ITunes Stream Stuttering and Crackling Noises (Temporary Work Around Option

Question

Note: If you don’t take the time from your busy schedule to address these suggestions being provided in this and future upcoming series, then by all mean continue with what you were doing before and continue to experience the frustrations and problems. The series is not meant to be a cure-all for the problems you are having. But the information will go a long way toward correcting and improving a lot of issues that you may be having with your system. Think About It !!!!!!!!!!
I listen to the radio a lot using the iTunes player as well as listen to music that I have transferred to the player. When a problem occurs it aggravates me to no end especially if it is occurring when I am try to relax to my music. At times I am also experiencing the stuttering and crackling issues in the 7.0 update that has been recently released. The following information can be useful in temporarily correcting this problem until Apple comes up with a patch to resolve this issue. If you choose to proceed with implementing this information then you assume any liability that may occur during your attempts at using and applying this information. This information has so far suited any needs that I may or am currently having to date personally.
1)Quick Time Preferences – In the Quick Time Preferences\Audio tab check to make sure that the settings are at the default level. Your platform may reflect a different khz Rate. On my platform my default level will be the following:
Rate: 44.1 khz
Size: 16 bit
Channels: Stereo (L R)
When I listen to my music I like a good quality stereo sound so I have my audio sound routed from my laptop to my CD or Video jacks in the back of my stereo. Stereo System: Pioneer SX 251R Receiver. External Speakers: 2 - 8 ohm Yamaha.
Make sure the Safe Mode box is unchecked. Close the Quick Time player. Now, when you begin experiencing the stutter problem there are two immediate steps that you can try to correct the problem:
1)Stop the stream or the music that you are listening too and restart the service each time that the event occurs, (In my case the events that have been occurring has not been consistent when they do occur. Close monitoring in place on all connection ports. Running Snap In’s deployed: IPSec Monitor/MMC Console– Currently monitoring IKE and IPSec Statistics for any changes. To run this snap in properly the Event Monitor must be in the running state and actively logging events in the Administrative\Event Viewer Folder) I will also be configuring Dr Watson to generate a Stack and Dump file log to the desk top in the event of an unexpected occurrence. or,
2)If that does not correct the problem then try the following: Go to the My Computer folder and open it up. When you have done so, Right click the Local Disk and enter the Properties section. When the Local Disk Properties box comes up, enter the Tools tab, in the Error Checking section, place a check mark in the “Automatically Fix System Errors” and click start\yes. Back out of that and close all running programs including firewall in the tray next to your clock and reboot the system.
Once you have rebooted run the Disk Cleanup utility and the Disk Defragmenter utility. While we are using the Disk Defragmenter lets take an extra step to insure that we defragging the hard drive volumes as much as possible. Click on the analyze button a second time. If there are any entries in the box highlight the first entry and run the Defrag utility a second time.
Tip! If you would get in the habit of running defrag process regularly on a daily basis it will help improve the overall baseline performance of your machine.
Last Step: Open your player and try again.
If you are still experiencing the problem and it hasn’t leveled out to your satisfaction then there are two additional steps that I have personally used or am currently using that may help with your issues. The steps will involve installing a small batch file program and a hot fix patch.
User Profile Hive Cleanup Service– (Batch Program) Open your Browser and type in the following address: www.microsft.com once the page has loaded look for the search bar in the upper right hand corner of the page. In the search bar type in the following: “User Profile Hive Cleanup Service”. Once the search result page comes up click on the first result to bring up the proper download page. Before you can use this batch program you will be required to go through a short validation process before you can download the program. The validation process is to ensure that you are running a genuine windows platform.
Overview
The User Profile Hive Cleanup service helps to ensure user sessions are completely terminated when a user logs off. System processes and applications occasionally maintain connections to registry keys in the user profile after a user logs off. In those cases the user session is prevented from completely ending. This can result in problems when using Roaming User Profiles in a server environment or when using locked profiles as implemented through the Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP.
On Windows 2000 you can benefit from this service if the application event log shows event id 1000 where the message text indicates that the profile is not unloading and that the error is "Access is denied". On Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 either event ids 1517 and 1524 indicate the same profile unload problem.
To accomplish this the service monitors for logged off users that still have registry hives loaded. When that happens the service determines which application have handles opened to the hives and releases them. It logs the application name and what registry keys were left open. After this the system finishes unloading the profile.
Once you have downloaded and installed the batch file close all running programs and reboot. Now, ‘This is important”, lets determine if the batch file is properly running after installation. Go to Start\Help and Support. Once the Help and Support Center comes up click on the following link: “Use tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems” under the “Pick a task” section. Once the page has been loaded in the left hand pane click on the “Advanced System Information” link. Once that page has been loaded click on the following link: View detailed system information (Msinfo32.exe).
Once the System Information box is loaded look in the left pane and open the Software Environment Tree and click on the following link: Windows Error Reporting. If the batch program is properly running you should see the following entry: “User profile hive cleanup service version 1.6.30.0 started successfully
&#x00a”. The ending symbols may be different on your platform.
