Getting intermittent audio glitches while playing games with your GA-X58A-UD3R?

Hopefully I can help. I've spent the last few months trying to track down why exactly this is happening. It's been virtually impossible to find the source of the audio glitches because Windows doesn't offer any sort of system performance profiler to tell you where your issues are stemming from. What I was able to determine is that these audio glitches are due to "Deferred Procedure Call Latency" or "DPC Lag" for short. DPC allows higher priority tasks to take precedence over non-crucial ones. The problem is, a lot of drivers use this, and some seem to abuse/handle it poorly.

The recommended steps for finding the cause of DPU Latency is as follows:

1. Download a DPC Latency Checker.
2. Disable your devices one by one in the Windows Device Manager (focusing on things like NICs, USB controllers, Audio devices, etc..)
3. When the latency goes away, you've found your problem.

The problem with this for me is... I have half a million devices in there! I spent an entire day going through and disabling literally every device that could be disabled and... NO DICE.

Well, you may be in luck.

After all that searching I finally found the reason why it was impossible to track down the problem. It appears that it was my motherboard! There's no way around that! Luckily, after updating to the latest beta BIOS it seems the problem is fixed! (Updating your BIOS is dangerous, and using a beta BIOS is especially dangerous.. but if you're anything like me this is a risk you'll be happy to take considering how damn annoying the audio glitching is)

32-Bit or 64-Bit?

If you're running a 32-bit version of Windows, then lucky you.. the updating process will be very easy. Simply download the FG1 Beta BIOS and run the update (I can't give any help - I'm running 64-bit and I had to do the following extra work..)

If you're running a 64-bit version of Windows or you just couldn't get the 32-bit version to work, then you have to go get another tool. The BIOS flasher included in the above FG1 download does not work for 64-bit. Gigabyte makes a different flasher called @BIOS that works though. Download that tool here and install it. Once it's installed, run it from your start menu. You can back up your current BIOS using the button in the application. Once you've got that done, click "Update BIOS from File" and use the file named "X58AUD3R.FG1" from the download up above. Please be aware that this will reset your CMOS (any overclocking/custom BIOS settings will be reset!) unless you uncheck the box labeled "Load CMOS default after BIOS update", though I'd recommend resetting your CMOS because who knows what stuff has changed between versions..

Evaluating where you're at now

After you've done that, you might want to download that DPC Latency checker and fire up a game or something to see how everything's running. You may get minor latency from other devices, but nothing else seems to measure up against the utter horribleness that occurred in the old BIOS version. I really hope this helps someone else avoid all the frustration that I had to deal with!

Both USPS and UPS use POST requests when you enter a tracking number which means that if you refresh the tracking page your browser will most likely ask you if you really want to resubmit the form. There are many problems with this, chief among them being the fact that you can't bookmark the page. Also, from a developer viewpoint this way of doing it violates the PRG pattern that is commonly thought of as a best practices technique. PRG can be summarized as follows: (excerpt taken from this page)

Never show pages in response to POST
Always load pages using GET
Navigate from POST to GET using REDIRECT

Fedex on the other hand, stores the form information (tracking numbers and preferences) in the URL - you can bookmark this url, you can refresh, and it follows best practice guidelines.

Little things like this surprise me because we are talking about companies worth tens of billions of dollars. They have a very robust web-infrastructures built, and yet they have small problems like this that affect a large portion of their user-base - which could be fixed in an hour or two.

-Tries to log in to XBox-

You have been suspended from XBox LIVE.
You will not be able to sign in to XBox
LIVE until 3/1/2011

It's February 28th. I have been suspended for A WHOLE DAY. I want my money back.

Here's what I'm confused about. If Microsoft had a problem with foul language being used in profiles, why not just disallow any profile text that had those words in te first place? It's not like I somehow slipped it past them, and I didn't try to obscure the letters by adding "Leet" or anything (it wasn't "Fu(k3d"). Plus, if they have a problem with language, why do they allow voice chat? Live is notorious for being full of horribly racist and lingually insensitive people, and yet as far as I know, those people do not get their accounts suspended.

