Janice Fisher
Level 1 (101 points)

Q: Voices on iMac when I log on; must restart to stop

This is a very odd situation.  I have a new iMac.  Twice during the last few days when I wake up the computer to use it, I get the strangest sound.....it is like about 50 people all talking at once!  It is really strange.  I have checked everything: iTunes is not on, there is no obvious source for the sound.  To stop it I have to restart.   I thought it could be the "text to speech' or whatever that is...I have never used it so don't know anything about it.  Thei weird thing is that it is not one voice...it is many. 

 

Has anyone heard of this?  Any idea what it could be? 

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6), iMac Intel

Posted on May 21, 2013 1:39 AM

by Paul_31,Solvedanswer
Paul_31 Paul_31
Level 6 (13,925 points)
A:

Good idea to add some info to bounce this up the list to get the attention of the afternoon (in Europe) crowd .

Posted on May 21, 2013 7:02 AM

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Janice Fisher

Q: Voices on iMac when I log on; must restart to stop

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  • by Janice Fisher,

    Janice Fisher Janice Fisher Jun 10, 2013 6:52 PM in response to andyBall_uk
    Level 1 (101 points)
    Jun 10, 2013 6:52 PM in response to andyBall_uk

    Oh, yes,,,,log in items...I think these 'voices' are putting me over the edge!

     

    Screen Shot 2013-06-10 at 6.49.19 PM.png

  • by andyBall_uk,

    andyBall_uk andyBall_uk Jun 10, 2013 7:12 PM in response to Janice Fisher
    Level 7 (20,495 points)
    Jun 10, 2013 7:12 PM in response to Janice Fisher

    I'd not expect any of those to cause this (barring firefox being left open on a website that plays sounds just now & then... so remove it, using the - button below the list). It looks as if the two with yellow warning can't be found/opened anyway, I'd remove those too.

     

    I've never tried dropbox, but doubt it having an alarm or other notification that would make the noises you describe.

     

    I presume, from your earlier posts, that quitting any/all apps makes no difference to the sound once it's begun, and that you have to shut down; if so, none of those in the list could be a cause.

  • by Janice Fisher,

    Janice Fisher Janice Fisher Jun 10, 2013 8:41 PM in response to andyBall_uk
    Level 1 (101 points)
    Jun 10, 2013 8:41 PM in response to andyBall_uk

    I've made the changes you suggested.  I don't know how any of them got on there in the first place.  I only have Safari checked now.

     

    I have never tried quitting any apps that are open when the noise begins.  That is my next step: I realize I should have done that. When I turn the computer on, the thing makes so much noise that all I can think of to do is restart.   I now have a list of things to check if it happens again...and I'm sure it will. I;m going to quit all the apps to see if one of those is the cause, then check Activity Monitor to see if something may be running that I don't know about, check log in to see if something popped up there (the voices only come when I first wake the computer up....they never start while I'm using it), and, last, I'll turn off the wifi to see if that is the problem.  . I haven't heard the voices since Friday night but I'm not getting my hopes up that they have magically gone away. 

     

    Thanks for all your help....i appreciate it.

  • by Paul_31,

    Paul_31 Paul_31 Jun 10, 2013 9:48 PM in response to Janice Fisher
    Level 6 (13,925 points)
    Jun 10, 2013 9:48 PM in response to Janice Fisher

    I've made the changes you suggested.  I don't know how any of them got on there in the first place.  I only have Safari checked now.

    To stop them opening at login you need to remove them from the list using the 'minus' button - not just deselecting the tick. The tick just tells the OS to hide or show the app.

  • by Janice Fisher,

    Janice Fisher Janice Fisher Jun 10, 2013 10:14 PM in response to Paul_31
    Level 1 (101 points)
    Jun 10, 2013 10:14 PM in response to Paul_31

    I did it that way....I learned that on this board a few years ago!   You can't believe how much I have learned here since 1998 when I got my first computer!

  • by Janice Fisher,

    Janice Fisher Janice Fisher Jun 15, 2013 9:39 AM in response to Janice Fisher
    Level 1 (101 points)
    Jun 15, 2013 9:39 AM in response to Janice Fisher

    UPDATE:   I'm almost afraid to say anything because usually when I report that things are going well, the voices start up again.  But, here goes anyway:  It has been a week since I've heard anything....the longest interval of quiet that I've had.  The only change I made was to take Firefox out of the log in items.  I also took it out of the dock so I don't accidentally start using it.

     

    The only thing significant about this is that several, including me, have mentioned that it sounds like one of the videos that come on Firefox from time to time.  And, since the voices only happen on start up, was Firefox activating when I started up?  I turned off everything in log in except Safari,,,,,there were several things in there which I don't think could cause a problem and two things I've never heard of and it said there was 'no ap' or something like that. So now log in only has Safari.

     

    Anyway, time is my friend here, so I am waiting with baited breath to see what, if anything happens.

