Unknown Miscellaneous Knocking sound.

[Simsarmy]

I'm using Windows XP Media Edition.

 

This might be a hard one to explain (since I haven't even the faintest idea what this might be), but I'll give it my best shot:

 

About every hour or half an hour (I hadn't really paid attention to the gap), a knocking sound will emanate from my Computer (I made quite sure it was my computer).

 

It will happen 8 times in succession, in a total of about 3 seconds... It's quite rapid.

The best way to describe the sound, would be the footsteps from some very old RPG's... It has a distinct bad Midi quality to it.

 

Nothing appears visually on the screen, and I hadn't installed anything recently that could make the sound.

 

It might turn out to be nothing, or something that should be happening... But if anyone has any suggestions, that would be great.

 

- Simsarmy

[BeeCeeBee]

Are you doing anything at all when this happens? Could this be described as a ticking sound?

[Simsarmy]

Thank you for the quick response.

 

This has happened whilst doing something (browsing the web, playing games) and also with the computer completely idle.

 

It sounds nothing like a ticking sound... It's better described as a very low quality "knocking" ... I honestly can't find any other way of describing it better.

 

- Simsarmy

[BeeCeeBee]

Assuming that you do not have a disc spinning in your optical drive or that it is not deciding to "go for a spin" on its own there seems to be only two other things it could be.

1. A fan is acting up in some way, perhaps from dirt or dust, and is knocking, or

 

2. Your hard drive may be failing.

 

That sort of covers the array of moving parts.

 

One thing I would do ASAP is make sure you have good backup on an external media just in case it turns out to be the hard drive. I am leaning toward the fans (because a failing hard drive sound is usually described as ticking) but lets wait for the hardware guys to weigh in.

[Simsarmy]

Assuming that you do not have a disc spinning in your optical drive or that it is not deciding to "go for a spin" on its own there seems to be only two other things it could be.

1. A fan is acting up in some way, perhaps from dirt or dust, and is knocking, or

 

2. Your hard drive may be failing.

 

That sort of covers the array of moving parts.

 

One thing I would do ASAP is make sure you have good backup on an external media just in case it turns out to be the hard drive. I am leaning toward the fans (because a failing hard drive sound is usually described as ticking) but lets wait for the hardware guys to weigh in.

 

Ah, sorry about that...

I've made a mistake in my description... (And I'll edit it as well as explaining in this reply*)...

 

It's a sound coming from my Speakers (and also to test, my headphones)...

Sorry about the misconception.

 

- Simsarmy

 

*Or not... Oh, how I dislike Forums with Editing disabled.

[BeeCeeBee]

*Or not... Oh, how I dislike Forums with Editing disabled.

Not anywhere near as much as we hate it when people edit their post after an answer is supplied to make it seem like we missed something. :) There is a shot editing period allowed sufficient for minor corrections right after posting.

 

That is not the case here.

 

I am glad you clarified the issue as it makes a world of difference. Speakers never occurred to me.

 

Our hardware guys are around soon and may be able to help get to the bottom of this. Also Plastic Nev seems to know his way around the sound part of things as much of what he does involves music. A little patience should bring you suggestions.

Edited March 4, 2009 by BeeCeeBee

[Simsarmy]

To further *Hopefully* help out...

I've got a feeling it's a piece of software making the sound... Since, as I said... It has a "typically bad Midi sound"...

 

I've looked in the folders of the last three things I installed to see if there were any audio files that matched the one I am hearing, but alas... I found nothing.

 

I'm also doing several scans to rule out the chances of a Virus.

 

- Simsarmy

[BeeCeeBee]

Please let us know if the scans show anything or if you need disinfection help. Otherwise watch this space.

 

RPG = Role Playing Game?

[Simsarmy]

RPG = Role Playing Game?

 

Yup.

Though, the sound I was referring to appeared in a lot of games around 1995...

It's just the first thing that popped into my head,

[Plastic Nev]

Hi simsarmy, I am pretty well up on sound issues normally, but this is a new one for me too.

However, your guess that it may have something to do with a program or other software may be the way forward. But before we go down that road, do you have a reasonable idea as to when this sound first started? and can you go to system restore and restore back to a time before it started?

This will of course remove any software you installed after that date, but if you have access to reinstall them, do so one at a time till the sound comes back. Then we will know the culprit.

 

Oh, and an edit to add,

you say you have installed three programs recently, if one of them is shareware or similar, especially sound or music related, the noise may only go away after you pay up for it.

Nev.

Edited March 4, 2009 by Plastic Nev

[Dalo Harkin]

It sounds more like static builidng up in the phono sockets.

remove the cables and check they are clean.

 

If this is happening at random intervals then that would explain the static problem if it is only happening when certain sounds are emitted say a loud bang on the game then the sound setting may be set wrong in the audio control panel

[BeeCeeBee]

There was a point when I could not isolate a random event. I am not even sure what it was. I did the following and it worked. It is, however, about as annoying a process as you can get.

 

Open your task manager (ctrl, alt, del) and leave it running with applications showing and sit there. If the cause is a program or application it should appear at the same time as the "knocking." I would also keep my finger poised on the PrtSc and hit it as soon as something pops up.

 

Not much fun but it may help isolate the source.

Edited March 5, 2009 by BeeCeeBee

[Dalo Harkin]

I would also keep my finger poised on the PrtSc and hit it as soon as something pops up.

 

Barry did this for 5 years - :D

[Simsarmy]

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

I think it's been solved.

Despite how adamant I was that it was a synthetic sound... Once I heard a high pitched squeal come through my headphones that sounded similar to a single "knock" I heard earlier. I was convinced it was simply Headphone interference.

I was further convinced when I realized that the "knocking" wasn't a constant amount like I had originally believed... After paying attention, I heard it knock 3, 5, 8 times, and another it stopped halfway mid-"knock".

 

For anyone else who might be googling it, I'll help out the search by adding the keyword: Wharfdale Wireless RF Stereo. (Of course, the culprit).

 

So a cookie to Dalo Harkin. :P

 

- Simsarmy

 

I'll keep this site bookmarked... You might see more of me.

[Plastic Nev]

Thanks for the update, and glad you have found it. Not often that radio interference is a problem, but when it is, it can sometimes be difficult to resolve.