Disable Microsoft Software Wavetable Synthesizer, My Music’s Cutting Out...
We recently encountered a system that had an intermittent sound problem. After running for a few days, any music played would fade and recover repeatedly. After researching the problem, we started with a typical round of updates to the usual suspects. Those being sound card drivers, codec’s, any media player software being utilized for playback. At first this seemed to resolve the issue, but after just a few days, the problem returned.
Not only was this a problem with our media players, but it was also effecting streaming online music. Our current favorite online music service is Last.Fm. After Pandora’s recent decision to limit users free listening to 40 hrs a month.
So at this point we were able to eliminate our browsers and media players, as these were both up to date. The next thing to rule out was our hardware. This was simple enough as the hardware is a home theater system that’s utilized by other devices, all of which never have an issue. By process of elimination were left with drivers and media enhancement software’s.
As it turns out there’s an enhancement loaded by windows, our version being “Windows Vista Ultimate 64 Bit”. That particular enhancement goes by the name of “Microsoft Software Wavetable Synthesizer”. When opening your sound properties from the control panel, you’ll typically see 3 tabs across the top of the window. These are, Playback, Recording, and Sounds. You’ll more than likely be on the Sounds tab by default. If windows sounds drive you nuts, as they do us, this is a good opportunity to disable them. Simply choose “No Sounds” from the drop down on the sounds tab. In Vista you also have the option to load the startup sound separately.
Now select the “Playback” tab, and double click the upper device, usually called “Speakers”. If you’re not sure which device is your default playback device, play some music and look for the device with active levels. Double click that device and navigate to the “Advanced” tab. If selected, unselect both boxes under “Exclusive Mode”. Don’t be tempted to increase your sample rate on this tab. Typically the defaults are optimal, and increasing them could lead to an exaggeration of what we’re here to fix.
Keep in mind systems will vary in these areas depending on drivers, system setup, and so forth. So you’re settings may look slightly different. Next choose the “Enhancements” tab. Disable everything on this tab, if possible.
Now restart you computer, and the issue should be resolved. We mention earlier in the article that as part of our diagnosis, we updating system drivers and codec’s. In the long run, regular updates will lead to a much more positive computing experience, and will drastically reduce the number of errors you encounter. Let us know if this was helpful by leaving a reply below. Happy computing. 
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I Don’t Have Outlook, Is There a Similar Product I can Download?
The short answer is, Yes.
Listed below you’ll find a variety of free Email clients available for download. But be aware, not all mail providers allow you to use a mail client such as Outlook. Both Yahoo and Hotmail require their users to upgrade to a paid service in order to access their Email via a mail client. However, if you’re ISP provideds you with an Email account, ie. pacbell.net, sbcglobal.net, att.com, comcast.net, etc., You’ll more than likely be able to access your Email using a mail client.
What’s a good Anti-Virus to use?
We wrote this post in response to a comment on another post. We most often recommend Avast, AVG, and Zone Alarm. Our choices are based on products that are efficient in preventing virus infections, semi transparent, unobtrusive, and user friendly. And FYI. if you see the image below when copying files, you may have a virus.
Avast free and Avast Pro:
Avast provides a free Anti-Virus, however we found it to be a little intrusive and irritating. Avast seems to pester its free users with constant pops and related to their paid product.
Their paid product however is a dream to use. The only time Avast Pro will ever pester you or slow your flow of work and surfing, is if you encounter a malicious script from a webpage, download malicious software, a viruses, or any other problem you may have.
UAA HD Audio Driver Missing, Can’t Update
This issues can be caused by an accidental uninstall of the HD Audio drivers, or a bad install of the HD Audio drivers. Our fix is as follows.
Netgear MRVGINA.dll, disables fast user switching XP
We came across this issue after installing a Netgear wireless card in a desktop running Microsoft XP. The fix was quite simple. Start by opening regedit, Start-Run-Type regedit. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows NT/Current Version/WINLOGON And delete the key named GINAdll
Its as simple as that. Restart the computer and your good to go.
Virus Infection “Unable to change desktop background image”
We recently repaired a heavily infected computer. After clean-up we were unable to change the desktop background image. Even after clean-up the names of the background images were all grayed out. After a bit of research we came across several registry keys which were added by a virus.
The first thing we did was to, uncheck “lock web content” in “display properties”.
Then we deleted the following registry keys....
Click “Start” hit run (can’t see run?), type ” Regedit ” (without the quotes) and navigate to the following entries, and delete them.
(more...)
Error Message: “Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator”
Viruses are always trying to cover their tracks. This repair was no exception.... Error Message: “Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator”. There was no way anyone using this computer would even be capable of securing “Task Manager”. After a bit of research I came across two things, the first was that “Spybot” picked up this problem. The second was that, “Spybot” could only half-repair the problem. After a restart I found that either typing
REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
into the “run command”
Or go to “Run” and type “Regedit” and navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies\ System
and delete “DisableTaskMgr”
cleared the problem right up.
Once again, if you have any problems, please Contact Us.
I Can’t See The Run Command
If you can’t see the run command under the start option try....
“Right clicking” the “Task Bar”, choose “Properties”, click the “Start Menu” tab, click the “Customize” button, click the “Advanced Tab”, then scroll down to “Run command” and check the box. If its checked, un-check it, apply, and re-check it. If this doesn’t help, tell me, and I’ll help you resolve the issue. Thanks for helping the knowledge base
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