Fallout 3 Codec Issues - Horrible Game Lag

[Beanwolf]

Alright, so if I rename "Music" in the Data folder to something else (say, "Music2"), the game runs PERFECTLY... but with no music. Enabling the music folder results in ridiculous lag. I've tried the K-lite codec fix but to no avail. Any additional codec packs or settings that any of you with a similar issue have had success with? (I have also done all the multi-processor fixes, INI tweaks, etc... I've 100% narrowed it down to the music as the issue)

[Battlecross]

I haven't tried the music fix, I'll give that a shot because I've tried everything else too, to no avail.

[Beanwolf]

Found a rogue codec in my system, ArcSoft Audio Decoder HD, commonly installed from TotalMedia Extreme that comes with HD PVR capture cards. Disabled the codecs and it runs like butter now. Only took 3 hours of searching XD.

If anyone else is having a similar problem, I recommend using the following two utilities in tandem: GSpot and InstalledCodec. You can open up a fallout music file ("data/music/battle/whatever.mp3") in GSpot and track which decoder it's using (Bottom right of the app's window, click the litte '1' to the left of the box). In my case, it was ArcSoft's host of decoders that FO3 hates. This will probably have different results for everyone, but it will help you narrow down which codec Bethesda is violently rejecting.

[BenWah]

installedcodec is a life saver

[popnlocke]

Do you just uninstall the codecs in windows 7's "program and features" in control panel?

EDIT:
Just looked myself in Programs and Features. I had Arcsoft TotalMedia Extreme and uninstalled it. When prompted about removing certain contents and asking if I was sure, I said Yes to everything. Checked to see if this fixed the lag in Fallout 3, SMOOTH AS BUTTER.

Thank you Beanwolf. I had been Googling the past couple days and couldn't find much help concerning the specific lag I was receiving (mouse lag when in main menu), even after installing K-Lite. What exactly did you search for to know that was the issue?

[Beanwolf]

I do a lot of console based streaming (SSBM for my local scene) and was between a lot of different capture devices at the time. Once I narrowed it down to music, I just figured it would be something related to what I had recently installed.

Definitely a weird issue, but nothing short of expected from an older Windows Live title.