WinXP audio playback/performance problem

[Narf]

Hi all, I'm new on the forums. I tried searching for similar threads prior to starting this one, but I didn't find anything, so I guess I'm unique

I want to apologise in advance, this is going to be a long post. I just want to let you in on as many details as possible.

Here goes: 3 days ago I received a cracked (yeah, yeah, I know...) version of Gears of War for the PC. I installed it using Daemon Tools. As soon as the installation process ended, I received a message from the game. It told me that my graphics driver is outdated and requested me to update it in order to be able to play the game. So I did. I use a GeForce 7600 GT 256 mb.
I have installed the latest driver available at nvidia.com. The game is now playable, but due to numerous graphic issues I decided to dload the official patch for it, available from the game developer's site.
After the installation of the patch the game wouldn't start. There are lots of people already complaining about the game's various technical issues (that involves crashes and weird graphical problems), so I decided I should let it go and uninstalled it.

Since then:

1. My pc is really slow. That includes start-up, that includes working with various files, playing videos or anything else that has anything to do with RAM.
2. I have a really poor sound. I'm still able to playback any audio file I wan't, but while playing it, I hear scratching/crackling noises along with the music/other media.
3. My cursor keeps getting stuck, it's hard to move it around on the screen.

Core 2 6300 1.86 ghz on an Intel DG965WH board
2 GBs DDR2 667 mghz
Nvidia GeForce 7600 GT 256 mb

I tried rolling back the Nvidia driver, it didn't help much. Tried to do a system restore, but for some *beep*ing reason it's unavailable. It's not a virus, nor it has anything to do with malware, I'm pretty sure about that.

I don't know what else should I do. I have a lot of info on my pc, backing it all up before I can format c:\ could take a while. Besides, up until the point where I dloaded that damn game everything was OK. I refuse to believe that one game can cause so much *beep*. So I'm trying to see what else I can do.

Thanks in advance to anyone who might point me in the right direction. Also: my apologies for my sloppy English, it's not my 1st language.

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by Narf

Hi all, I'm new on the forums. I tried searching for similar threads prior to starting this one, but I didn't find anything, so I guess I'm unique

I want to apologise in advance, this is going to be a long post. I just want to let you in on as many details as possible.

Here goes: 3 days ago I received a cracked (yeah, yeah, I know...) version of Gears of War for the PC. I installed it using Daemon Tools. As soon as the installation process ended, I received a message from the game. It told me that my graphics driver is outdated and requested me to update it in order to be able to play the game. So I did. I use a GeForce 7600 GT 256 mb.
I have installed the latest driver available at nvidia.com. The game is now playable, but due to numerous graphic issues I decided to dload the official patch for it, available from the game developer's site.
After the installation of the patch the game wouldn't start. There are lots of people already complaining about the game's various technical issues (that involves crashes and weird graphical problems), so I decided I should let it go and uninstalled it.

Since then:

1. My pc is really slow. That includes start-up, that includes working with various files, playing videos or anything else that has anything to do with RAM.
2. I have a really poor sound. I'm still able to playback any audio file I wan't, but while playing it, I hear scratching/crackling noises along with the music/other media.
3. My cursor keeps getting stuck, it's hard to move it around on the screen.

Core 2 6300 1.86 ghz on an Intel DG965WH board
2 GBs DDR2 667 mghz
Nvidia GeForce 7600 GT 256 mb

I tried rolling back the Nvidia driver, it didn't help much. Tried to do a system restore, but for some *beep*ing reason it's unavailable. It's not a virus, nor it has anything to do with malware, I'm pretty sure about that.

I don't know what else should I do. I have a lot of info on my pc, backing it all up before I can format c:\ could take a while. Besides, up until the point where I dloaded that damn game everything was OK. I refuse to believe that one game can cause so much *beep*. So I'm trying to see what else I can do.

Thanks in advance to anyone who might point me in the right direction. Also: my apologies for my sloppy English, it's not my 1st language.

Try a System File Check go to Run – type “sfc /scannow” (without the quotes and note space after sfc) have Win disc available in case sfc needs to replace or repair any files. The programme runs with no alerts and then closes.

If you are absolutely that it is not malware or adware then perhaps not all of the game uninstalled, try CCleaner it will show all left over files from programs that have not uninstalled correctly, it also has a registry cleaner with a backuo facility. One point if you run the cleaner it will clears all passwords for sites you are registered at. I have used for 3 years with no problems, it's Free
http://www.ccleaner.com/

[Narf]

It's not malware, I'm sure.

I'll try the sfc thingy, see where it gets me.

Also: I use Registry Mechanic, is it related in any way to the CCleaner?

[Narf]

SFC didn't help. CCleaner didn't help, I still have the same problem.

I used procexp, it's a tool available to dload at microsoft's technet. It told me that my cpu usage is up to 70-80% because of "hardware interrupts".

I'm starting to believe that this is a very bad case of a very bad luck and dloading that game and all the new drivers had nothing to do with it, it just happened to be at the same time when my motherboard stopped functioning.

Guys, please post any ideas that you might have. Thanks in advance.