Problems with POL/FFXI... or the laptop itself

Elixer

Elixer

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All right, last night was the third night in a row that I've had this problem. I'll explain everything - maybe it's not just POL, but something else as well.
I haven't listened to music for about a month on my computer (kinda sad, but anyway). In the past week or so, the sound has been very choppy though eventually clears out after I've been playing music on WinAmp for about 5-10 minutes or so. However, it remains choppy and broken when I play XI or am on POL.
Anyway.. onto the POL/FFXI problem. I've noticed that when my computer lags enough on the program, it ends up crashing my laptop (Blue Screen of Death style each time). I have had it happen out of the blue, when it doesn't seem to be lagging the computer itself, but POL/XI lags too much. A couple nights ago, it happened four times in a row.
The BSoD says that it's a memory problem, but due to XP's wonderous auto-restart function after about 3 seconds in the screen, I'm unable to write anything down or get any good info on why it's doing it.
Is this a possible POL/FFXI problem exclusively? Could it be my RAM is going bad? Or another problem that could be fixed? Any assistance (before I take it into the Toshiba dealer here) is greatly appreciated.
 
1. Hold Windows Key, and push Pause

2. Click Advanced tab.

3. Under Start up and Recovery - Click Advanced.

4. Clear the Automatically Restart check box.

5. Then click ok, ok, ok... etc.

Next time it happens write down the 0x code, and I can help you with it.

Good Luck!

(I could walk you through examining the event viewer, but I assume the above method is easier).
 
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Okay, by either coincidence or awkwardness, my computer has not been crashing ever since I posted this thread. Makes me wonder if my laptop is messing with me.. Anyway!
However, the problem with the sound still occurs, whether it be in WinAmp, Media Player, POL/FFXI, whatever. Until I get my computer to inadvertently crash again, any ideas on why my sound would be messed up (still)?
For anyone who wonders if it's laptop's temperature/cooling, the room I'm in is rather cool.. the laptop itself is not overly hot at all (it's merely a warm, almost wanting to say room temp or lower, but not cool.. maybe 50-70 F)... and it's sat upon a hardwood desk.
I'm still not putting it past perhaps that it might have overheated before, and maybe the RAM is messed up.. or something else. I still don't know due to the frickin' thing not having crashed again since the original post! RAWR!
Anyway... <.<; That's my semi-updated situation with it.

Edit: Speak of the devil just a few minutes ago... My computer crashed! I wrote down the info. For those who are better at it than I..
STOP 0x000000D1 (0xA969F000, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0xAA74F21E)
CHDAud.sys at Address AA74F21E base at AA72D000, Datestamp 44233324
Now, I did look up the CHDAud.sys once my laptop rebooted - it's my Conexant High Definition Audio. However, I don't know if it's the driver, or something about the RAM, or what-not. Any ideas, still? Thank you for the assistance!
 
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Looking at the error code it might be a problem with your soundcard driver.

After looking up which soundcard this CHDAud.sys belongs to I come to a Conexant HD Audio soundcard, which is a pretty generic card used in many laptop and motherboard brands.

My advise before anything else is to reinstall your soundcard with a newer version of the driver and see if it will run more stable.
 
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Okay.. I didn't write down anything about an IRQ - my apologies if it was necessary.
In regards to the sound driver, I reinstalled it by updating it with the latest one for XP. It has not fixed the problem entirely, as the sound is still choppy while my laptop is under some stress of processing. It never used to do this, before a couple weeks ago. But in the past couple weeks, it has gotten to be how it is now. If I don't do anything but listen to music on WinAmp, I'm fine... however, in something like XI/POL, the music is consistently choppy and broken up, even sound effects are as well.
If I get the error again, I'll write down the IRQ thing, if that's still important. Otherwise, that's what I've done so far.
 
Have you tried to remove your soundcard from the device manager?
It might be that you have installed the new driver but that windows still uses the old driver.

As you work on a laptop, I'm looking for the problem in the soundcard driver as hardware configuration probably hasn't changed.

Another thought might be some other software recently installed which is 'biting' your soundcard driver.
 
I'll just skip to the conclusion. Usually when you have a 0x..D1 error, it's a hardware error. And it usually follows an IRQ not equal or less than message.

Your drivers will usually not go bad because well... you don't change them.

I've had D1 errors with HDs, Sound cards and Video cards. All I did was swap hardware and reinstall drivers. Worked every time, except when it's something serious like your PCI bridge or something.

Too bad it's a laptop tho, you can just disable the sound card so the computer does not access it anymore, but then you would have to purchase a PCCard or USB one. (Unattractive).
 
