I recently installed Windows XP Pro on my new hard drive. I’ve got all the service packs, updates, and patches. Whenever I try to play CDs, they play fine for a while, then the audio starts crackling and breaking up. Pausing for just a second, then unpausing, seems to clear the problem up. But it is obnoxious and, if anyone knows how to fix it, I’d be grateful.
Wonder if it’s a loose cable from CD-ROM to sound board thingie? Hmm.
That sounds like windows is playing the CD by reading the digital data. Try to convince Windows to let the CD drive do the playing - Windows should then take the audio from the drive and send it to your speakers.