F
FlaBill
Lately my WinXP computer has been pausing frequently during any video
from news websites
What should I look for?
from news websites
What should I look for?
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
S
Shenan Stanley
FlaBill said:Lately my WinXP computer has been pausing frequently during any
video from news websites
What should I look for?
Not enough information.
Windows XP what?
- Service Pack level?
- Version number?
- 32 or 64-bit?
- What changed between it 'working correctly' and 'not working correctly'?
- Anything new installed?
- Anything updated?
- What browser are you using (exact version) when you are viewing them?
- Have you tried an alternative browser?
- How often do you clear out your Internet cache?
- These videos, what type are they (avi, wmv, mov, flash, etc?)
- Which antivirus solution are you using?
- Do you scan for other malware often?
- What does your backup regime look like?
P
peter
a better Internet connection??
peter
peter
P
Paul
FlaBill said:Lately my WinXP computer has been pausing frequently during any video
from news websites
What should I look for?
How smooth are your download graphs via your ISP ? Video won't be
smooth, if it has to rebuffer because the download was interrupted.
Try using Task Manager (the control-alt-delete thing). In WinXP there
is a Networking tab and it plots your download speed. If it is up and
down like a yoyo, while the video is playing, it could be the
video needs to rebuffer, because of packet loss. A program like
Wireshark, can give more info on how well the transfer over
your Ethernet cable is going. This is a packet sniffer, recording
incoming and outgoing traffic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireshark
If the download graph is reasonably smooth, then it could be
some other kind of issue. The last streaming video I checked with
Task Manager, looked like this. (This is well after the initial web
page has loaded and now the page is just sitting there playing a
video.)
|
| ----/\----/\----/\----
|
|__________________________
There was a steady download rate (equal in fact, to the nominal bitrate
of the movie), with a regular repeating blip where a little
more traffic was sent or received. You can see in that graph,
that there aren't any downward spikes to zero transfer rate,
indicating a networking problem such as you might get from
lost or duplicated packets.
Paul
S
Singapore Computer Service
Hello,
When you mean freezing, is it buffering or waiting for the video to download
to your computer? Have you tried waiting for some time? There should be an
indicator on the video player interface to show how much video has been
downloaded to your computer. Beyond the buffered point, video will pause
until it has downloaded enough data to continue playing.
Regards,
Singapore Computer Home Repair Service
http://www.bootstrike.com/ComputerService/
Video Conversion VHS Video8 Hi8 Digital8 MiniDv MicroMv
http://www.bootstrike.com/VHSVideoConvert/
When you mean freezing, is it buffering or waiting for the video to download
to your computer? Have you tried waiting for some time? There should be an
indicator on the video player interface to show how much video has been
downloaded to your computer. Beyond the buffered point, video will pause
until it has downloaded enough data to continue playing.
Regards,
Singapore Computer Home Repair Service
http://www.bootstrike.com/ComputerService/
Video Conversion VHS Video8 Hi8 Digital8 MiniDv MicroMv
http://www.bootstrike.com/VHSVideoConvert/
J
Jose
Lately my WinXP computer has been pausing frequently during any video
from news websites
What should I look for?
Provide more information and check some obvious things:
If you have any real time malicious software installed/running what is
it: Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, etc.
What software package is playing the video?
Please provide additional information about your system:
Click Start, Run and in the box enter:
msinfo32
Click OK, and when the System Summary info appears, click Edit, Select
All, Copy and then paste
the information back here.
There will be some personal information (like System Name and User
Name), and whatever appears to
be private information to you, just delete it from the pasted
information.
This will minimize back and forth Q&A and eliminate guesswork.
Perform some scans for malicious software:
Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:
Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/
They can be uninstalled later if desired.
If you are using IDE drives, use Device Manager to verify the transfer
mode of the IDE channels is set
to some kind of DMA mode (depends on your hardware) and not the slower
PIO mode.
PIO is the slowest, DMA is the fastest.
This is easy to check and generally easy to fix and the mode would not
have changed by itself,
so if it has changed to PIO, change it to DMA and then figure out why
it changed and fix it.
To launch the Device Manger console, click Start, Run and in the box
enter:
%SystemRoot%\system32\devmgmt.msc
Click OK.
