USB Connection Sound

[Graeme]

My PC runs on Windows 10. It continuously makes the USB connection and then disconnection sound every few minutes or so. When I'm using it for astrophotography there are 4 programs running and when the USB connection sound happens the screen flickers, sometimes the displayed program switches to one of the other running programs.

I have tried disconnecting all the USB devices but it doesn't make any difference.

Anyone recognize these symptoms or able to suggest a cure?

Thanks

Regards

Graeme

[stuck]

You mean, even when all the USB ports are free / have nothing plugged into them, your PC (or is it a laptop?) still makes noises?

Except all the USB ports won't be free, will they? If your keyboard and mouse are wired, they will be plugged into USB ports. If they are wireless they will connect to dongle that's plugged into a USB port.

If those devices are wired, swap then one at a time for different wired ones.

If they are wireless, one at a time 1) try new batteries in them. 2) swap them for known good wired ones.

Ken

[Graeme]

Yep! Everything disconnected. No devices, wired keyboard unplugged, mouse dongle unplugged. The only thing plugged into the motherboard was the monitor. Then I had to plug the keyboard and mouse dongle back in again!

[stuck]

If every USB port was unused and the machine was still making sounds then that does sound weird.

The only other thing I can think of is to check everything in the sound settings. Perhaps the Sound Scheme has become corrupt?? Maybe changing it to some other than 'Windows Default', rebooting (from cold not just a restart) and then setting it back to 'Windows Default' will help???

Ken

[Graeme]

Cheers Ken. It's the astro image capture pc and it is shut down unused between sessions. I'll try the sound scheme change and get you back.

The only other thing is that the display is a TV with a VGA pc input. I'll try swapping that for a pc monitor but I can't see how that could cause the symptoms I'm getting.

The sound it makes isn't too annoying, I can turn the sound off. It's the screen flickering and alt tabbing behaviour that causes me to be like you avatar!

And congratulations on your new new Status Label!

[stuck]

...
The only other thing is that the display is a TV with a VGA pc input. I'll try swapping that for a pc monitor but I can't see how that could cause the symptoms I'm getting...

Are the locking screws on the VGA connectors (both ends of the cable) screwed in tightly? If not, perhaps there is a flaky contact to one of the pins that is making / breaking a connection and triggering the sound?? Try a different VGA cable??

[BobH]

Graeme, have you tried running the sound troubleshooter available in Settings > System > Sound > Device Properties?
It might be worth a try.

The only other suggestion I have is to try the Microsoft Community forum.

[Graeme]

Graeme, have you tried running the sound troubleshooter available in Settings > System > Sound > Device Properties?

Didn't think of that! I'll give it a go.

Thanks

Regards

Graeme

[Graeme]

It must have been a dodgy VGA lead. I took a monitor out to the pc to swap it with the tv and noticed an HDMI socket on the video card that I didn't know was there! So I took out the VGA lead and replaced it with an HDMI lead. Now all is good in Observatory land! No funny noises, not alt tabbing and a greatly improved resolution!

[BobH]

Happy days!

Now! Time for more galaxies!

[Graeme]

Happy days!

Now! Time for more galaxies!

It's clear tonight but I have to get up early and I still have unprocessed date from the other night!

[stuck]

It must have been a dodgy VGA lead...

Result!

[ChrisGreaves]

Now! Time for more galaxies!

Poor Graeme.
At last count, seventeen down, 99,999,999,983 to go.

I gather that the problem was traced back to a cable connector, verifying Campbell's law; "Eighty-three percent of the time, it's the cable!".
Cheers, Chris