Computer Questions (formally Your Desktop)

Windows 7 is taking a bit of getting used to - especially with the new layout of the Windows Explorer. But having a PC with a bit more muscle is quite nice!!

BTW, thanks to everyone who offered advice over the last few days. Helped me focus. And thanks to people who were helping on a more psychological level.

BonkEnc Audio Encoder

Completely free and it does pretty much every format you could ever want.

First of all, Alan, do you have the option of converting the actual uncompressed CD to wma? Converting mp3 to wma is a lossy converted file down to another lossy file. Your wma's are going to sound like crap.

Secondly, why exactly are you converting mp3 to wma? People still use wma?

-Erik-

You could always do 160, 192, 224 before you opt for 256. Also, at each bit rate 'stage' you can set it to variable bit rate so that more complicated parts of the sound get higher bit rates while less complex parts of the sound get lower bit rates - all of which average out around the bit rate you've chosen (say, 160kbps).

Still, even if it's for use in the car, I wouldn't want low bit rates clogging up any of my devices. I'd sooner buy a bigger capacity device than opt for lower quality files! (Having said that, 32GBs is surely a substantial size for 256 or even 320 files? That's still quite a lot of music, and in good quality... meaning you can use it for other things... surely?)

Thanks for all your advice. Now, any help with the apps?

What programs have you been using when it freezes?

If you heard a buzzing in the headphones, then it's probably the audio driver related problem or a problem with the audio software you were using. Try if it does it with windows media player or winamp too.

If it still persists, go to 'start', type 'device manager', find your audio driver and uninstall it along with any audio software that came with it (what brand and model is it?) and then go to their website download the latest driver and install it again, with the necessary restarts of course (one after you uninstall completely, one after you re-install).

Of course do every uninstall via something like REVO UNINSTALLER free.

If you have any problems finding which hardware you have, download free cpu-z from here http://www.cpuid.com/downloads/cpu-z/1.55-setup-en.exe, download and install. Run it and see all the info about your pc.

Also download the latest graphics card drivers from your websites, nvidia.com or ati.com (http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx) respectively.

Also i found that usually, downloading and installing in a new piece the latest directx helps in many such cases, you can find the latest complete package from microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta … laylang=en

After you install all this, make sure you defragment the hard disks and you check and clean the pc and its registry with ccleaner free.

All from filehippo.com

I'll be off for a week or so but i really wish this will help, along with any other help from the esteemed mt members here

Cheers

Thanks, Demetris.

I had a look in device manager and audio details are Realtek HD Audio driver version 6.01.5972.

I'll take a look at your suggestions and give them a go.

Well, supposedly but most of the times the device manager will tell you it's up to date and you don't need to update.

First go to start, type 'windows update' and make it search for updates then see if it finds a new driver for your sound card and install it.

Also you can try uninstalling it via device manager, rebooting and then let windows re-install it on its own via the device manager and try if it fixes your problem. If not, you can always try that free cpu-z software to tell you exactly which driver you need.

Also, I've just switched off Windows Defender: apparently there's a conflict between this and AntiVir.

Oh and about cpu-z, i was wrong you're right, i forgot it doesn't have a sound card tab.

Try this:

The second way to find out what kind of sound card you have is to click on the Start button, then click on Run and once the Run box opens, type DXDIAG. Now click on the Sound tab up at the top and the name of your sound card will be displayed.

This is why i hate on-board devices Anyway, try:

1. windows update for any sound card driver updates
2. if it doesn't work, remove and uninstall it from revo uninstaller (its software, if present), and from device manager compeltely, reboot and make windows find drivers and re-install it.

If this fails, try this one http://download.cnet.com/IDT-High-Defin … 97119.html

i'm confused also. makes no sense at all IMHO

I've answered my own question - I remembered what I did.

When in Amazon right click and choose "Edit Site Preferences" and select the "Network" tab. And in the "Browser Identification" part pick "Mask as Internet Explorer" from the selection. I can now play the mp3 previews.