Expand the IDE/ATA controller section to see your IDE channels. Right
click each, choose Properties,
and for each channel that has an Advanced Settings tab, determine the
Transfer Mode. There are
usually 4 channels to check in a desktop, maybe fewer for laptops.
The fastest selection will be some DMA selection (usually: DMA if
available). If it is PIO, change it
to DMA.
If you are not sure about what you see post back for help and advice.
Follow this up with a reboot to make sure any changes stick.
Determine your Internet upload/download speed and report the results:
www.speedtest.net for testing. Click the triangle on the map, wait
(US only)
http://www.bandwidth.com/tools/speedTest/
F
FlaBill
Provide more information and check some obvious things:
If you have any real time malicious software installed/running what is
it: Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, etc.
What software package is playing the video?
Please provide additional information about your system:
Click Start, Run and in the box enter:
msinfo32
Click OK, and when the System Summary info appears, click Edit, Select
All, Copy and then paste
the information back here.
There will be some personal information (like System Name and User
Name), and whatever appears to
be private information to you, just delete it from the pasted
information.
This will minimize back and forth Q&A and eliminate guesswork.
Perform some scans for malicious software:
Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:
Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/
They can be uninstalled later if desired.
If you are using IDE drives, use Device Manager to verify the transfer
mode of the IDE channels is set
to some kind of DMA mode (depends on your hardware) and not the slower
PIO mode.
PIO is the slowest, DMA is the fastest.
This is easy to check and generally easy to fix and the mode would not
have changed by itself,
so if it has changed to PIO, change it to DMA and then figure out why
it changed and fix it.
To launch the Device Manger console, click Start, Run and in the box
enter:
%SystemRoot%\system32\devmgmt.msc
Click OK.
Expand the IDE/ATA controller section to see your IDE channels. Right
click each, choose Properties,
and for each channel that has an Advanced Settings tab, determine the
Transfer Mode. There are
usually 4 channels to check in a desktop, maybe fewer for laptops.
The fastest selection will be some DMA selection (usually: DMA if
available). If it is PIO, change it
to DMA.
If you are not sure about what you see post back for help and advice.
Follow this up with a reboot to make sure any changes stick.
Determine your Internet upload/download speed and report the results:
www.speedtest.netfor testing. Click the triangle on the map, wait
(US only)
http://www.bandwidth.com/tools/speedTest/
Hope this helps you help me...
System Information
WindowsXP Home Edition ver 5.1.2600 SP2 Build 2600
Pentium(R)4 CPU 2.2GHz 2.19GHz 768MB of RAM
Browser= Mozilla Firefox ver 3.5.3
Browser= IE 7 ver 7.0.5730.13 Build 75730
Cypher strength 128bit
Product ID 92318-600-011903-00102
Security programs include:
Avasti, Zone Alarm, Windows Defender
The issue is video from websites e.g. CNN, FOX, USAToday run for
about 10 sec pause for 5 sec run again for maybe 16sec pause for
12sec in no consistent pattern.
It came about slowly over a period of weeks getting worse to prompt
this
SOS.
Cannot identify any particular change in system or upgrades to cause
this problem.
Internet cache and temp files are cleared.
Malware scans are routine.
Thanks,
J
Jose
Hope this helps you help me...
System Information
WindowsXP Home Edition ver 5.1.2600 SP2 Build 2600
Pentium(R)4 CPU 2.2GHz 2.19GHz 768MB of RAM
Browser= Mozilla Firefox ver 3.5.3
Browser= IE 7 ver 7.0.5730.13 Build 75730
Cypher strength 128bit
Product ID 92318-600-011903-00102
Security programs include:
Avasti, Zone Alarm, Windows Defender
The issue is video from websites e.g. CNN, FOX, USAToday run for
about 10 sec pause for 5 sec run again for maybe 16sec pause for
12sec in no consistent pattern.
It came about slowly over a period of weeks getting worse to prompt
this
SOS.
Cannot identify any particular change in system or upgrades to cause
this problem.
Internet cache and temp files are cleared.
Malware scans are routine.
Thanks,
That helps some, but the information from the suggestions made and
following the directions will be more helpful.
