jakestanfill7:
You guys rock. Many thanks for all the responses. Unfortunately most of the advice offered has already been tried, save for a gaming mouse with gaming software and Richard's suggestions on page 2. Gonna try that first then maybe a new mouse. I currently use a top of the line Logitech Performance MX anywhere mouse ($99). I've always had a bobble or two but after update that gave us Royal St George performance immediately disintegrated.
Jake,
In the past nearly 3 yrs I have been playing this game meter problems seem to be about the biggest problem mentioned here on the forums by a lot of players as you will already know.
I must be one of the lucky ones that can say: What is a meter spike? as they just do not happen to me now, for at least 18 months anyway.
I do buy and sell 2nd hand computers and at the moment have a total of 5 which include a small netbook, a Toshiba 8GB laptop, 1 AMD Desktop and 2 Intel Desktops.
All of these play the game fine.
Just recently sold an old Dell P4 with XP on it, no modifications whatsoever and was able to sign in and play the game without glitches of any kind (apart from slow loading and poor graphics)
My internet speed here is slightly slower than what you report (11 Mps)
With any new pc, all I do is: Use Security Essentials AV, Adjust for best performance" under advanced system protection, Install and use Firefox as browser for everything including WGT game.
I don't worry what programs are running within reason and sometimes will actually be using Camtasia to make a video of my game while playing a Ready Go.
A long while back I did have times when the meter was very erratic and found in both cases the mouse was the problem.
To me, cordless mice are a no no as they will sometimes seem to release by themselves on the backswing and I also have a Logitech G5 wired mouse that I don't use now because of meter problems when using it.
My suggestions:
1. Buy or borrow another wired mouse and try that.
2. Try another PC (Use a friends, or go to internet cafe?) in your immediate area and see if the same problem occurs as you have when using your laptop.
Normally find that with PC related problems it will be something very minor causing the problem after you have spent a lot of time and dollars fixing a non existant major problem:)
Good luck & Good golfing.