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Strange sound


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I have a Dell Dimension 9150. I have had it almost two years. In the last ten days or so it has been making a strange sound, something like a claxon or a bawl. It is loud, lasts about 3/4 of a second, and has been increasing in frequency. Very irritating. It occurs whether the computer is idle or in any program I am using. It is not any Windows alarm sound that I recognize, but it could be said that it is somewhat similar to those. At first it occured once or twice per evening, now I hear it about every 10-15 minutes.

As I am totally lost as to what this could be, the only fix I have tried so far is to turn off the mike, thinking that it might be some kind of feedback. No luck. I'll be very grateful for any orientation.

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This is a sound coming out of the speakers? If it is, uou might have a damaged or defective sound card. Unfortunately, there's not really a way to test it unless you have a spare sound card or you can put it into someone elses computer.

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This is a sound coming out of the speakers? If it is, uou might have a damaged or defective sound card. Unfortunately, there's not really a way to test it unless you have a spare sound card or you can put it into someone elses computer.

Yes, from the speakers. I would buy a new card, if I knew that was the problem. I can't test it as you suggest though.

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I strongly suspect something nasty in the undergrowth. There are some advertising pop-ups that do this sort of thing. I reckon you could do with a purge. Perhaps a go with the Hijack This would pay off.

I haven't seen any pop-ups, but I'm starting to suspect something in the malware dept. What is Hijack this?

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I strongly suspect something nasty in the undergrowth. There are some advertising pop-ups that do this sort of thing. I reckon you could do with a purge. Perhaps a go with the Hijack This would pay off.

I haven't seen any pop-ups, but I'm starting to suspect something in the malware dept. What is Hijack this?

Well if you go to the following site

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/programs.php

you will find the HighjackThis utility for you to download and run. However once you have run it you need someone who is an expert to interpret the results.

On this site we have one of the worlds leading experts in this field, but she does no longer spend all her time on this site. She is a member of the ASAP community who have a forum on

http://asap.maddoktor2.com/

The malware section of this forum seems to have migrated there, and I suggest you download HJT and then post your results on the ASAP site and ask for help there. It is a world rather like Harry Potter's.

Good luck.

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Well if you go to the following site

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/programs.php

you will find the HighjackThis utility for you to download and run. However once you have run it you need someone who is an expert to interpret the results.

On this site we have one of the worlds leading experts in this field, but she does no longer spend all her time on this site. She is a member of the ASAP community who have a forum on

http://asap.maddoktor2.com/

The malware section of this forum seems to have migrated there, and I suggest you download HJT and then post your results on the ASAP site and ask for help there. It is a world rather like Harry Potter's.

Good luck.

I ran HJT and everything seems legit. I'll post it where you recommend anyway. I also ran antivirus and antispyware and everything reported OK.

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Could it be some sort of acoustic feedback? Are your speakers the shielded type made specially for computer use? Is there any other form of electronic equipment nearby? Try placing a portable radio close to the computer and see if the noise is picked up by that. (Just a shot in the dark).

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Could it be some sort of acoustic feedback? Are your speakers the shielded type made specially for computer use? Is there any other form of electronic equipment nearby? Try placing a portable radio close to the computer and see if the noise is picked up by that. (Just a shot in the dark).

I tried placing a mobile phone and nothing was produced, but it may well be some sort of interference. I have a wireless phone near the computer, but it has been there a long time before the noise appeared. A neighbor recently placed some sort of dish on his rooftop, I think it is for receiving radio signals (like the ones used by banks).

Well I think I'll just keep watching to see if I can figure it out.

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Could it be some sort of acoustic feedback? Are your speakers the shielded type made specially for computer use? Is there any other form of electronic equipment nearby? Try placing a portable radio close to the computer and see if the noise is picked up by that. (Just a shot in the dark).

I tried placing a mobile phone and nothing was produced, but it may well be some sort of interference. I have a wireless phone near the computer, but it has been there a long time before the noise appeared. A neighbor recently placed some sort of dish on his rooftop, I think it is for receiving radio signals (like the ones used by banks).

Well I think I'll just keep watching to see if I can figure it out.

Makes you wonder.

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