Jokes on you Microsoft.. I've had that offensive language in my profile for a year and a half!

javascript:function%20getScript%28url%2C%20callback%29%7Bvar%20head%20%3D%20document.documentElement%2Cscript%20%3D%20document.createElement%28%22script%22%29%3Bscript.src%20%3D%20url%3Bvar%20done%20%3D%20false%3Bscript.onload%20%3D%20script.onreadystatechange%20%3D%20function%28%29%20%7B%20%20if%20%28%20%21done%20%26%26%20%28%21this.readyState%20%7C%7C%20%20this.readyState%20%3D%3D%3D%20%22loaded%22%20%7C%7C%20this.readyState%20%3D%3D%3D%20%22complete%22%29%20%29%20%7B%20%20done%20%3D%20true%3B%20%20%20%20callback%28%29%3B%20%20script.onload%20%3D%20script.onreadystatechange%20%3D%20null%3B%20%20if%20%28%20head%20%26%26%20script.parentNode%20%29%20%7B%20%20head.removeChild%28%20script%20%29%3B%20%20%7D%20%20%7D%7D%3Bhead.insertBefore%28%20script%2C%20head.firstChild%20%29%3Breturn%20undefined%3B%7DgetScript%28%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cornify.com%2Fjs%2Fcornify.js%27%2C%20function%28%29%7Bvar%20numBah%20%3D%20Math.floor%28Math.random%28%29%2A30%29%2B25%3Bfor%28var%20i%3D0%3Bi%3CnumBah%3Bi%2B%2B%29cornify_add%28%29%3B%7D%29%3B

Thanks goes to Paul Irish for the idea. (Tutorial I got the idea from)

1. Go to http://10minutemail.com and copy the email address that it gives you (you'll need this a couple times).
2. Go here: https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTc5OTc1OQ
3. Sign up using some random name, the email you just copied, and a password you can remember for 2 minutes.
4. Download their client thingy (should start automatically)
5. Install it and log in using the email and password from before.
6. Click skip
7. Uninstall Dropbox (instructions here)

If you did that, thank you very much! Please don't do it multiple times, it only helps me the first time.

As a side note, you might just check out this "Dropbox" thing and sign up for real. It's kind of cool.

"You aren't allowed to be here. In a couple of weeks this road will open up and be public property but until then it's private."

We apologized and explained that we didn't know and turned to leave. The cop seemed plenty friendly. We left, and won't go back there until it's open. No problem! If everyone was as polite as this, we'd have no problems.

Then we headed over to the Ross Complex. We parked at a C-Tran parking lot, and about a minute after parking we were approached by a security car. The driver told my room-mate that we could only stay parked there until 7:30. We agreed and went to walk up the hill. After about twenty minutes of riding a different security car stopped us and an older man said "Pick em up and head out" (talking about the longboards we were already carrying. We said, "well we can still skate in the street right? It's public property." He replied, "yes I suppose."

A while later the second security car drove up to me and said "That doesn't look very safe with the cars, you better go do that somewhere else." I shrugged and said "It's fine, we're being careful."

Then after taking just one more he stopped both my room mate and I yet again and said "You guys can't be here, you better leave before I call the cops."

We had been very careful not to ride only on public property after his initial warning so we asked, "Why? We have every right to be here, but we were just about to leave anyways." I started towards the car. He assumed we were walking to go ride some more, and he repeated "you have to leave." This is where the conversation took a turn for the worse. Here's everything he said as best I remember it..

Me: Yeah, our car is over here.. we're leaving.
Steven: We have every right to be here.
Security: No you don't, if you don't leave I'm calling the cops.
Steven: We have the same rights as bikers.
Security: No you don't. Stick around and find out because I'm going to call the police.
Steven: Go ahead and call them, we're on public property. We have every right to be here.
Security: Do you pay taxes?
Steven: What?? Yeah I own a business, I pay both state business and income tax.
Security: Well you're not allowed to ride here, you're being a nuisance.
Steven: How are we being a nuisance?
Security: What if a car hit you?
Steven: It didn't.
Security: Well what if one did?
Steven: Then it would be our fault but we were being very careful. Besides, since when is being a nuisance against the law?

