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Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
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Subject: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: GUEST,Losing sanity Date: 14 Jan 06 - 08:42 PM Every ten minutes and ten seconds (I have timed it accurately) my computer emits a noise like a chicken chirping. It goes " cheepy-cheep, cheepy- cheep, cheepy-cheep, cheepy cheepy cheep ". It appears to have started doing this after I downloaded some MP3's. I do realise that this (extrememly serious) question is guaranteed to stimulate uproariously humorous responses, probably involving bird flu, and Middle of the Road, and Godknowswhatelse, and I promise to guffaw heartily at each and every one, but if somebody could tell me how to get rid of this by some means other than turning off my sound, I would be immensely grateful. TIA ... |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: GUEST,Losing sanity Date: 14 Jan 06 - 08:46 PM I have run a McAfee virus scan btw and nothing came up ... |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: mack/misophist Date: 14 Jan 06 - 09:01 PM New and original! Mine makes the sound of a young woman saying "Cool!" every 15 minutes, but I told it to do that. The regular interval sounds like something mechanical. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Date: 15 Jan 06 - 09:01 AM Are you on a dial-up line? If you downloaded the mp3s through one of the sharing systems you may how got a dialer on your system that's trying to dial out and the chirping is your modem (a lot of sharing systems will use your computer's resources to do its work). If you haven't already got some, download some of the anti-spyware programs (Adaware and Spybot Search & Destroy are free - there are threads in the forum with details) and run them. Mick |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: SINSULL Date: 15 Jan 06 - 09:42 AM Strange - I am having the same problem. And I have Norton Anti-virus which shows nothing and SPybot. Mine is a cable connection. Will call Time-Warner on Monday. This happens even when the computer is turned off. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: MMario Date: 15 Jan 06 - 09:59 AM This happens even when the computer is turned off. ??????? if the computer is off you shouldn't be getting |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: Clinton Hammond Date: 15 Jan 06 - 10:04 AM McAfee is a virus... Norton is worse |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: JudyB Date: 15 Jan 06 - 10:32 AM Do you have a battery backup/Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) or other sort of voltage regulator? If so, it may need to be reset or have its batteries replaced - they chirp at regular intervals when they have a problem. JudyB |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: Grab Date: 15 Jan 06 - 01:59 PM This sounds like the classic mobile phone situation, when the cell checks to see who's in the area and how far they are. The "is-anybody-out-there" check happens at regular intervals, and the tower and mobile use full strength to ensure they find each other and can then work out how far apart they are, so that future calls (for the next 10 minutes) can use lower power. If your computer speakers (or your computer) aren't well shielded or if the cable to them is a bit dodgy, they'll pick up the transmission. Actually it's the amplifier bit that picks it up, so you may also notice the same behaviour from your hi-fi or any other audio equipment. That's why it can happen if the PC's off but the powered speakers are still switched on. The simple solution is to put your mobile somewhere else. The alternative is to get better computer speakers which are properly shielded, and not the crappy $2 Walmart rubbish which most PCs come with. Graham. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: open mike Date: 15 Jan 06 - 02:22 PM the chirp i get is from weather bug.. when there is severe weather warning or update...but it can be silenced. I do not even think it requires a sledgehammer. i hope you get it figured out. Laurel |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: bobad Date: 15 Jan 06 - 02:32 PM CH what do you use as an anti-virus ? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 15 Jan 06 - 04:07 PM Clinton does have a possible point. The version of McAfee I use downloads and installs updates with absolutely no warning and no option to postpone until a more convenient time. It's a pain in the ass for those of us with slow dial-up connections because we pretty much can't do anything else while the update is downloading. Might as well play guitar for five or ten minutes. So. if you define a virus as a program that takes over your computer and makes it do something other than what you want it to be doing then, yes, McAfee is a virus. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: Skivee Date: 16 Jan 06 - 12:02 AM A longshot answer Do you have Weatherbug installed, and have you been having rough weather where you are.(We were having high wind alerts in the Wash.D.C. area last night.) If the answer is yes, you may be hearing the "check for bad weather alert sound from Weatherbug. If not, then it's aliens invading your mind. try an aluminum foil hat with coat hanger antenna. I hope this is helpful |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 16 Jan 06 - 04:31 AM On the Effectiveness of Aluminium Foil Helmets: An Empirical Study |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 16 Jan 06 - 04:32 AM "CH what do you use as an anti-virus ?" A Trojan! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: EBarnacle Date: 17 Jan 06 - 12:16 AM Where exactly is the chirp originating? Is it from your speakers, your cpu, your modem or your power source? Try disconnecting the peripherals which might make the sound one at a time to see whether the sound disappears. Once you have located the source, you can begin to diagnose. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: GUEST,Losing Sanity Date: 17 Jan 06 - 03:19 AM Thank you so much to everybody for their suggestions. The next day after posting the problem had stopped. It has not , since then, recurred with the same virulence, although I got a couple of cheeps last night, which makes me think that perhaps it was in fact cell-phone interference as suggested by Graham above. Weatherbug is a possibility, and if the problem recurs I will investigate if this is the reason. The noise did come from the speakers btw, and I have a broadband connection so I don't think it could be an automatic dialler ? Once again, many thanks to you all for taking the time to post your advice. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: treewind Date: 17 Jan 06 - 08:42 AM The mobile phone explanation is bt far the best, especially if it happens when the computer is off. Maybe the speakers are still on? Anyway, if you have a mobile phone, hold it near the speakers and make a call with it. You'll soon know! Anahata |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ? From: GUEST,Regaining sanity Date: 18 Jan 06 - 03:20 AM Anahata's last post nailed it. It is undoubtedly cell-phone interference. I heard an isolated cheep-cheep this morning while the computer was off, but the speakers, and the TFT screen (with built in miniature speakers, I think) were both switched on. It's a relief to know it isn't a virus after all. |
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