Pinging sound will not stop!

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Level 1

36 points

Pinging sound will not stop!

There is a sort of pinging noise that keeps happening every once in awhile and it is annoying. Sure, I can turn sound off, but I like the sound when dragging & dropping, or the trash emptying - then you know it's done. It is similar to the drag & drop noise but a little bit "ringier."

I have checked every single setting in sound in system preferences, restarted my computer after clearing all browsers of cookies, cache, history, etc. I have disconnected from the internet, still doing it. This happened once before, I think when I used Chrome. And I did use Chrome again right before it started, but it is closed and as I said, I cleaned it out! I have run disk utility and tech tool deluxe, still doing it. Those two things worked last time it was doing this, but I do not know the exact thing that I didi that made it stop.

After I send this, I will try shutting it down and start holding the x key - does that sound like something that might help?

iMac 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Mar 27, 2011 7:25 PM

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Answer 1

terriefrye Author

Level 1

36 points

Mar 28, 2011 11:40 AM in response to terriefrye

So far, after clearing all browsers, running disk utility and tech tool again, shutting down the computer, and starting back up again, the sound seems to now be gone.

I wonder why this worked with a shutdown wand would not work with a restart.

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Answer 2

K Shaffer

Level 8

36,022 points

Mar 28, 2011 12:24 PM in response to terriefrye

Have you tried just a log-out and then log back in?

A source of odd noise in the computer can be attributed to an
accidental selection of Universal Access functions through a
random choice of keyboard characters, which turn them on.
So, to be familiar with those System Preference> Universal
Access options, may help; if they'd been accidentally activated.

And I'm wondering if the computer gets set to a default due
to the use of disk utilities such as you have run to fix this.
If so, the Universal Access may also be effectively turn off.
A curiosity; and I have not attempted to replicate or test it.

{There was an old +cold war submarine movie+ on the late
channel last week; they used to make a pinging sound to
tell when they were getting in too deep. Be careful!}

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

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Answer 3

Mar 30, 2017 2:00 PM in response to terriefrye

thank you. Running Disk Utility did the job for me. The pinging was driving me bonkers 🙂

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Answer 4

terriefrye Author

Level 1

36 points

Mar 28, 2011 3:48 PM in response to K Shaffer

Thanks K.Shaffer, but about an hour before you posted this I posted how I fixed it. I guess I should mak=rk it answered, but I thought someone might want to read how I fixed it. Thanks again.

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Answer 5

K Shaffer

Level 8

36,022 points

Mar 28, 2011 5:55 PM in response to terriefrye

Good to hear you were able to convince it to work correctly.

Sometimes, just a restart can help odd issues; or a log-out/log-in.
My computers run for up to half a year at a time, without restarting.
But I do repair disk permissions, and occasionally log-out & in...

And when I do have to restart the computer, I am sure to do all kinds
of stuff, including run OnyX utility (all Automation settings) and etc.

Here I'd thought you may have a Nautilus on your hands; a pinging
reincarnate of a nuclear submarine, masquerading as a Mac...

Guess not.
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

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Answer 6

terriefrye Author

Level 1

36 points

Mar 28, 2011 3:49 PM in response to terriefrye

I actually fixed it myself - see second post.

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