This is not the first time I have helped resolve a problem like this
and my queries are with purpose.
U
Unknown
Do a disk cleanup, defrag and shut down any background running programs.
Hope this helps you help me...
System Information
WindowsXP Home Edition ver 5.1.2600 SP2 Build 2600
Pentium(R)4 CPU 2.2GHz 2.19GHz 768MB of RAM
Browser= Mozilla Firefox ver 3.5.3
Browser= IE 7 ver 7.0.5730.13 Build 75730
Cypher strength 128bit
Product ID 92318-600-011903-00102
Security programs include:
Avasti, Zone Alarm, Windows Defender
The issue is video from websites e.g. CNN, FOX, USAToday run for
about 10 sec pause for 5 sec run again for maybe 16sec pause for
12sec in no consistent pattern.
It came about slowly over a period of weeks getting worse to prompt
this
SOS.
Cannot identify any particular change in system or upgrades to cause
this problem.
Internet cache and temp files are cleared.
Malware scans are routine.
Thanks,
Provide more information and check some obvious things:
If you have any real time malicious software installed/running what is
it: Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, etc.
What software package is playing the video?
Please provide additional information about your system:
Click Start, Run and in the box enter:
msinfo32
Click OK, and when the System Summary info appears, click Edit, Select
All, Copy and then paste
the information back here.
There will be some personal information (like System Name and User
Name), and whatever appears to
be private information to you, just delete it from the pasted
information.
This will minimize back and forth Q&A and eliminate guesswork.
Perform some scans for malicious software:
Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:
Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/
They can be uninstalled later if desired.
If you are using IDE drives, use Device Manager to verify the transfer
mode of the IDE channels is set
to some kind of DMA mode (depends on your hardware) and not the slower
PIO mode.
PIO is the slowest, DMA is the fastest.
This is easy to check and generally easy to fix and the mode would not
have changed by itself,
so if it has changed to PIO, change it to DMA and then figure out why
it changed and fix it.
To launch the Device Manger console, click Start, Run and in the box
enter:
%SystemRoot%\system32\devmgmt.msc
Click OK.
Expand the IDE/ATA controller section to see your IDE channels. Right
click each, choose Properties,
and for each channel that has an Advanced Settings tab, determine the
Transfer Mode. There are
usually 4 channels to check in a desktop, maybe fewer for laptops.
The fastest selection will be some DMA selection (usually: DMA if
available). If it is PIO, change it
to DMA.
If you are not sure about what you see post back for help and advice.
Follow this up with a reboot to make sure any changes stick.
Determine your Internet upload/download speed and report the results:
www.speedtest.netfor testing. Click the triangle on the map, wait
(US only)
http://www.bandwidth.com/tools/speedTest/
Hope this helps you help me...
System Information
WindowsXP Home Edition ver 5.1.2600 SP2 Build 2600
Pentium(R)4 CPU 2.2GHz 2.19GHz 768MB of RAM
Browser= Mozilla Firefox ver 3.5.3
Browser= IE 7 ver 7.0.5730.13 Build 75730
Cypher strength 128bit
Product ID 92318-600-011903-00102
Security programs include:
Avasti, Zone Alarm, Windows Defender
The issue is video from websites e.g. CNN, FOX, USAToday run for
about 10 sec pause for 5 sec run again for maybe 16sec pause for
12sec in no consistent pattern.
It came about slowly over a period of weeks getting worse to prompt
this
SOS.
Cannot identify any particular change in system or upgrades to cause
this problem.
Internet cache and temp files are cleared.
Malware scans are routine.
Thanks,
F
FlaBill
Provide more information and check some obvious things:
If you have any real time malicious software installed/running what is
it: Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, etc.
What software package is playing the video?
Please provide additional information about your system:
Click Start, Run and in the box enter:
msinfo32
Click OK, and when the System Summary info appears, click Edit, Select
All, Copy and then paste
the information back here.
There will be some personal information (like System Name and User
Name), and whatever appears to
be private information to you, just delete it from the pasted
information.
This will minimize back and forth Q&A and eliminate guesswork.
Perform some scans for malicious software:
Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:
Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/
They can be uninstalled later if desired.
