Sound/crackling problems

[Deadlyhazard]

Hello, I'm having a problem with my flash player. I've tested non-flashplayer related things (VLC/Video games) and they don't have the problem, so it's flash for sure. My flash player crackles and makes this annoying static sound, especially if I'm loading something else and it won't go away for a few minutes (assuming I never load anything during that time). Sometimes I don't even load anything and it just starts up. Most of the time the crackling sound is playing and the audio is hard to hear.

My OS is Windows XP 32-bit (Old -- I know) and my browser is Google Chrome, but I believe it happens on Firefox aswell. The issue started happening randomly about a couple weeks ago and I have no idea what caused it. I will post any further information if requested, I really want to fix this issue! Thank you!

[Carlo_SLC]

Have you tried changing the Windows Sound Profile ( in Control Panel ) to Stereo Sound?

[Deadlyhazard]

I don't see anything called Windows Sound Profile in control panel. Is it under sounds and audio devices? I don't see it in there either.

[Carlo_SLC]

Sound and Audio Device Properties >  [Speaker Settings Section] Advanced (button) > [Speakers Tab] Change the drop dop menu to Desktop Stereo Speakers.

[Deadlyhazard]

Yeah, it's already set to that.

[Carlo_SLC]

Is there any change in behaviour if you set the speaker setup to anything other than Desktop Stereo?

[Deadlyhazard]

Just tried a few different settings and nothing has changed.

[UnlixGhost]

Had to change profile: Do you only get this crackling sound with Flash based products or anything else? What if the computer is just at the desktop with no running browser?

[Deadlyhazard]

It's just flash, and usually just when I load things. I've played a ton of games/watched movies on VLC/windowsmediaplayer and I have never once encountered the crackling/static noise that I do with flash player. And it happens constantly with flash on Youtube / Twitch.TV streams / anything else that's flash related.

[UnlixGhost]

Have you checked your firmware and sound card drivers for updates? Have you also disabled your third party software from the Microsoft Configruation Utility (MSConfig)? Just to make sure there isn't any application conflicts?

[Deadlyhazard]

I'm not very tech savvy so I'm not sure how to deal with those things. How can I check for firmware/sound card driver updates? How can I check if there is third party software from MSConfig?

[UnlixGhost]

Follow the instructions on this page to disable the Startup group items using the MSConfig utility: http://www.netsquirrel.com/msconfig/msconfig_xp.html

[Deadlyhazard]

Just removed a bunch of unnecessary programs with that and restarted computer but still getting crackling noises on my flash.

[Carlo_SLC]

Did you disable all startup group items? Also disable any unecessary third party services.

[Deadlyhazard]

Yeah I disabled everything that was unnecessary as according to that list. Still only getting sound problems in flash player, absolutely having no problems anywhere else with sound.

[Deadlyhazard]

Is ther eanything else I can do? ;____; I can't even watch flash videos anymore and I just tried reinstalling flash and a whole bunch of other things. What the heck could this problem be?!