Drop-outs

You may not have the audio set to 'highest' priority in your computer.
Other computer functions having 'higher' priority notation settings will override the audio stream, even is they are something really stupid.
You have to go into the settings and change the audio program to have a 'highest' priority setting. And nothing else more than average...
And If i could tell you exactly were/how in your computer system to do this i would be a geek instead of the computer idiot that I actually am.

What is the make and model of the computer, how much RAM (memory) does it have, and what operating system does it use (Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, etc.)?

Does this problem only occur when playing music directly from the internet, or does it also occur when playing files from a cd or files that are stored on a hard drive? If the latter, on what drive are the music files stored (on your internal "c" drive that also contains Windows and program files; on a second internal hard drive; on an external hard drive)? If they are stored on an external hard drive, how is it connected to the computer (usb, firewire, esata)?

What program are you using to play the music files?

What kind of internet connection do you have (cable, dsl, dial-up)? Go here and test the download and upload speeds of your connection, choosing the closest location from among those offered. Let us know the results.

Regards,
-- Al

I had the same identical problem just before my hardrive went bad. I suggest you make a back up file just in case.

exactly what is your computer, what software and how is it all set up????? dropouts can be symptoms of a hard drive on its' last legs but hard to diagnose with the limited info you have provided.

I have a "home-brew" PC with new operating system installed (Windows 7 Ultimate, I believe). I'm hopeless on the computer and know where to find nothing! I'm getting sporadic drop-outs on internet radio (Pandora, Wolfgang, Dead radio). I have not tried ripping CDs yet, so I cannot speak to this. Thanx for the help, folks.