  • by Paul_31,

    Paul_31 Paul_31 Jun 15, 2013 9:55 AM in response to Janice Fisher
    Level 6 (13,925 points)
    Jun 15, 2013 9:55 AM in response to Janice Fisher

    Sounds like so far so good - let's hope it stays gone .

  • by Janice Fisher,

    Janice Fisher Janice Fisher Jun 19, 2013 9:11 PM in response to Paul_31
    Level 1 (101 points)
    Jun 19, 2013 9:11 PM in response to Paul_31

    The noise is back!  It's been almost two weeks, but it was back tonight.  When it happened tonight I did the following:

     

    1. Checked Activity Monitor....nothing going on

    2. Checked Log In items - no change

    3. Turned off wifi - did not stop noise

    4. Closed all open apps....did not stop noise.

     

    What I noticed....it happened at the same time it usually does....about 8PM...and it happened while time machine was backing up.  The noise was different tonight.  First there were the voices then the voices disapeared and there was just static.  The static remained until I restarted the computer.

     

    I have now unplugged the external disk (this started the day I got the external disk) so now there will be no backing up.  I cannot imagine why backing up would cause the noise but it's the last thing i haven't tried.

     

    Any ideas?  I will report again to Apple just to get a history recorded but how would they find the problem if it only happens once every 10 days? 

  • by Paul_31,

    Paul_31 Paul_31 Jun 20, 2013 1:14 AM in response to Janice Fisher
    Level 6 (13,925 points)
    Jun 20, 2013 1:14 AM in response to Janice Fisher

    Mmm, difficult to nail this one down.

    Whilst it's not very convenient to leave your TM backup disconnected it may be worthwhile just to see if you can establish the disk as being the cause. Seems unlikely, but you've tried just about everything else!

    You could always schedule yourself a Reminder to nudge you into doing a manual backup on a regular basis, so that you're not caught out if disaster strikes. Just connect the drive, launch Time Machine and let it run. When it's finished quit Time Machine, eject and disconnect the drive until the next time.

  • by Janice Fisher,

    Janice Fisher Janice Fisher Jun 20, 2013 3:27 AM in response to Paul_31
    Level 1 (101 points)
    Jun 20, 2013 3:27 AM in response to Paul_31

    That's what I thought I might try simply because it is the only thing I have not tried!  I don't have very much of importance on the computer but I figured I could just back it up once a week or so for the next month and see what happens.  I don't think the noises would cause any damage to the computer so there is no big rush to get it into Apple.  I have a three year warranty so have time to try to figure it out. 

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Jun 20, 2013 3:53 AM in response to Janice Fisher
    Level 6 (14,087 points)
    iPad
    Jun 20, 2013 3:53 AM in response to Janice Fisher

    Hi Janice,

    If I am not mistaken, the Time Machine hard drive is a WifI only device or can it be directly connected by cable?

    I am not an expert on WiFi technology, but is there a chance that your Wifi router signal is picking someone else's Wifi signals close by?

    Epecially any type of audio signals that can be transmitted over WiFi?

    If you know how to get at your WiFi router's software, through a web browser or through dedicated software that came with the router, you might try changing the router's transmit/receive channel to some other channel other than what is has been set to.

    If you do not know how to do this, check your router's instruction booklet, call the router mfr. or,cable company/ISP for help, or find the relevant info to do this through the router mfr. online website.

    Maybe this would solve the issue.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Jun 20, 2013 3:59 AM in response to MichelPM
    Level 6 (14,087 points)
    iPad
    Jun 20, 2013 3:59 AM in response to MichelPM

    It's also a possibility that your WiFi router maybe picking up cell phone signals, as well, if you aren't very far from a cell tower or some sort of transmitting station. Or somebody, again, is using a portable, mobile WiFi hotspot device.

  • by Janice Fisher,

    Janice Fisher Janice Fisher Jun 20, 2013 4:02 AM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (101 points)
    Jun 20, 2013 4:02 AM in response to MichelPM

    We have wondered about it being a signal from the wifi.  I don't know how to change the router but the cable company installed it.  I did not have wifi with my last computer...this noise started three days after I got the computer. MI think I will take your suggestion and call the cable company to see if they will check it out.  Thanks for the suggestion!i

  • by Janice Fisher,

    Janice Fisher Janice Fisher Jun 20, 2013 4:07 AM in response to Janice Fisher
    Level 1 (101 points)
    Jun 20, 2013 4:07 AM in response to Janice Fisher

    Clarification:  the noise started 3 days after I got this new computer that is hooked up to the wifi.  it sounds like interference...like somebody on a party line.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Jun 20, 2013 4:17 AM in response to Janice Fisher
    Level 6 (14,087 points)
    iPad
    Jun 20, 2013 4:17 AM in response to Janice Fisher

    If it's not the router, it could be noise on the cable line or modem line. Cable companies can install a special noise filter on the cable or modem line to either eliminate or attenuate this noise to keep it from being an issue in the future.

    Good Luck!

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