Question Is anyone else having issue with their desktop Pandora app today?

[punkncat]

A couple of hours ago my Pandora app for Windows just quit loading new songs. It flashes "buffering" in the bottom right corner for a while until a popup comes up telling me to reload or troubleshoot. If I swap channels it will sometimes play a song, but not if it is a channel I just used or tried.

I went through the troubleshooter and it keeps coming back thinking I need to whitelist from an ad blocker. I pay for the no commercial version, and am not aware that there is even a WAY to whitelist the app itself from the browser based pop up blockers. This aspect is quite funny in that I can play the browser based version just fine, my phone, my wife's phone all play it fine.
I have restarted the app and PC, cleared the cache, reset the app, deleted and redownloaded the app. I have elevated the issue for a case number and an "email reply".

So, outside of sitting and waiting for when or if that is going to happen, has anyone else had this issue today?

 

[Ralston18]

Try some ongoing pinging aimed at Pandora's website(s).

 

[punkncat]

Try some ongoing pinging aimed at Pandora's website(s).

The issue is specific to the desktop app. I have no issues when using a browser or one of the Android phones. I would check on my TV as well, but that app has always been crappy.

 

[Ralston18]

Look for some system change(s) when buffering occurs on the desktop app.

First check Task Manager and Resource Monitor and watch for changes when buffering is being reported.

Begin without Pandora running. Leave the tool window open. Then launch Pandora.

Another way is to take a look into Reliability History and Event Viewer.

Either one or both tools may be capturing error codes, warnings, or even informational events that correspond with the times that the buffering occurs.

Likewise open Process Explorer and watch for a few minutes while doing nothing else.

Then, leaving the Process Explorer window open, launch Pandora.

Objective being to discover what has changed or happened when Pandora reports buffering.

Maybe something being triggered (Task Scheduler) when Panadora is launched. Unexpected/unknown background app....

 

[punkncat]

I have not heard of Process Explorer. How does it differ from the Processes tab from Task Manager?

I appreciate the tips and your time and consideration.

 

[Ralston18]

Process Explorer is overall more comprehensive and offers more options regarding data presentation.

Colors, filters, sorts, more options and views.

Explore the tabs and views.

What can be the most problematic is that Process Explorer "jumps" around as different processes grab and use resources.

May take a bit of time and effort to settle into a presentation/format that helps you discover what process is running when buffering occurs. Or even has actually stopped running -then buffering begins.

Some processes are cryptic and discovering what they actually are may require some online research.

Do be careful because some processes may be a "mispelling" of a known expected process and thus easily overlooked.

Once, hopefully, some potential culprit is identified and proven as being involved with or causing the buffering then that process can be researched more fully.

No need to immediately rush or jump into any specifc actions such as stopping or deleting a process.

Learn more first.

 

[punkncat]

I did get an email back from Pandora support. The issue was on their end and has been corrected. I still say thank you @Ralston18 for your time and wisdom.

 

[Ralston18]

You are welcome.