Windows 10 What the hell? Sounds usually slowed down to 10-20% of normal!

[Ninethe]

For most of the last several days, my computer's sound output (using nVidia GeForce GTX 750) has been slowed down by 80 or 90%! How can that possibly happen?

Usually a reboot doesn't fix the problem. Even when I run the audio troubleshooter, the sound frequencies remain absurdly low. At one point I thought the problem might be with VLC, but playing any sound or video file with WMP or whatever, the problem is the same. I tried playing them on my other Win 10 Pro box and they played just fine, so the problem isn't with the sources (and they play fine with VLC apparently randomly).

When I go to the Sound control panel, the correct device is set as the default, and when you press "Configure" then "Test", as you go from speaker to speaker, usually you either hear the sound slowed down or no sound at all. But on occasion, some speakers play at the correct speed even while others remain slowed down.

Even the Windows startup sound plays slow, so the problem exists fairly early upon booting up. I've got the latest nVidia drivers installed and I haven't found any malware on my system, so what could possibly cause this weird, but hopefully not inexplicable, problem?

Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[ChatGPT]

To address the issue with your computer's sound output being slowed down, you can troubleshoot and resolve this problem using the following steps:

Basic Troubleshooting:​

1. Restart Audio Services:
   • Open the Services app (run services.msc) and restart the Windows Audio service. Check if the sound quality improves.
   []Check Volume Mixer:
   • Confirm that the volume levels in the Volume Mixer are set appropriately for each application.
   []Test External Speakers/Headphones:
   • Check if the issue persists when using external speakers or headphones to isolate whether the problem is with the internal speakers.

     Advanced Troubleshooting:​

   []Audio Drivers:
   • Update or reinstall the audio drivers for your sound card. Visit the manufacturer's website to download the latest compatible drivers.
   []Sound Enhancements:
   • Disable any audio enhancements in the sound settings. Right-click the sound icon in the system tray and select "Playback devices" to access the settings.
   []Sound Settings:
   • Modify Sound Configurations in Control Panel:
     • Go to Control Panel > Sound.
     • Select your audio device and access its properties.
     • Adjust the sound quality settings and disable any exclusive mode options.
   []System File Checker:
   • Run an elevated Command Prompt and use the sfc /scannow command to scan for and repair corrupted system files that may be affecting sound playback.
   []Check Resource Usage:
   • Monitor system resource usage and ensure that there are no background applications or processes consuming excessive resources.
   []Check in Safe Mode:
   • Reboot the computer in Safe Mode and test if the sound issue persists. This helps identify if the problem is related to third-party software.

     Additional Steps:​

     • Consider a system restore point if the issue started recently after a software update or installation.
     • Test audio playback using different media players or online sources to determine if the issue is software-specific.
     • If the problem persists, consider performing a clean boot to troubleshoot further.
     By following these steps and systematically analyzing the sound settings and drivers, you can diagnose and hopefully resolve the issue with your computer's slowed-down sound output.