Now, we want to go to another location in your system to verify this entry and that this service is properly working again. Pull up your “Control Panel” and enter the “Administrative Tools” folder. Once there enter the “Event Viewer” folder. Then enter the “Application Folder”. If the service is properly working the following entry will be logged: User profile hive cleanup service version 1.6.30.0 started successfully, Event ID 1001. If for some reason this program is not functioning properly a different error code other then the Event Id 1001 will be generated and logged in this folder. Also if one is generated you will want to verify if it’s a genuine error. To do this you need to go back into the help and support center Advanced System Information link and click on the following link: “View the error log”. If anything goes wrong a corresponding general entry that was logged in the Event Viewer will be logged in this link verifying that a problem had occurred. All of the information in the logs will be useful in your trouble shooting efforts. To date I have not had any measurable conflicts to occur while using this batch program to date. Closing Overview: when this program engages it will target itself at the Kernel System only at shutdown and startup. A corresponding entry will be made in the folders that I have described above stating that the program had started or failed.
System Restore Feature and USB Device’s – Event Viewer\System and Application Folders\Event ID SR 1 (Hot Fix Patch) – I have noticed that some folks are loading and unloading iTunes in attempt to correct problems. Also, I see by the forum board that a lot of folks are having a lot of problems with their iPods. Think about this for a moment, iPods will have their own unique set of drivers to operate from. I am going to attempt to explain an experience that occurred with me last year on this issue. When working with USB Devices it is important to keep your eyes on the Event Viewer folders for the following event id being logged: Event ID SR 1. This is especially true if you are using your System Restore Feature. The main folders that you want to keep your eyes on are the “System\Application” folders.
I have not witnessed any specific Software Applications generating this code in general at this point in time. But when it comes to Software and USB Devices I have personally experienced a situation that did cause a SR 1 entry last year. Example: My wife has Sevier medical problems. When we travel I keep a USB Flash Drive on my key chain with her medical information installed in case of an emergence. The Medic Alert E-Health Key was a new device that came out that had bugs that needed resolved just as with iTunes 7.0. The short of the story is that the flash drive was conflicting with the System Restore Feature, which led to additional problems such as conflicts in the Add/Remove Utility. I could not properly unload the Uninstall .Dll files when trying to uninstall the flash drive itself using the Add/Remove Utility. During a conversation with a Microsoft Support tech I was informed that other unloading issues had also been identified in the Add/Remove Utility. I could be wrong but I think there is a patch available that would help with unloading issues while using the Add/Remove Utility. To keep an eye on any possible loading/unloading issues that I may have while using the Add/Remove Utility, I use the following program to determine if there any issue’s that I need to deal with: (30 Day Trial Program-Fully Functional)
http://www.mikasalonen.com/remove/?remove40
Program Name: Remove 4.0. All of the information you need to know about this program will be summarized in the provided link. If anything: USE IT !!!!
NOTE: This SR 1 patch is only a temporary hot fix. They are suggesting that we wait until the next Windows XP service pack release that contains the hot fix.
Article Id : 888402
Last Review : June 01, 2006
Revision : 1.5
Also keep this in mind. The only time that you want to become concerned about the SR 1 issue is when you notice an increase in the number of SR 1 entries in Event viewer logs. If you are logging two (2) or more events then I would begin investigating the problem. Again, In my case the System Restore Feature was identified as the initial cause of conflict when the conflict first occurred when loading the USB Flash Drivers. So, if you suddenly notice this entry in the Event Viewer then you can pretty much bet that you are experiencing a USB issue that is conflicting with the System Restore Feature. But there is a Hot Fix available to temporarily resolve this issue as I have stated. Go back to the Microsoft link that was provided. When the page loads, in the search bar in the upper right hand corner of the page type in the following KB 888402. Be Advised – if you have to resort to this measure you will have to contact the Microsoft Support Team directly by phone to receive this patch.
When you talk to the tech you will need to provide the following information: A brief description if the Event being generated in the Event Viewer as well as a brief description of the problem that you are having. Once the tech has verified the information he/she will e-mail the hot fix to you in a zip folder if I’m not mistaken.
System and Third Party Drivers
Drivers can be another source of conflict that can have a direct impact on how your system operates. I have already given you an example of this in the System Restore/USB Devices section. They can also cause unexpected stability issues. In addition to that malicious Root Kits and Trojans can download drivers on your hard drive without your knowledge further complicating matters. So, before I close this information out let me show you how we can quickly gather and display a listing of all drivers that are currently installed on you hard drive by using a very simple program. (This program will be a 15-day Trial program).
Program Name: My Drivers 3.11
With this program you will be able filter out all preinstalled drivers that came with the system at the time of purchase, thus exposing the remaining Third Party drivers and as well as the Unknowns. If you know what your doing I would take this time now and disable the drive(s) in question if removal procedures are deemed necessary once you have obtained the driver listing. My overall objective with this program is to immediately determine if there is anything out of the norm with the drivers overall.
A download link is unavailable at this time. The web site appears to be under construction at this time.
As a final step on this issue I suggest keeping an eye on the Device Manager for any sudden “Yellow Warning Symbols” appearing within the Device Manager Tree Structure.
Print this information off and us it as a reference point. Any new helpful hints that I can think of will be posted as soon as I can squeeze the time in.
Jblittlejohn
Toshiba Satellite 1135/S155 Laptop
Windows XP Home SP2
Build 2600
DSL Lite – 2Wire

Answer 1

Oh, also want to add that the PC I'm currently using is:
Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 2
My other PC was:
Windows 7 Ultimate
My MacBook is:
Max OSX 10.5.something (the last update available for it. .8 maybe? haha)
Not sure if this stuff is important, but I thought I'd add it.