I've been having a very bizarre computer problem in the last couple of weeks. At random, strange things start coming out of my speakers—bits of music, people talking, whatever. Usually it's distorted and cuts in and out. It only ever lasts a few seconds, and there doesn't seem to be any pattern as to when it happens.
At first I thought my speakers themselves were picking up some sort of signal, but when I hit the mute button on my keyboard, it stops. I have no idea where it could be coming from. I've scanned for viruses and spyware. I've checked to see if I have any new programs installed or running in the background.
Does anybody have any ideas? This is by far the strangest computer program I've ever had. I'm really at a loss.
Posted by Tstorm (Member # 1871) on :
I wouldn't rule out the possibility that you're picking up signals from something. The same thing has happened to me periodically, but it was most consistent when I was living in Kansas City.
You can try looping your cords in figure-8 patterns instead of circles, if you have excess cord behind your desk. Try to keep the cords separate, perhaps.
My cell phone causes some strange symptoms. When it's on my desk, the speakers pop periodically. By 'pop', I mean they emit a burst of white noise. When I'm about to receive a call, the speakers will pop twice in a row, almost a second before the phone rings.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Yeah, I get that whenever the cell phone is near a speaker of any kind, right before it rings.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
I'm not ruling out the possibility of picking up signals. I just don't know how that would actually work, since it seems to be coming from the computer and not just the speakers. (At least, that's what I'm assuming.) I've heard the popping caused by cellphones before, but I'm getting snippets of hard rock and talk radio. I'll see if fiddling with the cords helps.
Posted by MEC (Member # 2968) on :
I believe that certain sound cards will start playing things to tell you they are failing. I could be wrong though.
Posted by brojack17 (Member # 9189) on :
I recommend you do this before your brain is taken over. Make one for your monitor too.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
quote:Originally posted by MEC: I believe that certain sound cards will start playing things to tell you they are failing. I could be wrong though.
Playing things like what I'm hearing? And if it helps, my audio is integrated into the motherboard.
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
This won't be any help. But, I do understand the feeling. I was laying on the couch one evening, listening to Schoenberg's Transfigured Night. I was way into the music, (unusual, as I don't especially like the piece). It was dark, and I had the lights off. Suddenly, the system said "I am right here at the corner of Felder and Normanbridge." That was my location. It got MY attention. The system never did anything like that again.
Posted by MEC (Member # 2968) on :
quote:Originally posted by Artemisia Tridentata: This won't be any help. But, I do understand the feeling. I was laying on the couch one evening, listening to Schoenberg's Transfigured Night. I was way into the music, (unusual, as I don't especially like the piece). It was dark, and I had the lights off. Suddenly, the system said "I am right here at the corner of Felder and Normanbridge." That was my location. It got MY attention. The system never did anything like that again.
I would probably have freaked out. that sounds like it was probably catching someone's cell phone directly outside though.
This sounds like my computer monitor that plays me the Spanish radio against my will. I suspect this is a similar problem.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Actually, you and your computer are stuck in a time loop due to a warp core breach near a spcial anomoly. ONly after Data heeds the advice of Commander Riker will everything be ok.
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
Speakers pick up radio stations sometimes..Is it just me or was there a thread just like this a couple months ago? I thought this was the same one, but I definitely remember posting on that one, and I don't see my post here... maybe Hatrack is haunted.
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
quote:Originally posted by Dan_raven: Actually, you and your computer are stuck in a time loop due to a warp core breach near a spcial anomoly. ONly after Data heeds the advice of Commander Riker will everything be ok.
You forgot that they have to vent some plasma and do something with the deflector dish.
These things aren't haunted... you're just crazy.
I use to be able to tell when VT52/100 terminals would go bad, sometimes days in advance, just by the high pitched squeal that only I can hear. I would freak people out by walking up to them, telling them "your monitor has two days to live," and then be right. Then again, they probably thought I sabotaged it...
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Make one for your monitor too.