Strange behavior from computer

[spartamal]

Ok folks-

My in-laws called me up to say that their computer is "haunted." For
some reason, at random times, various sounds come out ot of the
speakers: a little girl calling "Mom," creaking floor, slamming door,
or an elephant trumpet. Needless to say, when you are home alone and
all the sudden you hear some unseen child calling for Mom or a phantom
slamming door, it is pretty spooky.

I asssume that this is either a side-effect of a program that one of
them downloaded or is some sort of virus. Anyone have a clue where I
can lead them?

I've got them trying AVG, Spybot and Ad-ware, but that will take them a
while to figure out. Any suggestions?

 

[Martinez]

Ok folks-

My in-laws called me up to say that their computer is "haunted." For
some reason, at random times, various sounds come out ot of the
speakers: a little girl calling "Mom," creaking floor, slamming door,
or an elephant trumpet. Needless to say, when you are home alone and
all the sudden you hear some unseen child calling for Mom or a phantom
slamming door, it is pretty spooky.

I asssume that this is either a side-effect of a program that one of
them downloaded or is some sort of virus. Anyone have a clue where I
can lead them?

I've got them trying AVG, Spybot and Ad-ware, but that will take them a
while to figure out. Any suggestions?

A haunted computer? <G> I don't think so. It's probably their screen saver
coming on. Have them turn it off and the ghosts will vanish.

 

[Heather]

A haunted computer? <G> I don't think so. It's probably their screen
saver coming on. Have them turn it off and the ghosts will vanish.

AHA!! I tried 4 times to answer this and could not do it straight-faced!!
Of course it is their screen saver......grin. Or someone downloaded a joke
program.

OTOH.......if they need a *ghost-buster*, I will come over and do it, lol.
But the elephant trumpetting was a dead (pardon the pun) giveaway that it is
a joke. The other sounds are not the least bit...........ah, never mind,
lol.

Cheers.....Heather

 

[Sugien]

Ok folks-

My in-laws called me up to say that their computer is "haunted." For
some reason, at random times, various sounds come out ot of the
speakers: a little girl calling "Mom," creaking floor, slamming door,
or an elephant trumpet. Needless to say, when you are home alone and
all the sudden you hear some unseen child calling for Mom or a phantom
slamming door, it is pretty spooky.

I asssume that this is either a side-effect of a program that one of
them downloaded or is some sort of virus. Anyone have a clue where I
can lead them?

I've got them trying AVG, Spybot and Ad-ware, but that will take them a
while to figure out. Any suggestions?

It is most likely a screen saver; however there is an outside chance that a
microphone attached to your pc is malfunctioning and maybe picking up either
a baby monitor in a near by house, or some other errant radio wave. There
are schematics (plans) on line to build VLF (very low frequency) receivers
which hook up to the sound card of a computer. Using such a device you can
hear weird whistles and chirps and such and there are some that listen for
such things. With this in mind, I would guess that it is possible for a
microphone to be damaged and be picking up a baby monitor or something like
it; but in all likelihood it is just a screen saver or joke program.

 

[Carol]

My in-laws called me up to say that their computer is "haunted." For
some reason, at random times, various sounds come out ot of the
speakers: a little girl calling "Mom," creaking floor, slamming door,
or an elephant trumpet. Needless to say, when you are home alone and
all the sudden you hear some unseen child calling for Mom or a phantom
slamming door, it is pretty spooky.

Sounds like AOL "Buddy Sounds" that signal listings on the buddy list
coming and going. These might also apply to AIM or another chat
program they have running. The sounds are loaded with the applicable
program and set by the "buddy". There should be prefs to turn them
off, if they still want to after knowing what they are.

Carol

 

[Martinez]

AHA!! I tried 4 times to answer this and could not do it straight-faced!!
Of course it is their screen saver......grin. Or someone downloaded a
joke
program.

OTOH.......if they need a *ghost-buster*, I will come over and do it, lol.
But the elephant trumpetting was a dead (pardon the pun) giveaway that it
is
a joke. The other sounds are not the least bit...........ah, never mind,
lol.

Cheers.....Heather

The slamming door and creaking floor was the giveaway for me.