Setup:
Vista Ultimate 32-bit SP2
Quad core 4GB
For no apparent reason, this machine started experiencing a recurring error: The system plays the sounds of a USB device disconnecting and then connecting, one after the other and sometimes several sets in a row. There are no viruses or malware on the machine and it makes the noise regardless of whether there are any USB devices plugged in or not.Â
Things I tried:
1. Stop the WMP Network Sharing Service
2. Started the iPod Service
3. Ran the McAfee anti-virus removal tool (http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe)
Adobe Flash player tried installing some McAfee software previously and despite my removing said software via the Control Panel, here is what the Removal Tool found:
PASSÂ Â “MPFIREWL” in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\DependOnService removed successfully
PASSÂ Â “MPFIREWL” in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\NetBT\DependOnService removed successfully
PASSÂ Â “MPFIREWL” in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\NetBT\DependOnService removed successfully
PASSÂ Â “MPFP” in HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\DependOnService removed successfully
PASSÂ Â HKCR\file\Shellex removed successfully
PASSÂ Â HKLM\SOFTWARE\McAfee\VScore removed successfully
PASSÂ Â HKLM\SOFTWARE\McAfee\MSC removed successfully
PASSÂ Â HKLM\SOFTWARE\McAfee removed successfully
4. Reinstall the Brother DSmobile 600 scanner drivers and add the Scann II scanner software to the Windows Defender list of software that isn’t monitored (Tools, Options, Advanced->Do Not Scan programs.
5. Uninstall all Apple software except iTunes
6. Delete Elluminate! Live from Java Cache
7. Update Java
8. Reinstall Java (did not try)
9. SCREW IT…I turned the Device Connect and Device Disconnect sounds off via the Sounds menu under the Control Panel.
So I have a couple new theories: I think that the cause of the error may be related to the network connection. Sometimes when I hear the disconnect/connect sound, I lose internet for a moment. And there was an error in the Event Logs which said that the Sidebar was offline, which is probably due to losing network connection, so it’s starting to add up. I have a Linksys AE1000 and a Linksys WUSB600N, both of which have the same error happen regardless of which is plugged in.
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Update 12/10/2010:
Ignore the above if you have a monitor with Pivot capabilities, or a monitor with USB ports on the monitor itself because a piece of software for the monitor is probably the culprit like it was in my case. If you have an HP with My Display then follow the same instructions I have HERE. My system had My Display version 1.36 and I updated it to 1.40.
If you have some other monitor besides the type listed on that linked page then you’ll need to goto the manufacturer’s website and update the software from there. Also make sure you update your video driver software while you’re at it (as needed).
This very annoying sound had recently been happening on my XP Pro for about 2 weeks. Web searches did not turn up anything useful, but I was finally able to solve the problem.
Symptom. Whenever the PC was idle for about 15 seconds or so, the connect / disconnect sounder would play. This would happen whenever I stopped typing or using the mouse.
Solution. I finally remembered that I had transferred data from one PC to another using a USB drive, and then powered down the PC before removing the USB drive. To fix the sounder problem I plugged in the USB drive, waited for the device activation, clicked on the USB device icon in the lower right taskbar icon tray (safely remove hardware), clicked the designation for the USB drive, then removed it .. problem solved. My guess is that if you don’t go through this process your PC “remembers” that some device was once attached and never removed via the process described. Problem is that the OS does not give you a message with the sounder. Hope this works for you.
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