Audio problems when starting Windows & shutting down...help!

[jasonguitar]

I have Windows XP Pro, and as most of you know, when Windows starts up, there is a start-up sound that it makes. When Windows starts up on my computer, the start-up sound is very distorted and fragmented. This also often happens when I shut down or log off.

Sometimes when I play a Pro Tools session, the audio will crackle or fragment at random oscillations, such as once every two seconds. Then, after stopping everything (no playing back or recording) and waiting for 30 secs or a minute, it will play back fine. Anyone experience the same thing or know the cause of this?

This also happens on my wife's lap top. She doesn't use Pro Tools or any heavy-processing audio programs. However, when she starts up her computer, she also gets distorted audio, and when she plays wavs or MP3s using Windows Media Player, the same crackling and distortion happens randomly.

Here is my Sandra info, in case that can help:

SiSoftware Sandra


Processor
Model : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3700+
Speed : 2.40GHz
Model Number : 3700 (estimated)
Performance Rating : PR4325 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 1 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Internal Data Cache : 64kB Synchronous, Write-Back, 2-way set, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 1MB ECC Synchronous, Write-Back, 16-way set, 64 byte line size

Mainboard
Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
MP Support : 1 Processor(s)
MP APIC : Yes
System BIOS : American Megatrends Inc. 1004.006
System : To Be Filled By O.E.M. To Be Filled By O.E.M.
Mainboard : ASUSTeK Computer Inc. K8VSEDX
Total Memory : 1023MB DDR-SDRAM

Chipset 1
Model : ASUSTeK Computer Inc Apollo K8T800 CPU to PCI Bridge
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 800MHz (1600MHz data rate)

Chipset 2
Model : Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Athlon 64 / Opteron HyperTransport Technology Configuration
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 800MHz (1600MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 1GB DDR-SDRAM
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 200MHz (400MHz data rate)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : NEC MultiSync LCD1970V
Adapter : RADEON 9600 SERIES (DNA 2.4.4.4)
Adapter : RADEON 9600 SERIES - Secondary (DNA 2.4.4.4)

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : WDC WD800JB-00JJC0 (75GB)
Hard Disk : LaCie Group SA LaCie d2 Extreme LUN 0 IEEE 1394 SBP2 Device
Hard Disk : SanDisk U3 Cruzer Micro USB Device
CD-ROM/DVD : SONY CD-RW CRX320EE (CD 52X Rd, 52X Wr) (DVD 7X Rd)
CD-ROM/DVD : SanDisk U3 Cruzer Micro USB Device

Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk (C:) : 75GB (54GB, 72% Free Space) (NTFS)
New Volume (Z:) : 186GB (164GB, 88% Free Space) (NTFS)
CD-ROM/DVD (D:) : N/A
3.5" 1.44MB (A:) : N/A

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 2 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Composite Device
USB Controller/Hub : USB Mass Storage Device
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : Microsoft PS/2 Port Mouse (IntelliPoint)

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio

Printers and Faxes
Model : Microsoft Office Document Image Writer
Model : HP DeskJet 950C/952C/959C

Power Management
AC Line Status : On-Line

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Professional 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)

Network Services
Adapter : Marvell Yukon 88E8001/8003/8010 PCI Gigabit Ethernet Controller

Performance Tips
Warning 100 : Large memory sizes should be made of Registered/Buffered memory.
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Notice 5901 : CD 1x= 150kB/s; Exercise caution when comparing measured versus published ratings.
Notice 5902 : DVD 1x= 11.08Mbps Exercise caution when comparing measured versus published ratings.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.