At this point I was just done. I started to walk back to the car and told Steven to do the same.

It's the comment about the taxes that made me decide to write this. He assumed that just because we were on longboards we were of no use to society. This is so far from the truth. I own my own business, which means I have to pay small business taxes and pay for the full 15% income tax. Anyone who is employed has half of their income tax paid by their employer, so I actually pay way more than most people! What gives him the right to stereotype me based on how I spend my free time?

And this wasn't by any means an isolated incident. This kind of thing happens all the time. We've gotten chased out of public parks by cops, and constantly get nasty looks by people we pass. I know I'm not by any means the stereotypical skater, but that doesn't give anyone the right to treat me as less than any other person.

UPDATE:
I just got some information about what that security officer was and wasn't allowed to do. Here will be my response next time this happens:

1. Take the security person's name
2. If I'm able to, begin either recording or taking video of the confrontation, and let them know they are being recorded. This is 100% legal as long as you're on public property
3. Let them know that their liability insurance doesn't cover them on public property. I know this because I did some work for an insurance broker who specifically insures security guards.
4. If they continue harassment, let them know that they can be convicted of a misdemeanor because they are not within their jurisdiction and trying to act as a public officer.
5. If they still don't quit, call the cops.

Of course, all of this only applies if it's a private security guard and he's on public property, so it doesn't help if it's the actual police. It's still useful information though.

T-Mobile/Samsung, would you please release a firmware update for the Samsung Behold?

It's a buggy phone at best and a brick at worst, but a lot of it's problems could be fixed relatively simply. The following is a categorized list of problems with the Behold, all non-physical problems could be fixed via a firmware update.

Key: The bolded items could be fixed via a firmware update.

1. Case
   1. Hold button is too small and is located in a position which is uncomfortable to press unless you have long thin fingers. A more appropriate position would be either just above the camera or on the right/left side along the top (like iPhone/iTouch)
   2. MicroSD slot is covered by the battery. This is strange because where as MicroSD can be swapped out while the phone is turned on, I don't think its a good idea to remove the SIM card while it's turned on. Switch the two positions?
   3. Proprietary charger/headset. Who doesn't think this is a problem? STANDARDIZE!
2. User Interface
   1. Screen saver can not be changed. There is absolutely no reason why this should be the case.
   2. Widgets are not saved upon reboot. I don't use them much, but some widgets are nice to have there, such as the inbox and create text widgets. Why not just reload the last known configuration upon reboot.
   3. Menu background customization/theming. The background of the menu is the only thing I'd really change if I could... but why not have full themeing support? Almost every other phone I've ever seen has this feature.
   4. Switch back to the last used home page upon app exit. When I exit from my inbox, the web, or whatever, why not allow me to return to the menu instead of home screen if that's what I want.
3. Bluetooth
   1. Can not adjust bluetooth visibility of photos located on memory card. WTF? I don't get this one at all... not one bit.
   2. Bluetooth is not compliant with software.
      1. BluePhoneElite2 for mac can not interface with Behold.
      2. Apple iSync can not sync with Behold.
      3. Other bluetooth texting apps will not receive messages over bluetooth.
         
4. Bugs/Glitches
   1. Sometimes, when trying to view a text message the text comes up blank, after this point the phonebook shows no entries, device must be restarted, upon restart all recent text messages are deleted. This is a problem that I've been having on my Behold, it's made it completely unusable. I haven't seen anywhere online where others have had this same problem, but it's definitely happening to me.
   2. Ascending volume of ringtones can not be disabled. I understand why this "feature" was implemented, it's "to protect us from loud ringtones going off in our ears" (Harmon-PD), but some of us use songs for our ringtones, and some songs start out quietly, get the picture? Allow us to turn this "feature" off please.
   3. Web browser issues. I don't have a data plan, so really I can't tell you what's wrong about this. No HTML support? Something like that? I don't know, but apparently a lot of people have had problems with the web browser.

