val-computer-lady

Q: Concerned about music playing probably from ad, at start up

Hello,

 

The last few days when I first start my iMac computer, I hear what sounds like music from an advertisement play for maybe 10 seconds and then quit.  Today, it came back for a few seconds soon after it quit.  I've had this computer for a little over 3 years and this has never happened before.

 

My concern is that there is a file on my computer put there by adware or something, that should not be there.  How do I get to the cause of this?

 

Thanks

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on May 10, 2015 10:57 AM

Close

Q: Concerned about music playing probably from ad, at start up

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 of 3 last Next
  • by Baby Boomer (USofA),

    Baby Boomer (USofA) Baby Boomer (USofA) May 10, 2015 11:05 AM in response to val-computer-lady
    Level 9 (57,648 points)
    May 10, 2015 11:05 AM in response to val-computer-lady

    If you have your browser and/or any apps opening when you start up your comp, that is probably where the music is coming from.  You need to check them out first.

     

     

    Do you have any music files on your desktop?

     

     

    Check your login files in System Preferences>Users & Groups.  If you find a music file, either remove or disable.

     

    After doing all of the above & you still hear music, run AdwareMedic which was developed by one of the contributors of these forums.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Wave Siggy.gif

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. May 11, 2015 4:12 AM in response to val-computer-lady
    Level 7 (30,934 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 11, 2015 4:12 AM in response to val-computer-lady

    If this is happening without a web browser being open, you probably have a web clipping loaded in the Dashboard.

     

    OS X Mavericks: Create a Web Clip widget

     

    If you have any web clippings in your Dashboard, try removing them. One of them probably is loading an ad with audio.

  • by val-computer-lady,

    val-computer-lady val-computer-lady May 22, 2015 9:38 AM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac App Store
    May 22, 2015 9:38 AM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)

    Thanks to both of you for your responses.

     

    Usually, the music plays at start-up, and Safari is NOT set to open at start-up.  The apps that open at start-up are one from the Weather Channel, and my Crash Plan app.  I do NOT have any music files on my desktop.  The music did play yesterday, when I clicked on where the ad should go on the Weather Channel app.

     

    I checked my Login files in Users & Groups, and I did find some stray files, so I deleted those on May 10/15.  It hasn't changed the operation of the opening apps.  However the music still plays.

     

    I used AdwareMedic on May 10/15, and I found one file, and I deleted that.  The music went away for about 2 weeks.

     

    But the music is back again, worse than ever.

     

    I checked the Dashboard for web clippings, and found none.  I also closed everything on Dashboard, cause I never use it.

     

    Today, while logging into my bank, the music clip played 4 times, usually when I was typing in my password.  It is back and worse than ever.  It also played when I started-up the computer.  I am becoming very concerned about this now.  Please help !

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa May 22, 2015 10:57 AM in response to val-computer-lady
    Level 7 (32,244 points)
    iPad
    May 22, 2015 10:57 AM in response to val-computer-lady

    Are you still on 10.7.3 as shown in your profile? If you've upgraded, do you by chance have a sound set for the new Notifications feature of various apps? Check System Preferences > Notifications (that is new, so if you are running Lion, there won't be one).

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. May 22, 2015 11:28 AM in response to val-computer-lady
    Level 7 (30,934 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 22, 2015 11:28 AM in response to val-computer-lady

    Babowa hit on a good question, and I had a similar one... what sound do you have selected in System Preferences -> Sound -> Sound Effects? Is it one of the stock system sounds (ie, is the type "Built-In") or is it a custom sound that may have been added somehow?

     

    If neither Babowa's suggestion nor mine turn up any odd sounds, try restarting in safe mode:

     

    Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support

     

    When in safe mode, does the problem still happen, or is it gone?

  • by val-computer-lady,

    val-computer-lady val-computer-lady May 22, 2015 12:53 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac App Store
    May 22, 2015 12:53 PM in response to babowa

    babowa, I have version 10.10.3 now.  I am looking in the Notifications box, and I don't see anything to do with sound.

  • by val-computer-lady,

    val-computer-lady val-computer-lady May 22, 2015 12:58 PM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac App Store
    May 22, 2015 12:58 PM in response to thomas_r.

    thomas_r, I don't seem to have any sound selected in the Sound box.  But the only sounds that show in the box are all Built-in.  I have never brought in a customized sound.  The box "Play user interface sound effects" is checked, and is the only thing that indicates what sounds will be played. 

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa May 22, 2015 1:05 PM in response to val-computer-lady
    Level 7 (32,244 points)
    iPad
    May 22, 2015 1:05 PM in response to val-computer-lady

    Thanks for the update (please update your profile - it helps); I have everything turned off in Notifications, but there is an option to have a sound alert if you will look at my screenshot:

     

    Screen Shot 2015-05-22 at 1.02.55 PM.png

     

    If you have that on for several applications, you may be getting several sounds when you have nw mail, messages, etc.

  • by Baby Boomer (USofA),

    Baby Boomer (USofA) Baby Boomer (USofA) May 22, 2015 1:34 PM in response to val-computer-lady
    Level 9 (57,648 points)
    May 22, 2015 1:34 PM in response to val-computer-lady

    The music did play yesterday, when I clicked on where the ad should go on the Weather Channel app.

     

    Have you confirmed that the music is not coming from the Weather Channel app at startup?

     

    Check inside your login items folder for any sound files.   Home>Login Items

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Wave Siggy.gif

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. May 22, 2015 1:44 PM in response to val-computer-lady
    Level 7 (30,934 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 22, 2015 1:44 PM in response to val-computer-lady

    val-computer-lady wrote:

     

    thomas_r, I don't seem to have any sound selected in the Sound box.

     

    You have to have one selected; you may have to scroll the list up or down to see which one it is.

     

    Did you try the safe mode test I recommended?

  • by val-computer-lady,

    val-computer-lady val-computer-lady May 22, 2015 1:49 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac App Store
    May 22, 2015 1:49 PM in response to babowa

    Thanks babowa.  I didn't know you had to click on an app to get the sound box option.  Yes, all my sound boxes for all my apps are on.  However the sound clip sounds like one coherent thing.  It sounds like some singing with jungle-type music, that is, someone hitting the drums with their hands.  Considering that all the sound boxes are on, I have never heard a sound with a notification.

     

    Do you think I should turn all the sound boxes off then?

  • by val-computer-lady,

    val-computer-lady val-computer-lady May 22, 2015 1:52 PM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac App Store
    May 22, 2015 1:52 PM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)

    Baby Boomer, you have  Home>Login items.  How do I access the "Home"?

  • by val-computer-lady,

    val-computer-lady val-computer-lady May 22, 2015 1:55 PM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac App Store
    May 22, 2015 1:55 PM in response to thomas_r.

    thomas_r, there is a grey line selecting Basso (the grey line just didn't register before, cause I'd be expecting a darker line)

     

    Yes, I did put the computer into Safe Mode, and the sound clip did NOT play in safe mode.  Then I re-started it, and the sound clip played again.

  • by Baby Boomer (USofA),

    Baby Boomer (USofA) Baby Boomer (USofA) May 22, 2015 1:59 PM in response to val-computer-lady
    Level 9 (57,648 points)
    May 22, 2015 1:59 PM in response to val-computer-lady

    Home is the house you see in the Finder window.  Look inside the column to the left of the window.

     

    Screen_Shot_2015-05-22_at_Fri__May_22__2015-4_54_55_PM.png

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Wave Siggy.gif

Page 1 of 3 last Next