If you are using IDE drives, use Device Manager to verify the transfer
mode of the IDE channels is set
to some kind of DMA mode (depends on your hardware) and not the slower
PIO mode.
PIO is the slowest, DMA is the fastest.
This is easy to check and generally easy to fix and the mode would not
have changed by itself,
so if it has changed to PIO, change it to DMA and then figure out why
it changed and fix it.
To launch the Device Manger console, click Start, Run and in the box
enter:
%SystemRoot%\system32\devmgmt.msc
Click OK.
Expand the IDE/ATA controller section to see your IDE channels. Right
click each, choose Properties,
and for each channel that has an Advanced Settings tab, determine the
Transfer Mode. There are
usually 4 channels to check in a desktop, maybe fewer for laptops.
The fastest selection will be some DMA selection (usually: DMA if
available). If it is PIO, change it
to DMA.
If you are not sure about what you see post back for help and advice.
Follow this up with a reboot to make sure any changes stick.
Determine your Internet upload/download speed and report the results:
www.speedtest.netfor testing. Click the triangle on the map, wait
(US only)
http://www.bandwidth.com/tools/speedTest/
Jose,
Here is latest report:
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name DELLDESKTOP
System Manufacturer Dell Computer Corporation
System Model Dimension 2400
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel ~2193 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Dell Computer Corporation A00, 5/23/2003
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.
040803-2158)"
Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 768.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 317.42 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 1.08 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
Malware programs were d/l and scanned.
IDE channels mode is DMA
Download speed of AT&T DSL was 720 Kbps
Upload speed was 162 Kbps
(did I hear an uh..oh?)
J
Jose
Jose,
Here is latest report:
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name DELLDESKTOP
System Manufacturer Dell Computer Corporation
System Model Dimension 2400
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel ~2193Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Dell Computer Corporation A00, 5/23/2003
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.
040803-2158)"
Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 768.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 317.42 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 1.08 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
Malware programs were d/l and scanned.
IDE channels mode is DMA
Download speed of AT&T DSL was 720 Kbps
Upload speed was 162 Kbps
(did I hear an uh..oh?)
The good part is you now have a number. Now if you make changes, you
can run the test again and see if things get better and not guess
about things.
You are behind on XP Service Packs of course since SP3 has been out
for a while but lots of people are still on SP2.
Your DL speed is pretty sucky IMHO but it depends on what you bought
from AT&T (Basic, Express, Pro, Elite). Your numbers are in the Basic
(lowest) range. I don't have AT&T DSL but ran their test anyway using
my broadband connection from here:
http://helpme.att.net/dsl/speedtest/
My DL speed was 3.108Mbps UL was 2.096 Mbps but I don't know if that
means much, but it is 4 times yours.
I have Comcast broadband and when I got curious about my DL speed I
found they advertise 12Mbps with my connection type (more is available
for a price), and I was getting about 7.something. I called them and
said WTH and after I got the right guy on the phone (this is
important), he could not explain why it was so low, but decided it was
definitely a problem. I says they better do something about it to get
me close to 12M or free HBO for life. They replaced everything from
the pole in the street to my computer. Right now I just got 11.87 so
I can live with that.
You have Avast, ZA and Windows Defender and I don't use any of those
either but know ZA takes some configuration or it will slow you down.
Out of the box default settings for ZA are not suitable for every
situation. If you are using the ZA firewall and XP firewall
simultaneously, everybody knows that is a bad combination.
Has your system ever worked better or do you think it started getting
slower as you started to become more protected? It is possible to be
too protected.
Can you use msconfig to temporarily diasable any real time
protections, ZA firewall, reboot and run your test again, etc. At
least you have a DL number to compare with now so you can see for sure
if things get better. No guessing or "it seems better" kind of
things...
I have been running Google Chrome for a while. Smaller overhead and
footprint that FF. I never use IE of FF anymore unless I am forced
to, but it took me a while to start to like Chrome.
Call AT&T and don't tell them what your speed is, just tell them you
somehow think it is too low and what do they think it is supposed to
be and how do you test it and see what they have to say. Let them ask
all the questions and volunteer little information unless they ask.
Maybe that DL speed is the best you can do with what you are paying
for in your area.