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Hmm... so if I'm reading this right, I should try disabling the soundcard, then re-enable it? Should I re-enable it after: 1) Immediately after, 2) After re-installing the updated driver as well, 3) After restarting, or 4) After a combination of 2 & 3?
I'm just wanting to make sure I try this correctly, as I am honestly becoming a bit annoyed with my sound. ^^;
I know I could take it into the Toshiba dealer here in town, where I bought it from.. but obviously, I don't know how much it would cost. Albeit, I'm sure it would be worth it, since I do like my sound and don't feel like purchasing an external card.
 
High chance it's not a driver problem. So updating or downgrading the driver will not help.

It's basically process of elimination. Your sound card is experiencing problems. But you have trade offs here. Either disable the card and that will fix your problem (and you'll have to live without sound) or you'll have to spend a little to get a new one. You can find them for ~$25 today.

Re-enabling your device after deactivation will simply cause the problem to surface again.

The reason your sound card driver was mentioned in the 0x-D1 error is because it's trying to process instructions between the hardware controller and your operating system. And something caused a hard interrupt which prompted your BSOD.

It's safe to assume your drivers were never changed or altered, unless you have a virus that specifically targets your CHDaud.sys file or its libraries which we all know sounds ridiculous. Now this leads to the only thing left. Hardware.




To answer your question directly, if you disable the card, it will fix the problem. But you'll have no sound. If you activate it again, you will have sound but you'll have intermittent BSODs again.

Only deal with your manufacture if your device is still under manufacture warranty. If it's not, you will end up paying a service fee plus labor and parts. When you could always just purchase a card for 10% of the price.

And yeah external cards are not nice since it's a little extra baggage but if you don't mind ~1 inch of plastic sticking out, that is the best option if you want to fix everything independently.

Let us know about your decision making process!
Good Luck.
 
Currently looking at USB sound cards. I am curious as to how they work, however, since none of them are really stating how they do so.
Do they work merely by plugging them in? Do I have to connect them with another cable of sorts or something similarly thereof? I am asking now, rather than buying immediately, so that I know what to expect.
 
Yeah, USB sound cards are the clumsy ones, you plug it in, then it goes out to a dongle and, for lack of better terms, a box where you plug your speakers and or headsets.
 
Well just becareful now... sound cards may have the best specs in the world, but if you don't have the software backbone to support it, it's a waste of money.

To date, I do not think FFXI supports anything higher than 2.1 sound. If I'm wrong someone correct me, and I'll slap on some better speakers lol...

Same goes with MP3s, M4Vs etc. If it's not encoded with 5.1 channels of sound, it will be no different than having a 2.1 setup with 2 rear satellites with weaker sound. Kind of like watching regular 60hz TV on a 1080p DV, but the difference is not as drastic.

However, if you're a tech nut, just buy the best one and have the piece of mind you'll be ready with hardware that contains features you might (but will never) use in the future lol.

I recommend PCCard if you want to save space, but USB could be a better option in case you want to use the card in another PC some day... who knows.

Now to address your concern... you can get any of those cards you linked above. I guarantee you will not notice a difference between any of the cards if you were going to compare them side to side while just listening to music. 16 20 or 24 bit sound again has to be encoded into the sound file you're listening to. If you have a 8bit stereo mp3 for instance, you can pump it out through the 24-bit xfi and guess what... it'll sound like a 8bit mp3.

But, the good thing about creative is... they have a mixer program that can alter the sound of your lower quality music files to "sound" like they're higher fidelity. In my personal opinion the feature works quite well.

So it ends at that, if you're looking for true 5.1 - 7.1 support get the best card you can find today. If you laptop can support FFXI, I'm sure it can support the soundcard you plug in. Keep in mind you'll only take full advantage of your extra speakers if you have the software (may it be games, DVDs, music in 7.1) to support the true 5-7.1 output.

If you're just listening to music off iTunes / playing FFXI / just get a standard Live! USB adapter, it'll save you about $50 while you're at it.

Let us know more about what you're doing or planning to do with your sound device!
 
Well, going on what you just told me, and the specs and cost of the three I listed.. I'll probably go with the Live! one. Of course, due to it being of stock on their web site, I may look around more.. and possibly even seek it out at local places here. As for speakers, I'm sure I can find some somewhere for a decent price.. maybe at Walmart or something. I dunno.. <.<; But I guess I'll just have to end up seeing how things go from here. ^^; Money's an issue, but I find my ways around it by careful budgeting.
 
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