Tech: Is this noise a virus ?

14 Jan 06 - 08:42 PM (#1648610)
Subject: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: GUEST,Losing sanity

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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14 Jan 06 - 08:46 PM (#1648612)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: GUEST,Losing sanity

I have run a McAfee virus scan btw and nothing came up ...

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14 Jan 06 - 09:01 PM (#1648621)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: mack/misophist

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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15 Jan 06 - 09:01 AM (#1648682)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)

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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15 Jan 06 - 09:42 AM (#1648703)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: SINSULL

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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15 Jan 06 - 10:04 AM (#1648715)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: Clinton Hammond

McAfee is a virus...

Norton is worse

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15 Jan 06 - 10:32 AM (#1648739)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: JudyB

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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15 Jan 06 - 01:59 PM (#1648876)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: Grab

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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15 Jan 06 - 02:22 PM (#1648903)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: open mike

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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15 Jan 06 - 02:32 PM (#1648911)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: bobad

CH what do you use as an anti-virus ?

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15 Jan 06 - 04:07 PM (#1648984)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: Bee-dubya-ell

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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16 Jan 06 - 12:02 AM (#1649325)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: Skivee

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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16 Jan 06 - 04:31 AM (#1649389)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: The Fooles Troupe

On the Effectiveness of Aluminium Foil Helmets: An Empirical Study

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16 Jan 06 - 04:32 AM (#1649390)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: The Fooles Troupe

"CH what do you use as an anti-virus ?"

A Trojan!

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17 Jan 06 - 12:16 AM (#1650001)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: EBarnacle

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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17 Jan 06 - 03:19 AM (#1650036)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: GUEST,Losing Sanity

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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17 Jan 06 - 08:42 AM (#1650136)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: treewind

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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18 Jan 06 - 03:20 AM (#1650706)
Subject: RE: Tech: Is this noise a virus ?
From: GUEST,Regaining sanity

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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