PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

[Dan2k3k4]

Ok, I first noticed this weird 'ticking' sound, which happens every second (or might be faster/slower not too sure) just like a clock yesterday... but it might have been happening for ages...

At first I thought, maybe it's a background application, so I ended pretty much all of the programs I had running, except Kaspersky (don't think it's that but would have to check later) and it still ticked.

The sound starts from the Vista login screen, and it comes out both the front panel (used for headphones) and the speakers... so it's not a problem with the front panel... it's an actual ticking sound

I just can't get it to stop, I only noticed this recently, since I usually have music on so I wouldn't notice the ticking sound in the background...

The only google result I could find was about PSU's - being either too low voltage/watt or too high...

I'm on Vista 64 bit... with 4GB Ram, 8600 GT

[Hellsent 2.0]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

Sounds like your HD dying...

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

Whats the full system specs mate, HDD make and size, psu make and power etc.

[Natt]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

If it's coming from the speakers it could be inteference from something.
I remember my wireless router used to make a similar noise.

[Dan2k3k4]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

No it's gotta be from something inside the box... since I can turn the speakers down a bit and not hear ticks // turn it up to hear it more... and I can hear it from the headphones... plus this PC doesn't have the wireless setup.

It's gotta be some sort of setting in bios or something

I got this from canyourunit.com

CPU
2 processors running - Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4500 @ 2.20GHz
CPU Speed
2.21 GHz
System RAM
4.0 GB
Operating System
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, 64-bit (Build Service Pack 16001)
Video Card
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT
Video RAM: 2.2 GB

Both HDD's are 250gb (with about 60-65gb USED space) ATA? (It says ATA in the properties > hardware tab)

Not sure how I'd find out the PSU make/power etc. ?

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

same CPU as me

Both new (S-ATA) and old (P-ATA) would come up as ATA devices(the links show the connectors used for the specific type). It should say in bios when you boot wether it is IDE or SATA (IDE has two devices per channel [primary and master] and usually 1 or 2 channels per motherboard, wheras SATA will all come up as Primary)

Updated sound drivers?

you would need to look at the PSU to find out the make model and power rating.

You could try unplugging your spare hard drive to see if that gets rid of it. If not i think its a matter of trial and error, try unplugging whatever you can from your PC to rule out as many factors as you can(fans are a possability), eventually you should be left with PSU CPU MOBO RAM GPU and your main HDD. Not really sure how to test these without pulling things apart and having spares.

Its it a constant regular ticking or does it speed up and slow down when you put the system under stress/leave it idle?

[Dan2k3k4]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

It ticks the same all the time (was running CoD4 with Xfire, TS, Firefox, Itunes, Excel document open and it still ticked the same)

It's like it's the PC Clock that has somehow got sound now lol...

[BAR [XIV]]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

My XP computer does exactly the same, just turning down the speaker (that knob thing) and increasing the computer sound, made it so I could not hear the ticking but I could still have a decent level of sound.

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

have u guys both got the same motherboard? Try figure that out cuz if you do then its looking like an onboard sound issue. im doubting it but still...

[=98=]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

Cut the blue and green wire. If you cut the yellow, run!

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

lol helpful *rolls eyes*

[AlexIsUber]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

it must be the hard drive, mine does that all the time...

[megawhompertoo]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

could be interference from a fan (esp a NB/SB fan) being transmitted thru the speakers--you did say this was a speaker ticking and not just your pc clicking, right? you could try disconnecting your fans systematically, and if you have an onboard vga/dvi-out, uninstalling your gpu to test that.

also, active usb ports near audio outputs can generate some interference--my usb mouse/kb/spkrphone setup whizzes and purrs when i have it plugged in by my audio outs. prol'y not your issue, though, since the ticking follows you.

have you confirmed it's not software by doing a bare minimum boot up? or, can you even do that w/vista?

edit...might also pay to find out if it really is a clock application. grab a stopwatch and count the ticks up to thirty...if exactly thirty seconds have passed at that point, then you've probably almost definitely most likely got yourself a software issue...or something else. :)

[Dan2k3k4]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

Ok, so after installing CoD WaW Patch 1.2 - there was no more ingame sound, and well WaW likes to use sound settings instead of it's own game sound settings... so I was browsing through the Playback Devices...

I opened up the Speakers since that's by default playback, then went to Properties > Sound Levels...

I started playing with each one to see if they made any difference, and well surprisingly when I turned down "Front Pink In" - the ticking sound stopped!

Therefore, if you have a weird ticking sound OR even a weird background 'bzzzzzzzz' try turning the "Front Pink In" down to see if this fixes anything...

Wow this is the 2nd problem I've found a fix for to do with sounds, the first was Realtek's 'on/off' switch which is set to the wrong way around... 'on' would mean 'off' and vice versa - the thread is somewhere in this forum too, probably around page 15 though...

[AlecJ32]

Re: PC sound: ticks like a clock... how do I stop it?

have u guys both got the same motherboard? Try figure that out cuz if you do then its looking like an onboard sound issue. im doubting it but still...

I don't think so. If it's coming from the speakers, it's probably interference being picked up by the speaker, wire or connector.

Interference is some weird stuff. I have 1/4" TRS cables for my guitar that pick up radio stations, and my speaker setup will pick up interference from my IEEE 802.11G router that sounds like a pulse phone. My friend's computer speakers will pick up radio stations if you cover up this hole in the driver cabinet with your hand. It's some pretty funky stuff, and I imagine it'd take a physicist or an electrical engineer to explain why it happens.