Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Buffering on Video Calls

Jul 19, 2019 10:44AM PDT

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me. Over the last few weeks I am getting constant freezing on all my webcam communication apps (Skype, IMO, Hangouts and Messenger) and have tried everything to solve it. My computer has a wireless connection to my router but is registering about 45-60mb download speed. My O/S is up to date, my drivers are up to date and AV scan done that comes back clear. I have run a Dell system check and diagnostics (memory etc) and it's all come back clear.

I am at a complete loss as to how to solve it. I get freezing and temporary loss of sound on all video calls, regardless of who I am calling and their internet connection so am convinced the issue lies at my end. My system details are:

Dell XPS 8700, Windows 10 Home
Intel i7-4790, 3,60GHz
16gb Memory
NVIDEA GeForce GT720
McAffee AV

Any help/advice on what else to check would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Too many reasons.
Jul 19, 2019 10:57AM PDT

Let's see if you can post a Web Speccy link about this PC. Remember I expect such to happen with VPN use and that odd HDD issue where the 01 and 07 values are in the thousands. The Speccy report will let me see these areas.

Read https://www.piriform.com/docs/speccy/using-speccy/publishing-a-speccy-profile-to-the-web

https://www.google.com/search?q=mcafee+skype+buffering&gl=US finds some complaints there. From blocking to delays. As long as you have mcafee doing packet inspections on these I expect delays. You have to remove this to see if it's the cause as I've found mcafee still active when disabled.

Post was last edited on July 19, 2019 10:59 AM PDT

- Collapse -
Buffering on Video Calls
Jul 19, 2019 3:20PM PDT

Thanks for your advice on this. I had wondered whether it might be my AV so have uninstalled McAfee/BT Virus Protect and installed AVG. I'll see if the problem persists when I next make a call. In the meantime my Speccy link is http://speccy.piriform.com/results/AONgHBkGLdIuBL6VUFbaIiY
Thanks

- Collapse -
Now I see both AVG and McAfee items running.
Jul 19, 2019 3:53PM PDT

Did you happen to have more than one anti-(anything) running? That's a known trouble area.

I still see Mcafee items running. You may have to (I know I do) use a mcafee cleaning tool. I still wonder why Mcafee refuses to just use the uninstall from the control panel after all these years.

1. Still see more than one anti software running. I see AVG and Mcafee items.
2. The ST1000DM010-2EP102 is showing very high values in 01 and 07. C3 is showing high values and all these conspire to machines that report as lagging in games and can affect Skype, etc. The fix is to use only good drives. This has many long prior discussions so in short, the drive has not failed but is a known hit to performance.
3. There's an USB drive plugged in. USB drives can take a performance toll. While I think items 1 and 2 are it. This can be left unplugged for testing.
4. Chrome has many many Internet connections. Could be too busy to get a good Skype call. Curb those connections or tabs.

5. The machine looks in good health. Temps are good, the RAM is in dual channel mode so good news really. Work items 1 to 4.

- Collapse -
Now I see both AVG and McAfee items running.
Jul 20, 2019 1:06AM PDT

Ok. I really appreciate you taking the time out to look at this for me. Not sure I am in a position to change that SSD drive at the moment but will definitely look at the other areas and clean McAffee off the system.

Thanks again

- Collapse -
Sorry for the grammar flub.
Jul 20, 2019 1:20AM PDT

The SSD looked fine, it's the https://www.google.com/search?q=ST1000DM010&gl=US (HDD) that shows a common source of (until folk ask) delays, lag, minor freezes and even BSODs and TDR (video card but not) errors.

I'd clean up the anti-software items first and see where it stands. Then I'd see if I can run without the HDD in question.

- Collapse -
Sorry for the grammar flub.
Jul 20, 2019 1:43AM PDT

Ah ok, my misunderstanding. I'll check what drive that is. I have an internal HDD for just docs etc in addition to the SSD which has the OS/ and Apps only and then an ext USB HDD. I think you are referring to the internal HDD.

- Collapse -
Answer
Have Connection Quality Checked
Jul 19, 2019 2:40PM PDT

Some things you may want to check are Wifi speed, Wifi interference, noise in the line and if there are intermittent disconnects. A webcam connection should be free from Wifi interference and frequent disconnects. Another thing to check for is the plug-ins installed on your computer. You may want to check out the below link. Windows 10 updates can lead to webcam issues, too.
https://windows101tricks.com/webcam-freezes-windows-10/

- Collapse -
Have Connection Quality Checked
Jul 19, 2019 3:24PM PDT

Thanks for your advice. I have tried most things in that link and we'll see if it makes a difference