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Level 1

129 points

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

86 replies

Janice Fisher Author

Level 1

129 points

Jun 9, 2013 6:49 PM in response to Paul_31

I'm back....and so are the voices! Not every day, but every few days, the voices are back. I have called Apple twice and they have no idea what it is;. I called last week while the voices could be heard and he said...and he's right, I'm sure....that these are not voices from the computer when it speaks to you, these are voices like a video comes on during a commercial....something like that. The difference is that the voices are in super fast speed and you can't really understand them, but it is like a video or audio playing at fast speed. The Apple technician has never heard anything like it in is life.

We checked out a few settings and then he had me pull the plug of the computer, wait awile and plug it back in....in other words, reset it....and he said he was sure it would not happen again. It didn't for 2 or 3 days but it was back last night. Problem is that it only happens now and then, not every time is log on or the same time eaxh day or even every day. It happens about every 3 days and at different times. I don't think Apple can fix it if they don't hear it happen. I have a case number and I am supposed to call in whenever it happens but, so far, they have not found anything.

Any suggestions? What would you do?

Paul_31

Level 6

14,160 points

Jun 9, 2013 10:53 PM in response to Janice Fisher

Any suggestions? What would you do?

I think it would drive me nuts not knowing what it was and not being able to stop it.

I think it would be a good idea to start a new thread with a link to this one. This one is marked 'solved' and won't get the attention it deserves, whereas a new thread should and some others on here may have better ideas.

Before anything and if you haven't already, make sure you have full backup by way of Time Machine or a clone so that you can restore your data in the event of unforeseen problems if you end up doing a fresh install of OS X, or the more extreme Erase & Install.

I'm not optimistic that this would definitely fix it, but I think I'd try re-installing the OS (NOT Erase & Install) using the Recovery HD. This won't erase your data only replace all the system files:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

If that didn't fix it, I think I would erase the drive and re-install OS X and then selectively restore my data from the clone of the HD I made before erasing. This could be a bit of a palaver, but I'd worry that doing a blanket restore of all the data would simply re-import the problem and I'd be back at square one. Doing it piecemeal and testing would be a bit of a pain though.

All things considered, I think a new thread and wait for some fresh ideas would be the best next step.

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Jun 10, 2013 6:04 AM in response to Janice Fisher

were you able to follow Paul's suggestion to remove the ethernet cable (or switch off wireless, if that's what you connect with), while the voices are heard ?

If not yet, do that next time - & did you establish that the sounds are from the iMac speakers, &/or they stop if you mute the sound via keyboard/mouse ?

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Jun 10, 2013 7:59 AM in response to andyBall_uk

There was a similar-sounding thread a few months ago, which I naturally can't find now... where a lateish imac had occasional 'radio' like sounds & noise. From what I remember, it stopped when unplugged from ethernet & was resolved via the isp/teleco replacing the modem/router/some box after the 'line' had recently been worked on; although it still seems rum that any such could cause that on a well-designed & functioning computer.

Janice Fisher Author

Level 1

129 points

Jun 10, 2013 11:18 AM in response to andyBall_uk

I reposted this problem as suggested with a link back to this original discussion.

Janice Fisher Author

Level 1

129 points

Jun 10, 2013 12:26 PM in response to Janice Fisher

the new discussion on this topic was taken off as 'unauthorized." Considered a duplicate, I guess. Anyway, when it happens again...and it will....I will turn off the wifi to see if that stops the voices. If it does, I assume that will show it is the wifi....some kind of interference?.... rather than the computer. The fact that the problem is so irregular it seems as though interference is logical. If it were the computer, I would think it would happen every time I woke it up.

Janice Fisher Author

Level 1

129 points

Jun 10, 2013 12:29 PM in response to andyBall_uk

You asked if I muted the sound using the keyboard. I muted it by turning down the volume

on the computer itself but I didn't do it on the keyboard. Should I?

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Jun 10, 2013 12:36 PM in response to Janice Fisher

>>I muted it by turning down the volume on the computer itself but I didn't do it on the keyboard. Should I?

No need - either confirmed that the sounds came from the speakers.

If you prove that it stops with no wifi, consider getting leaving it off & connecting via cable.

Janice Fisher Author

Level 1

129 points

Jun 10, 2013 5:21 PM in response to andyBall_uk

If it is the wifi....and I hope it is, because it is driving me crazy to not know what it is.....then I probably will connect by cable. I have my iPad on wifi but did not have the computer on until i got this new one a month ago. The voices began 3 days after I got it, I get no interference on my iPad, just the iMac. If the computer is hooked up to cable, can I use my wireless keyboard and mouse?

Janice Fisher Author

Level 1

129 points

Jun 10, 2013 6:10 PM in response to Janice Fisher

I found this on the internet......someone with a similar problem. There is no Accounts in my system prefs...where will I find log in items and what will I look for? I assume I should check log in when I'm hearing the sound??? Here is the link to the full article.

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-operating-system/199380-random-noises-voic es.html

"There's more about this issue on M-F, but I'm darned if I can find it. Turned out it was the remnants of a game app that had been deleted. Another example to crop up was a radio station that had been used.

If you're using wireless, make sure it's secure and that your connection isn't being pirated.

Check your SysPrefs > Accounts > Login Items to see if anything there might be the cause of the mystery noises."

Message was edited by: Janice Fisher