Random Disconnect-like Sound

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finvarra

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Jun 20, 2017
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For several months, I've tried without success to find a solution to this issue on several forums . Perhaps someone here can help me.

Here's my frustrating story:

I was using a self-built machine. Suddenly random USB device-like (but not exactly) disconnect sounds started occurring (sometimes severalx in a row, other times not for several hours) - I disabled all system sounds and it still continued, even though I didn't notice any USB hardware blips). Two months ago, I bought the new Intel NUC7i7BNH, installed Windows 10, and within a few hours the issue suddenly started all over again.

I recorded an occurrence of the sound. Here's the link:



I have replaced or swapped out literally all my hardware, disabled all Windows power-saving settings, turned off ALL Windows system sounds, tested the same configuration on ***3*** different computers (1 running Win 10, the others Win 7), been on several computer help forums, pretty much eliminated every computer-related fix Google (and several computer advisers) could suggest including testing all USBs and running USBDeview (with no hits) - and the same "disconnect" sound (or whatever it is) continues.

I checked the circuits in the room and changed the wall outlets. I even connected the PC to an extension cord on a circuit in another room. No difference.

It's definitely coming through the speakers b/c I can lower the volume. I get no hardware hiccops.. The randomness is what is really frustrating. For instance it was silent all yesterday morning, then 3 times in a half-hour, then nothing until this morning - just once - and then suddenly nearly a dozen times in 10 minutes. There is just no pattern - no particular change in electrical usage - and the sound cannot be controlled or even disabled in Windows. The events viewer never shows anything that corresponds to the sounds.

Right now, I'm using both a battery backup and a surge protector (both purchased since this issue arose). If there is some sort of electrical interference, shouldn't they shield it... or is there something else I can try (short of hiring an electrician to lay new lines)?

To summarize... I'm looking for something that

(a) sounds *like* the above sound ;

(b) comes through the speakers (b/c I can lower the volume on it), is totally independent of anything I may be doing (or not doing anything) at the time;

(c) is completely random.

And mostly a way to disable it - before the sledgehammer comes out.

*I would appreciate ANY direction as this has been very frustrating. Thanks!
 
You say you have changed all your hardware, does that mean you have tried a different motherboard as well? To me this sounds like an issue coming from the motherboard...
 
How can it be - if I'm getting the same sound using *3* different computers?

I'm thinking it has to be some sort of electrical or network interference (some device trying to connect?) - but how can that be if it's occurred with 2 different routers and 2 different ISPs?

Weird.
 
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did you change speakers? what speakers are you using? do you have neighbors that maybe have a device trying to connect to your systems? do you have any other devices that might be trying to connect?
 
Plug in a lamp with a weak incandescent bulb into the same socket as your PC and see if it dims when that sound happens. Or measure the outlet over time and see if the voltage fluctuates if you have a meter.

Also look for default power setting that maybe putting a component to sleep or something.
 
DrLobotomy said:
Plug in a lamp with a weak incandescent bulb into the same socket as your PC and see if it dims when that sound happens. Or measure the outlet over time and see if the voltage fluctuates if you have a meter.

Also look for default power setting that maybe putting a component to sleep or something.
Click to expand...


I've basically ruled out the socket as I've replaced the outlets - and also the same sound occurred when I ran the computer on an extension cord to another room. And I've been through the whole power setting thing ad nauseum - it doesn't seem to be a Windows issue.... no events, no disconnects logged on USBDeview.

Oh yeah, and I have the PC connected to a UPS (a new one). Shouldn't that handled fluctuating voltages?
 
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pendragon1 said:
did you change speakers? what speakers are you using? do you have neighbors that maybe have a device trying to connect to your systems? do you have any other devices that might be trying to connect?
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm using different power speakers. At one point, I noticed some faint digital noise - but that disappeared when I moved the router.

As far as neighbors trying to connect, someone on another forum sent packets to my router to try to replicate the sound. Nothing.

Because of the randomness I can't be certain, but I once disabled the internet for a few hours and didn't hear anything... but again that may just have been chance. I'm noticing some sort of pattern to the sound as well... it seems to happen more in the morning/early afternoon than at night... again, chance?
 
Does anyone recognize that sound? It reminds me of the old device disconnect sound... but not quite.
 
it sounds like an xbox sound, not any windows sound Ive heard. maybe get a wifi analyzer and see whats around you, if there are other wifi devices in the area.
 
pendragon1 said:
it sounds like an xbox sound, not any windows sound Ive heard. maybe get a wifi analyzer and see whats around you, if there are other wifi devices in the area.
Click to expand...

Someone else said it sounds like one of those machines in a hospital that measures vital signs such as a heart rate or brain pulses.
 