There's really just so much ground to cover here that I can't possibly think of it all, but if you know of something I didn't cover post a comment and I'll add it. I've actually tried to have my phone replaced because of how many problems I've had with it, but T-Mobile has refused me three times now, and have even refused to repair it. If you want to complain about your crappy Behold, why don't you try contacting T-Mobile?

1:51 PM Apr 13th - skylark going offline for hardware upgrade.

6:05 PM Apr 13th - skylark going offline for OS reload to be moved to the new platform.

8:48 AM Apr 14th - skylark is offline due to unexpected issues during the recovery process. your data is safe, will be working to get online

11:40 PM Apr 14th - skylark restore should be complete shortly with all accounts back online.

10:48 AM Apr 15th - skylark is still undergoing a restore, some accounts are already active, will be back online 100% soon

6:48 PM Apr 15th - All servers are back online. For individual support issues, please submit a support ticket

Anyways, just thought I'd post about it in case anyone was wondering. Plus I really wanted an excuse to put that image on my site

I've been having a lot of trouble with my less than one month old T-Mobile account. I'm kind of angry at them, so I thought I'd post all the executive customer relations numbers (customer service but better) I've been able to find. I've already been talking with Mark and he's been somewhat helpful, but I think I'm going to have to try some new numbers. I'll update this post later after I've found more names. As far as I can tell every extension in the 341-8000's is valid, but I'm still working on finding more. Hope this helps you if you are having trouble with your T-Mobile account!

T-Mobile Executive Branch Numbers
(don't blame me if I mess up when spelling their names)

To reach any of these numbers, first dial 1-877-290-6323
341-8000 to 341-8009 are not valid numbers.

341-8010 - Salaman Toya - ECRC
341-8011 - Jennifer - ECRC
341-8012 - Anthony - ECRC
341-8013 - Angela Becket - ECRC
341-8014 - Barbara - ECRC
341-8015 - Mark J. McCrain - ECRC
341-8016 - Elisabeth - ECRC
341-8025 - J. Vandelay - ECRC
341-8082 - Kelly Spindle - ECRC
341-8083 - Jennifer Bachus - ECRC

Key:
ECRC = Executive Customer Relations Coordinator

EDIT (12/8/2011): Zuyq Def has some excellent information down in the comments, check that out if you want more numbers and information.

So I was out tonight with one of my friends, we were sitting by this lake sort of by her house. We weren't there for any particular reason... we just wanted a place to sit and talk. Well, we had been there for a little bit and we were about to leave when some headlights showed up behind us. At first I just thought it was a car passing by on the nearby street, but then I noticed the headlights were directly behind my car, and partially obscured by a police style push bumper. The cop got out and I rolled down my window.

The first thing the cop did was shined his oversized mag light right at my eyes, which I responded to with the proper reaction of a person who had been sitting in darkness for the last half an hour. The cop took my reaction as a sign that I was either drunk or on some drug. He then asked me why my eyes were red, to which I replied "my eyes are like this a lot" ... ... ... "but not because I do drugs or anything." Smooth. The rest of the conversation wasn't very interesting, it was essentially fifteen minutes of "How much have you had to drink tonight?" My answer to which was that I'd had nothing to drink, which was the truth. At one point he even asked me if I would take a "PBT" (a breath test), which I agreed to but he had no right to administer.

Here's my question: is it illegal to be doing nothing while sitting parked with your car turned off?

After running my license, the police officer pointed out bit of graffiti on a nearby cement roadblock and said how a lot of kids came down there to drink or make trouble. He also said they've had incidences of people pushing cars into the lake after hit and runs. The whole conversation was pretty unnecessary and besides doesn't it seem like the police should have better things to be doing?

If anyone actually reads this I'd be interested in your opinion. Have you had something similar to this happen? Do you think the police are as effective as they should be?