Distortion after recording for a minute

[M1000]

Hi, I'm running the new Beta version of Audacity in Windows 7 on a newer Toshiba laptop with no problems that I know of.
Audacity performs most all functions well but after about a minute or minute and a half the sound level drops and the signal
becomes distorted. I lowered the sound quality and that helped some but it didn't completely stop it.
The computer has plenty of memory and the distortion comes with the internal mic or an external mic.
I do not have other programs running. I have used Audacity for several years on an older desktop with lower specs.
Anybody got any ideas?
Thanks for your help!

[kozikowski]

That's not Audacity. That's Windows trying to 'help' you. Win7 comes out of the box set for audio and video conferencing, not music recording. Conferencing services offer many automatic sound tools running in the background.

http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/FAQ: ... hancements

Also...

http://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/wind ... rding.html

Koz