Strange system sound occuring randomly.

[dogbone]

I'm not sure what is going on here but suddenly every 10 minutes or so I can hear a sound that sounds like the normal 'drop something in a folder' system sound. It occurs for no reason and it is also very soft, much softer than the current system sounds.

I'm beginning to wonder whether I'm imagining this or not.

 

[mad jew]

Hmm... What apps do you have running?

 

[dogbone]

Nothing exotic, just the usual, CS, and the usual apple apps like preview. I've got acquisition open but it's not doing anything. I've checked the activity viewer but nothing looks untoward. The only new thing I've done recently is install 'Sticky Windows' but it's not an app that does much.

 

[mad jew]

Okay, well could it be iChat telling you that a buddy's status has changed?

 

[dogbone]

I don't use I chat or stuff like that. I just got a bit worried that maybe my computer was being accessed or something. I'll keep an eye, (or ear) on it.

 

[mad jew]

Okay, well if it's happening regularly then turn off user interface sound effects in the Sound pane of System Preferences. If it's still happening after this, then we know it's from an app and not the system.

 

[dogbone]

That's a good idea, I'll do that now and get back if it reveals anything.

 

[mad jew]

How'd it go, mate?

 

[localoid]

Are you certain the sound is coming from the speakers and not just the sound of the hard drive's head moving into "park" position? (It makes a "clunk" sound.)

 

[dogbone]

right, yeah I've turned off the sound effects and I haven't noticed it back yet. It was the same sort of springy sound you get when you drop a file into a folder only much softer, didn't sound like a hd mechanical sound.

I'll turn the sound prefs back on and see if it comes back.

 

[whooleytoo]

Do you leave Mail running? Could it be the sound of 'checked for mail, none there'?

 

[Applexilef]

I think my computer is suffering from the same problem. I was about to make a thread about it. I will be using the computer randomly and the "funk" sound starts going off with no discernible patter. (To hear what the "funk" sounds like, go to system preferences and then sound, funk is one of the many effects on the list)

I usually have MSN, iChat, and Safari open. I"m starting to think the sound is coming from Safari. It is driving me crazy!