BleepingComputer.com: Audio Problems

This problem has stumped me. A couple of weeks ago I started having problems with the sound on my Toshiba Tecra S1 laptop, running WindowsXP Pro. I'm not certain, but I think this began after running Ad-Aware 2007, ARO, and Spybot S&D. I've used these programs without problems for some time with various PC's, but this particular laptop is a new-to-me, but used, computer. WindowsXP pro and Office came preinstalled on it, but without any installation CD's. I had to install the Toshiba-specific drivers and utils myself.

The associated hardware and drivers are:

• Toshiba Tecra S1 laptop.
  
• Operating system: WindowsXP Pro, SP2
  
• Sound device: Analog Devices SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio.
  
• Sound driver ver. 5.12.1.3528, 11/4/2002, from Analog Devices.
  
• Video adapter: ATI Mobility Radeon 9000
  
• Video driver ver. 6.13.10.6280, 2/13/2003, from ATI Technologies.

The problem has multiple symptoms:

• At times the sound stops working altogether.
  
• To recover sound, the laptop must be powered down, not just rebooted.
  
• While watching either a DVD or a movie stored on my HD, the sound will become scratchy, distorted, or otherwise noisy.
  
• When a noisy video is paused, there is a loud whining sound.
  
• The same happens while listening to music stored on my HD. At times, the music will sound like it is being played from a cassette tape that has been stretched.
  
• It makes no difference whether using built in speakers or a headset.

Steps taken:

• Removed and reinstalled sound drivers from Toshiba's tech support web site.
  
• Removed and reinstalled Video drivers from Toshiba's tech support web site.
  
• Ran Memtest86 3.4a for several passes, looking for bad RAM.

As I said, I'm stumped, and will appreciate any help. I'm willing to try almost anything.

Thanks in advance

This post has been edited by tfarrow: 23 February 2008 - 12:25 PM