because of the tree in his front yard. It could be because of the trash company that he uses. It could be because he woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

The point is, I'm sure Low_budget knows his way around the computer. Usually when you help out a novice, you tell them to check cords, check this and check that. Sorry if I skipped the simple steps. I like fixing the problem from the beginning.

AND MY GOD, MY DOG IS REALLY ANNOYING ME RIGHT NOW. He must think I'm holding a X-mas present from him.

[StatosDadRI]

LBH another possiblity is that either your hardrive or cd may have lost it's dma setting. It may be talking to the mother board at a much slower speed that it can UDMA 2-6. Drives both hardrives and optical (CD ,DVD) can go back to PIO mode which is a much slower transfer rate. I'm working on a brand new Acer laptop that does this every 5 days or so. Windows XP drops down to PIO mode after 6 data transfer errors. It doesnt go back by itself.  Try control panel, system, hardware, device manager, IDE controllers than check primary, double click it then go to advanced. Look for current transfer rate.  

Call me you have my number if needed.

[justfishin]

Right on Glenn. Most of my friends call me after the " Shotgun approach ". I tell them to think of PC problems as electrical wiring. Start with the simplest most obvious first and work your way up. Most of the time the problems are simple.

[Vyron]

LBH , most likely its software issue.

Use differnet codecs, players ,like Glenn said investigate.

Hardware problem would be the last thing would come in my mind and that would be harddisk and not memory. (he plays online videos fine!!!)

[cabela10]

You people can say all you want and agree with Glenn, which is the obvious thing for you people to do.  When and if LBH gets this problem fixed, he should come in and tell everyone what the issue was with his computer.

[Vyron]

You people can say all you want and agree with Glenn, which is the obvious thing for you people to do.  When and if LBH gets this problem fixed, he should come in and tell everyone what the issue was with his computer.

Man I dont agree with Glenn cause he is the administrator.

I am systems engineer with bsc in computer engineering and msc in communications networks and software. 1st u investigate,check the software and then check the hardware. nobody can be 100% sure.

as i said before ,how can he view online videos fine if he has mem problems?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Listen to him.

New driver for video card, all set.

PS- I listened to him because it's what he does for a living, like vyron. Just the same, thanks to everyone for all the help!! You guys are great.

I will say that out of curiosity, I did check my car, house and tree in front yard.  Wasn't them,lol.

Cabela- my cat and your dog are in cohoots I think,lol.

[cabela10]

ha, I figured for sure it was the tree in front.