Records/plays for a few seconds then stops

[gill tunnel]

Records/plays for a few seconds then stops

When I hit record, Audacity records for a few seconds and then it just stops recording. Likewise, when I play any audio (in Audacity or elsewhere) it will play for a few seconds while sounding very choppy then the choppiness takes over, leaving silence.

I tried using 2 other recording programs to see if the problem was present with them as well and it was.

When I use the sound card that is built into my computer (“Sigma Tel audio”) recording and playing works fine but when I use my “M-audio ProFire 610” sound card the problem is present.

I recently did most of the things (just the things that did not cost money) on this website to optimize my computer for recording but it did not help: http://www.audioforums.com/windows-xp-optimization.php
The above optimization guide recommends 2.0 Gigahertz of processor clock speed but I only have 1800 megahertz. Would this be the cause of the problem? When I use the built in sound card I can record and play several tracks at the same time without a drop out though . So does this mean that my processor speed is NOT an issue?

Sometimes audacity will at first not record at all, then give me a latency error message and then it will let me record/play for a few seconds before cutting out as I described above. Latency can’t actually be responsible for causing the drop out which occurs after a few seconds can it? I was under the impression that latency has nothing to do with causing dropouts.

Does anyone know how I can solve this problem? Or does anyone know how I can narrow the number of possibilities of what may be going wrong?
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

System specs:

Dell Inspiron 1501 laptop
Microsoft Windows XP Home edition version 2002, Service Pack 3
Processor : “AMD Athlon™ 64x2 Dual-Core Processor TK-55” its version is: “x86 Family 15 Model 104 Stepping 1”. Its speed: 1800MHz
1.87 GB of RAM
firewire: Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
computer did not come with firewire port so I use an express card thing
sound card: M audio profire 610
Audio programs : 1. Audacity
2. reaper
3. cakewalk Sonar 3 Producer edition


If I am leaving any information out just let me know.

[kozikowski]

No. That's enough.

Audacity doesn't always get along so well with M-Audio equipment. They use ASIO software drivers and ASIO keeps wanting to be paid for them.

See if your sound device has Windows drivers.

Koz

[bat]

there's many free programs that do in fact support ASIO drivers, legally (i hope) such as kristal audio engine. I'd give that a try if i were you...

[gill tunnel]

I was not able to figure out this problem. But I got a new sound card . I have problems with it too but ill post them in a new thread. It never ends.
Thanks for taking the time to respond though.