About every 45-60 seconds, my sound is like laggy/broken up. It is not crackly at all, just sounds like the sound is lagging. I don't believe it is my computer as it is a powerful system (Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.40 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 1 TB hard drive, 256 MB video card).

I run Vista Home Premium (problem began after upgrading to Vista) and have the Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Extreme Music sound card. Here is what I have done thus far to try to alleviate the problem.

1. I installed the Vista drivers for the sound card off the Creative website
2. I uninstalled those drivers after it didn't help and installed the Creative drivers for my sound card off the Dell website.
3. I had a Dell technician take control of my computer for almost 4 hours trying to disable and chagne settings and whatnot. No luck. They tend replaced the sound card in a different PCI slot. No luck
4. I reinstalled the operating system with a dual boot of XP and Vista. I only installed the Vista drivers this time. Sound still worked great on the XP side, but not so much on the Vista side.
5. I made Dell build me a brand new upgraded computer w/ Vista on it that arrived today. Still having the same problem

I have ruled out the speakers. Creative swears that their drivers are fine - that it is not a driver problem. I also know a lot of friends with the same sound card who run Vista and it all works great.

In addition, the console doesn't open. It says it isn't installed properly. Therefore, I cannot adjust the sound on the sound card or adjust the bass on the sound card. :-(

I can't think of anything else I can do. This happens with ALL sound. Using my TV Tuner to watch tv, listening to music, AIM sounds, etc. All diagnostics tests pass.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Hi maybe you need your codecs updated if the problem when playing movies and music?
install this codec pack to see if it fixes it let me know how you go Download Vista Codec Package 4.4.7 - Vista Codec Package - With this package installed, you shouldn't need to install any other codec or filter - Softpedia

i downloaded it but when i try to open, a box pops up that says nothing but "unspecified error"

but the problem is with ANY sound. AIM sounds, error noises... literally any sound that comes out of a computer that requires a sound card to be heard.