Only records for about 4 seconds?

[veryfrustrated]

Ok after hours of searching for an answer I decided to join this forum. I just started trying to use audacity to record electric guitar after downloading the program. The guitar sounds really good but that good sound only last about 3 or 4 seconds after I press the record button. Something happens. The waves shrink and the sound changes to a real wierd effect. It sounds great at first but then it sounds like I switched instruments. Anybody have any ideas or advice about this? I could sit there and play for an hour and the sound comming through the program will sound good but a few seconds into recording its crap.

[kozikowski]

Newer Windows machine? Windows machines are not entertainment devices, they're corporate management tools and they come out of the box all set to Skype into the company headquarters in Schenectady. You need to turn all that stuff off.

Windows Enhanced Sound
http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 79&start=0

You never said how your guitar is connected to your laptop. How?

Koz