Desktop -> Laptop -> AVR = Foobar? Problems...

[caper26]

Hi all. Looking for help with streaming or playing music over wireless network.
Hardware:

• Compaq Presario Intel Pentium T4500 Laptop
• Audio Advantage Micro II USB sound card by Turtle Beach
• Yamaha RX-V863

Software:

• Windows 7
• Foobar2000
• WMP if required
• FLAC
• MP3

I want to use laptop to play music located on desktop wirelessly, through my AVR/speakers. I bought a Turle Beach Micro II USB dongle with outputs 3.5mm analog OR digital (spdif) via TOSLINK. Here is what I have tried: I shared my FLAC folder on the desktop with Homegroup (windows 7). I add files to foobar on the laptop from this shared folder.
here are my issues:

1. FLAC files 'freeze' randomly for about a second or less. Usually at LEAST once per song. It is not the file because if I play it back, it won't do it again in the same place, and they play fine when I stream to PS3. It seems to be a problem with foobar or my laptop because I see the EQ visualization display freezing during this time as well.
2. MP3s do not have this freezing problem
3. I can't get the optical output to work on the laptop/micro II. The cable and AVR are not the problem because when I plug the same cable into my PS2, I get sound right away.

Any help would be most appreciated. Thank you.

 

[caper26]

UPDATE: The optical cable worked for PS2 so I thought it wasn't a problem. I went to a friends house and used his and it worked perfectly with the Micro II. Maybe my cable is just older? Has anyone heard of this or can explain why an optical cable would work with one device and not another?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

ps2 has stronger light diode ? In any case I'm glad it's wasn't drivers, hardware issue are easier to fix, thou sometime harder to detect

 

[caper26]

love your avatar, lol !!! crank it up f&*%ers!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

love your avatar, lol !!! crank it up f&*%ers!

it's movie reference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll7rWiY5obI

 

[caper26]

Dude, I been drinking since 1030 this morn...just watched that vid and seriously laughed me arse off!!! .... "I just pointed at it" "These go to 11!" Bahahahahah