Mystery Cuckoo Clock of Obnoxiousness

I got my answer!

The AppleCare guys were the ones who helped here -- the first thing they had me do was go to System Preferences > Users > [me], and remove all the LOGIN ITEMS.

There, I noticed the application "ChronoSync Background Scheduler," which I'd installed a few months ago. When I went to check the preferences for ChronoSync, it indeed was set to run in the background at all times, syncing certain folders with each other *every hour*. Furthermore, *-AND HERE'S THE CULPRIT-*, it was also set to make a Basso sound "On Failure." Now, since one of those folders no longer exists, it was indeed "failing" on the hour, every hour...Thus acting, inadvertently, as the Mystery Cuckoo Clock of Obnoxiousness.

So definitely check your Login Items and delete them. I hope this helps!

M.

Hi — I've been having the same problem, and I've never set a cuckoo clock or an "announce the time" preference to be on. They're all off, and have always been, throughout the years. Suddenly, a few months ago, the obnoxious announcements began, so I get to hear the "Basso" alert every hour on the hour. I have racked my brain to figure it out and am coming up with nothing. I suspect it might've been part of a recent automatic system update (?), thus explaining the suddenness of the alerts without me having changed any settings. But I have no idea.

If anyone has any ideas please help... Thanks!

Hi Zigabinmin: To save you from going Cuckoo, check out the settings for the clock. Click on the time in the Menu Bar > Open Date & Time > Clock > Turn off "Announce the Time"

Good Luck
Stedman

Yeah, I thought that was a little to easy of a fix. Lets try this one. I did find some info on another site. It doesn't seem to have a sure fire fix, but at least has some tips and hints. http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=51828 It was from a year ago, but might yeild some fresh ideas

Stedman

I didn't download any ChronoSync Background Scheduler onto my mac. The hourly cuckoo started after I installed Leopard onto my intel mac. I've switched off the clock from the preference menu for now.

I have iStat Menu downloaded already so I'm using that clock/date feature instead today. Hopefully the cuckoo won't "coo" with that clock.

Hello zig:

Perchance do you have this downloadable application installed somewhere?

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/productivity_tools/cuckoo.html

Barry

Might it be one of your Dashboard widgets?

I had the same problem and it turned out to be the Chinese Calendar Widget. I turned that off and haven't heard the Cuckoo since.

Still cuckoo-ing even with the clock on the menu bar removed, log in menu erased, and all clocks disabled. Anyone have any ideas?