P
Paul
FlaBill said:Jose,
Here is latest report:
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name DELLDESKTOP
System Manufacturer Dell Computer Corporation
System Model Dimension 2400
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel ~2193 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Dell Computer Corporation A00, 5/23/2003
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.
040803-2158)"
Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 768.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 317.42 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 1.08 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
Malware programs were d/l and scanned.
IDE channels mode is DMA
Download speed of AT&T DSL was 720 Kbps
Upload speed was 162 Kbps
(did I hear an uh..oh?)
I did a simple test here. I went to www.cnn.com and played some of their
videos. I used the Task Manager networking tab, to watch the download
speed. The download runs as fast as my link to the Internet will go.
The download takes about 1/5th of the total time of the video playback.
Since my download speed is capped at about 500KB/sec, that means the
video must be playing (consuming data) at about 100KB/sec or 800 kilobits/sec.
That is just a rough figure, comparing the length of the play bar and
download bar on the video player window (Adobe Flash).
Maybe there is a better way to determine the bitrate of the video,
but I haven't figured out how to check.
Now, compared to your download speed test results, that is very close.
That means there is a danger that the download can't keep up with the
playback data rate, so buffering will be required. At least for
the videos I tested on CNN.
Paul
F
FlaBill
I did a simple test here. I went towww.cnn.comand played some of their
videos. I used the Task Manager networking tab, to watch the download
speed. The download runs as fast as my link to the Internet will go.
The download takes about 1/5th of the total time of the video playback.
Since my download speed is capped at about 500KB/sec, that means the
video must be playing (consuming data) at about 100KB/sec or 800 kilobits/sec.
That is just a rough figure, comparing the length of the play bar and
download bar on the video player window (Adobe Flash).
Maybe there is a better way to determine the bitrate of the video,
but I haven't figured out how to check.
Now, compared to your download speed test results, that is very close.
That means there is a danger that the download can't keep up with the
playback data rate, so buffering will be required. At least for
the videos I tested on CNN.
Paul
A lot has happened since my last post.
Disabling the security software programs one at a time did not change
the problem.
As per your suggestion I called AT&T Tech Support to ask for help with
a slow DSL.
After a few checks they determined my system met the range appropriate
for DSL Light which is 780kbps.
Various speed checks gave various results and the lowest was on AT&T's
speed check of DL 435kbps and UL 53.56kbps.
Tech Support offered to connect me to Sales for a possible discount on
a faster speed. Well their offer for 1.5Mbps was $7 higher than a cold
quote over the phone the day before. End of AT&T.
Comcast charges $28.95 for 1.0Mbps which is likely more reliable than
the AT&T. Still far from my needs.
There is an open wifi in my condo building and it seems to be on all
the time. So I bought a $39 D-Link connector and now use wireless unti
further notice. My Dl is 3Mbps and UL is 547kbps. Needless to say
videos are flying fast.
Folks I am 82 yrs old and on Social Security limits so when a saving
arrives it must be taken.
I want to thank all for the generous help and thoughtful attention to
this problem.
You guys are good!
Bill
J
Jose
A lot has happened since my last post.
Disabling the security software programs one at a time did not change
the problem.
As per your suggestion I called AT&T Tech Support to ask for help with
a slow DSL.
After a few checks they determined my system met the range appropriate
for DSL Light which is 780kbps.
Various speed checks gave various results and the lowest was on AT&T's
speed check of DL 435kbps and UL 53.56kbps.
Tech Support offered to connect me to Sales for a possible discount on
a faster speed. Well their offer for 1.5Mbps was $7 higher than a cold
quote over the phone the day before. End of AT&T.
Comcast charges $28.95 for 1.0Mbps which is likely more reliable than
the AT&T. Still far from my needs.
There is an open wifi in my condo building and it seems to be on all
the time. So I bought a $39 D-Link connector and now use wireless unti
further notice. My Dl is 3Mbps and UL is 547kbps. Needless to say
videos are flying fast.
Folks I am 82 yrs old and on Social Security limits so when a saving
arrives it must be taken.
I want to thank all for the generous help and thoughtful attention to
this problem.
You guys are good!
Bill
That's a good one!