I have had similar problems only with playback of videos on the computer....the picture would stream fine then hang and chop. It had nothing to do with media but with codecs. I thought it was the cpu being tapped out but that wasn't the case and all software and services that wasn't needed during the rip or conversion from dvd to xvid. I can't put my finger on it but when I use virdubmod and use the seperate components of ripping a movie which is more time consuming and more difficult it never works. I get the skipping and everything during playback and all settings a correct....When I do it with auto gordian knot it comes out perfect everytime with everything on including diskeeper and maintanance programs to boot....I just have a sneaky feeling it is the codecs and such that have come out recently, I have caught a lot of them with the trojan.ransom.a thing going on...I also use anydvd and clone dvd and they are up to date...maybe I should install ealier versions to see if the problem goes away.....I just don't know for sure but I'll keep looking for a solution and hopefully someone has a solution before I hopefully find one...