Strange random sound-does anyone recognize this?

Win10Pro said:

A good idea but a week ago he wrote "Volume mixer doesn't seem to help" by which I understand that even if the volume control for Chrome of Firefox is set to 0 (while playing video online) this strange sound appears nonetheless.
The sound coming from a webpage (be it a video, a commercial or ad) is directed to the sound card as one single stream of bits, isn't it?

I actually meant, if I heard the sound and quickly bring up volume mixer, I don't see any other programs. I think volume mixer only shows the program during the duration of the sound. I don't have firefox/chrome muted, but the sound appears with either browser and it just seems highly unlikely that it's from a browser setting.

The soundcard I use I think is just the default one with the motherboard.

I ran malwarebytes so far, it didn't pick up anything.

theridon said:

I think volume mixer only shows the program during the duration of the sound. I don't have firefox/chrome muted, but the sound appears with either browser and it just seems highly unlikely that it's from a browser setting.

OK, let's see how it goes:

1. the sound can be heard ONLY when you play a game, right? Or maybe on other occasions as well?

2. once you open a browser (firefox or chrome) an appropriate volume control appears in the mixer like in this example (it's in Polish, but it doesn't matter) I have a Firefox control:



do you agree?

3. you move your Firefox / Chrome volume control to the very bottom, to the Zero level, start playing your game and nonetheless this irritating sound can still be heard, am I correct? If so then the answer about the origin of the sound is obvious.

4. from what I understand a Steam (to be honest I have no idea what it is) volume control is not there, in the mixer panel, is it? Does the Steam application (?) / platform (?) have its own settings (maybe with audio controls)?

Win10Pro said:

OK, let's see how it goes:

1. the sound can be heard ONLY when you play a game, right? Or maybe on other occasions as well?

No; it seems (90% likely) that it only appears when I watch a video (Youtube/twitch) on a website browser such as Chrome or Firefox. It hasn't happened when playing video games, yet.

2. once you open a browser (firefox or chrome) an appropriate volume control appears in the mixer like in this example (it's in Polish, but it doesn't matter) I have a Firefox control:

Correct

3. you move your Firefox / Chrome volume control to the very bottom, to the Zero level, start playing your game and nonetheless this irritating sound can still be heard, am I correct? If so then the answer about the origin of the sound is obvious.

Not quite. It happens when I have my volume up and active on chrome/firefox and am watching online videos. That seems to be the only time when it occurs; of course it's hard to say 100% since this sound pops up so rarely.

4. from what I understand a Steam (to be honest I have no idea what it is) volume control is not there, in the mixer panel, is it? Does the Steam application (?) / platform (?) have its own settings (maybe with audio controls)?

Steam is a popular digital distribution platform that people use to buy/play games on. I've fiddled with Steam's options and volume controls. I don't think this is any sound coming from steam, I've used it for a long time and never had this sound. Thanks for your response by the way (and everyone else)

it's hard to say 100% since this sound pops up so rarely

Just out of curiosity: how did you manage to capture this sound since it pops up so rarely?

Win10Pro said:

Just out of curiosity: how did you manage to capture this sound since it pops up so rarely?

I got a bit lucky. I just had audacity recording windows audio for hours as I used the computer, it popped up, then I trimmed the recording and saved it.

@theridon, it sounds very similar in style to some Windows system sounds. These are to be found in C:\Windows\Media. I can't find one that's an exact match, but 'Windows Notify Email.wav', 'Windows User Account Control.wav' and 'Windows Notify System Generic.wav' are very close.

Bree said:

@theridon, it sounds very similar in style to some Windows system sounds. These are to be found in C:\Windows\Media. I can't find one that's an exact match, but 'Windows Notify Email.wav', 'Windows User Account Control.wav' and 'Windows Notify System Generic.wav' are very close.

I was thinking about that, I checked every single one and there is no match. Coupled with the fact that I have windows sounds completely disabled, it seems like it might not be windows. But you're right it definitely sounds like a sound windows would make.

I was thinking about that, I checked every single one and there is no match. Coupled with the fact that I have windows sounds completely disabled, it seems like it might not be windows. But you're right it definitely sounds like a sound windows would make.

Sorry for being boring and repeating myself but I’m so curious about this case that I collected all your posts in one place and made another short summary:

1. I have all windows sounds disabled

Unless there is a Windows bug that disables not ALL the sounds, but 99%, we can at this point exclude completely Windows system as the source.

2. It happens when I am watching online videos. That seems to be the only time when it occurs + Volume mixer doesn't seem to help + I don't have firefox/chrome muted

I know it’s stupid but to be sure once and for all: could you watch online videos for a couple of days with your browser (in volume mixer) muted?

3. It's a new computer

Could it be a widget, background proprietary app, extra feature or whatever the maker of your laptop calls it to make it? Autoruns seems like a good starting point.