ION Discover DJ works intermittently

Hi all,
First off, the website is telling me that my serial number is of an incorrect format (which is true when you look at the two formats), so I can't set my serial number
.
Anyway, I just bought an ION Discover DJ with Cross LE to experiment with. My desktop (Vista on Core2 1.8GHz/4GB RAM) will allow me to use the scratch functionality for a few seconds, and then the CUE button blinks in both Cross LE and on my Discover DJ controller and I can't scratch anymore on that track.
When I use the controller with Cross LE on my Vista laptop (Core2 Duo w/2GB RAM) on battery power, I have relatively few run-ins with the above problem.
As soon as I plug my laptop into the wall for A/C power, the same issues happen on my laptop that happen on my desktop.
I have decreased the buffer to the smallest amount (64 samples) and this makes the desktop a little better, but still not very satisfying.
Might my integrated sound card cause this? Or does it sound like more of a USB power issue? I'm just baffled by the fact that it works better on battery power!
Thank you in advance,
Jake
First off, the website is telling me that my serial number is of an incorrect format (which is true when you look at the two formats), so I can't set my serial number

Anyway, I just bought an ION Discover DJ with Cross LE to experiment with. My desktop (Vista on Core2 1.8GHz/4GB RAM) will allow me to use the scratch functionality for a few seconds, and then the CUE button blinks in both Cross LE and on my Discover DJ controller and I can't scratch anymore on that track.
When I use the controller with Cross LE on my Vista laptop (Core2 Duo w/2GB RAM) on battery power, I have relatively few run-ins with the above problem.
As soon as I plug my laptop into the wall for A/C power, the same issues happen on my laptop that happen on my desktop.
I have decreased the buffer to the smallest amount (64 samples) and this makes the desktop a little better, but still not very satisfying.
Might my integrated sound card cause this? Or does it sound like more of a USB power issue? I'm just baffled by the fact that it works better on battery power!
Thank you in advance,
Jake