Bluetooth audio causing constant unresponsiveness

[KFCrispy]

In the past week, I started experiencing regular system unresponsiveness when playing almost any online streaming audio or video while my bluetooth speaker was connected to my PC. When my bluetooth audio is on and I start playing some audio from youtube or Stitcher (example http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/this-american-life/e/42354420?autoplay=true), the system stalls every 30-60 seconds for long periods-- 1-2 minutes. Sometimes the audio keeps playing and everything on the screen freezes, and sometimes the audio also stops until the system unfreezes.

I'm on Windows 8.1 (I did not like 10 and am stalling from upgrading as long as possible) and thought it was a recent Adobe Flash update that caused the problem, but I've completely uninstalled Flash and saw some websites that I stream still play, so I don't know what technology is being used for the sites....
This problem occurs with both Firefox and Chrome, so I don't think it has anything to do with the browser. I've also reinstalled my bluetooth speaker, which didn't improve anything.

I've been using the same setup for months, so I have no idea why it started happening. Internet searches haven't helped.

Help please!


My computer specs: Intel i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60 GHz
RAM: 16 GB
Windows 8.1 64-bit

Video: Nvidia GeForece GTX 745

Let me know if any other information could help...

Thanks!

 

[Deders]

Bluetooth Drivers?

 

[Ketchup]

What model speakers.

Run resource monitor with the Bluetooth on and see if you can narrow down the culprit.

 

[KFCrispy]

My bluetooth device is a Dell Wireless 1703, if that means anything.... my speakers use a driver called "Pocket".... Trendwoo Bluetooth Speaker Ultra Slim Portable (amazon link: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B013DU8HKS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage).

it seems PMBVolumeWatcher.exe and System take the most resources based on Resource Monitor.....


I terminated PMBVolumeWatcher.exe and I still get the freezes. hmmm....

Also, my CPU Usage stays at 23-28% but there's a blue square showing 106-108% Maximum Frequency. that sounds bad....

 

[John Connor]

but I've completely uninstalled Flash and saw some websites that I stream still play, so I don't know what technology is being used for the sites....

That would be HTML5 which should be used on all websites. Flash is a damn abomination anymore.

Try this for the hell of it. I'm using Win 7, so it might be the same on 8. Not sure.

Right click the audio icon | volume control options | speakers headphones | Enhancements. Disable all.

Can you post a screen shot of task manager?

Looking at Trendwoo's website, I don't even see any drivers to see if there's an updated one.

Did you use the Flash Uninstaller to uninstall flash? https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html

 

[John Connor]

In the past week, I started experiencing regular system unresponsiveness when playing almost any online streaming audio or video while my bluetooth speaker was connected to my PC.

Did you install or do something in the last week that you recall that could be the problem other than a Flash update?

Just a tip. If you uninstall a program I would use Revo Uninstaller. That way you get a system restore point and it will delete left overs including registry entries. I would also restart the Puter after installation. And for an added measure toss in Ccleaner and System Ninja.

 

[KFCrispy]

That would be HTML5 which should be used on all websites. Flash is a damn abomination anymore.

Try this for the hell of it. I'm using Win 7, so it might be the same on 8. Not sure.

Right click the audio icon | volume control options | speakers headphones | Enhancements. Disable all.

Can you post a screen shot of task manager?

Looking at Trendwoo's website, I don't even see any drivers to see if there's an updated one.

Did you use the Flash Uninstaller to uninstall flash? https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html

- Windows 8 doesn't have that Enhancements thing.
- I used the Flash uninstaller I downloaded from their website
- task manager: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29213838/taskmgr.jpg


Based on my "Uninstall a program" list, there was nVidia HD Audio Driver, Graphics Driver, and 3D Vision Driver updates on 1/30..... the HD Audio update sounds suspicious, but shouldn't it only be doing something if I'm using an HDMI audio output?
-I also installed this "PointsPanel" thing that I didn't think would affect anything, but maybe it does, because it may be monitoring phone call performance (or something).... it's also a new application (I have it on my phone to get paid some money while they monitor performance). I will uninstall it and test.. UPDATE: Nope Windows still freezes up

 

[John Connor]

Not sure. Were you streaming music when you took that task manager snap shot? Everything looks pretty normal.

Maybe try and uninstall the nVidia HD Audio Driver.

 

[VirtualLarry]

-I also installed this "PointsPanel" thing that I didn't think would affect anything, but maybe it does, because it may be monitoring phone call performance (or something).... it's also a new application (I have it on my phone to get paid some money while they monitor performance). I will uninstall it and test.. UPDATE: Nope Windows still freezes up

That sounds... really sketchy. Like, "BonziBuddy" sketchy.

 

[KFCrispy]

i've reinstalled the bluetooth audio stuff again and no changes

 

[KFCrispy]

here's an update: i've found that the Disk "active time" goes to 100% when the system becomes unresponsive. does this give any clues on what's going on?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/foz50423z6fr64r/BluetoothAudio_harddrive.jpg?dl=0

 

[Deders]

I'd do a full disk scan for bad sectors if that happened, just to be sure.

 

[VirtualLarry]

In the past week, I started experiencing regular system unresponsiveness when playing almost any online streaming audio or video while my bluetooth speaker was connected to my PC. When my bluetooth audio is on and I start playing some audio from youtube or Stitcher (example http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/this-american-life/e/42354420?autoplay=true), the system stalls every 30-60 seconds for long periods-- 1-2 minutes. Sometimes the audio keeps playing and everything on the screen freezes, and sometimes the audio also stops until the system unfreezes.

here's an update: i've found that the Disk "active time" goes to 100% when the system becomes unresponsive. does this give any clues on what's going on?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/foz50423z6fr64r/BluetoothAudio_harddrive.jpg?dl=0

This could be indicative of bad physical sectors on your HDD or SSD.

 

[KFCrispy]

Scan Disk didn't find any problems..
thanks for your help guys! but sadly i just can't use my bluetooth speakers smoothly for now...

 

[TeeJay1952]

I have a bluetooth receiver hooked to stereo for MP3's and I have to reset the receiver every 24 hours (power off and on). If I don't the majority of web stuff stutters and video goes choppy. Sort of bizarre but it is the wonderful world of windows.

 

[KFCrispy]

i found an old post at the HP support site by someone listing the same issues. don't have the link at the moment, but the HP representative suspected a driver conflict and said to call for them to troubleshoot, and that was the end of the thread.

i did try disabling one sound driver, but it didn't change anything. maybe i should try safe mode?

 

[Burpo]

In the past week, I started experiencing regular system unresponsiveness

Do a System Restore to a point before "the past week"..

 

[KFCrispy]

Do a System Restore to a point before "the past week"..

sadly i don't have any system restores available... only 3 recent ones before and after my attempts to uninstall and reinstall the bluetooth driver and some recent software.

 

[Deders]

Was this ever resolved? Have just started using bluetooth speakers myself for night time.

Have experienced some, but not all of your issues at some point.

Sometimes when I have more than 1 audio source, eg Internet/Media player open and registered as having been played once, I get stalling in one or the other, sometimes both, as if they are fighting for bandwidth, but it may be at a driver level before bluetooth bandwidth comes into it.

Closing one down usually resolves the issue, once for the first time I had to close down windows media player long after I'd closed my browser to get it to play smoothly.

Do your speakers support aptX? I would hope that your computers bluetooth hardware should support aptX. I've not found a way to check for sure. both devices need it in order to enable it.

It gives much more of the bluetooth bandwidth to be allocated to audio than the 192KB/s (or thereabouts) of standard bluetooth.