This is driving me booloo - Harman Soundsticks and System Preferences

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Level 1

10 points

This is driving me booloo - Harman Soundsticks and System Preferences

Hello good people,

I am going insane with this, the keyboard volume controls only drive the internal speakers. I have to use the menu bar slider to adjust volume on the Soundsticks, which work fine btw. Although my output for Output and Sound Effects are both set to Soundsticks, the keboard still click-click-clicks the internal speakers up and down.

System Preferences/Sound is configured correctly;
Audio MIDI Setup looks OK
I have rebooted (This is a three week old problem)
I have powered down the (USB) Soundsticks
I have uplugged the Soundsticks USB and returned it
It isn't hardware because if I create a new user all is well.

Arghhhhh. Please someone say, "Ah-Ha!" 😉

iMac G5 1.8 - PB 12" 1.5, Mac OS X (10.4.6), SE30, IIsi

Posted on Jun 18, 2006 1:22 PM

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Answer 1

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

Jun 18, 2006 10:00 PM in response to switchlight

Hi, switchlight.

1. Since the problem is "three week old" what changes did you make to your Mac, specifically your account, before the problem arose?

2. An errant Startup or Login Item maybe the cause. Since this only affects your account, that implies a Login Item. My "Troubleshooting Startup and Login Items" FAQ can help you pin that down if such an item is causing the problem.

3. The preferences for Bezel Services may be corrupted.

Bezel Services is the function which handles things like the display of the large white "Eject" icon on the screen when you press the Eject key, or the large Volume and Mute icons that appear when you press these keys.

1. Trash file com.apple.BezelServices.plist in your Home > Library > Preferences folder.

2. Empty the Trash.

3. Either Log out then log in, or restrt your Mac.

4. Try cheking the other preferences in your account with Preferential Treatment.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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Answer 2

switchlight Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 19, 2006 9:47 AM in response to Dr. Smoke

Dr.Smoke,

I'm much obliged for your guidance.

The project commences 😉

I'll get back here and I'm sure, be able to, 'mark as answered'.

Thanks again

switchlight

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Answer 3

switchlight Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 19, 2006 12:10 PM in response to switchlight

Dr. Smokinnnn...,

My apologies for the Jim Careyisation of your chosen name.

BUT you Sir are very good at this.

Login/Startup Item, 'Speech Synthesis'.app UNIX executable was corrupt. I pulled a fresh one from (one of) my backup (s) and waheyy! 🙂 My nervous tick/twitch is beginning to subside. Thank You.

As an aside do you remember isolating extension conflicts in Extension Manager Control Panel? Logically disabling half of them and reducing until the culprit was found?

Do you also remember backing a hunch and just disabling the one you suspected and the elation that followed if you were right?

It was a bit like that. "The Doc said Login Items, that one I don't recognise. It's icon is generic. Hey, it is to do with sound!" 🙂

Cheers.

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Answer 4

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

Jun 19, 2006 12:20 PM in response to switchlight

You're most welcome. Glad to help.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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