That sound is definitely not a Microsoft/Windows sound. I'd bet that's coming from some 3rd party software you've installed. Maybe some camera/scanner utility or some such?

That's what you're looking for.

Google how to get Windows to do a clean boot, loading no 3rd party software at boot, and see if it still occurs...
 
I still haven't found a solution. Since last writing, I've tried Wireshark - but since the sound is so random it has been impossible to track.

So where it stands now:

Same specific sound. 3 different computers. No software overlap. *Probably* is coming through the network - even though I'vew changed ISPs, routers, and even type of connection (from DSL to cable).

Here's another recording:



Any ideas? Thoughts? I'm stumped.
 
DCookSta said:
This could be it, or at least point in another direction. Do you have to be using the PC to get the sound? Browser running?
Click to expand...


I thought that could be a possibility - and changed to the Opera browser. Didn't make a difference.

About an hour ago, I tried the clean boot. No sounds so far.... but it is random. Hardly anything over the weekend. Then about noon yesterday, I had at least 20 instances in 5 hours. One thing I've observed.... it does happen predominantly (at least 90% of the time) in the daytime.

EDIT: Sometimes it happens even when I'm not at the computer.
 
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After 18 hours of no noise running clean boot, sound happened 5-6 times in 10 minutes.

Any other ideas?
 
unplug all cabled USB 2 and USB 3 connectors to the case, use only built in rear ports and try it?
 
Simplyfun said:
unplug all cabled USB 2 and USB 3 connectors to the case, use only built in rear ports and try it?
Click to expand...


What good would that do if the same exact event happens on 3 different machines? I've even tried only using no USB and only a bluetooth kb/mouse.
 
finvarra said:
What good would that do if the same exact event happens on 3 different machines? I've even tried only using no USB and only a bluetooth kb/mouse.
Click to expand...

I forgot that part. My truly sincere apologies.

Obviously you have some issue going on and that you are incapable of troubleshooting yet you successfully replicated this sound across three systems with two different operating systems and have indicated that the random nature is bothering you.

So in conclusion , buy a MAC.

Because I feel like you're just trolling us with the three systems and two OS's. It's either some common software element between the three systems (clean boot notwithstanding) or you're just having fun.
 
I wish that were true. Believe me, though, it's not fun.

EDIT: And I'm not replicating the sound, it happens spontaneously. I've just come here for help. Sorry if you think I'm trolling you.
 
You have done a deep scan with malwarebytes, right? Nothing?
You have looked at your sound profile to see what generates that sound?
Mystically three computers in the same environment make that sound? You are certain it is the actual computers, right? Not another device? Smoke detector with low battery, a dog's tail thumbing, squirrels in the walls, etc?
How did you know the sound happened when you were not there?
 
What I meant by the sound happening when I wasn't there... I wasn't sitting at the computer.
Yes, I checked the Volume Mixer when the sound occurred - and nothing new popped up. Am I looking in the wrong place?
Would it be "mystical" if the intruding sound was caused by something in the network? Wouldn't that account for it happening with 3 different machines? That's why I tried using wireshark.
I tried the malwarebytes deep scan last month. Nothing.
Smoke detector with low battery? I will check. Is it possible something like that would cause such a specific sound?
Thanks.
 
No.. control panel - sounds - go down the list until you find the same sound.

What do you mean "something in the network"? Like underpants gnomes? Russian h@x0rz?

The smoke detector because I am in about half belief the sound *ISNT* coming from a pc but is environmental.
 
Better said: something passing through the network. Someone suggested that I use the Wireshark program which records packets flowing through the network. But I had no luck isolating the sound. A dead end - but I was trying that option.

I don't know if the sound is coming "from a PC" but it is definitely coming through the powered computer speakers. Early on, I thought that might be the cause and replaced them.

I have disabled all windows sounds. I have played every .wav file I could find on the machine. I have also run process manager filtered to find .wav files that correspond with the event.

I just wish someone could identify the sound. It is very specific. Could it be some sort of notification sound? What sort of environmental sound?

I'm sorry. After 3 months of this, I'm just grasping at straws.
 
When the sound next occurs, could you please report back and list all Applications listed in Task Manager?

Thanks.
 
>>I've even tried only using no USB and only a bluetooth kb/mouse.

Doesn't sound like a USB connect/disconnect sound to me at all.
And if you disconnected all USB devices, then that rules out the notification sounds anyway.

Do you have your phone paired with the computer?

It may be an email or text notification.

.
 
That sound kind of reminds me of one of the beboops that Discord makes for certain notifications. You don't use discord, do you? Also, if you weren't certain it was coming from your speakers I would think that someone had pranked you with a ThinkGeek Annoy-a-tron.
 
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