Windows 7 Mysterious audio alert

[retired464]

On random occasions I get an audio sound, like an alert, like a doorbell (ding-dong, high pitch to low pitch). It is a full sound, with slight echo and reverb. I don't know what's causing it.
I have gone through all sounds in the Sounds window in the Control Panel. It is none of those. I have modified Windows default to no sounds on all of the events. I have tried to turn off any sounds of email notification both on the Comcast side and the Live Mail.
Experiments to try and cause it by sending, opening, receiving email did not cause sound. I have turned off sound on all games. I have tried watching Task Manager to try and catch activity in processes when a sound occurs, but have not seen anything.
It is starting to drive me nuts.
What can I do to find the source of this sound that just happens from time to time? It is sometimes a couple of times a minute, sometimes only a few per hour. The only task running pretty much all the time is BackBlaze, doing backups of changed files. I have tried changing and deleting files to see if I can cause the sound. Nothing!
I do a fair amount of recording of my piano work using Audacity, but I haven't heard the sound being recorded along with my music.
Any clues?

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you're dealing with an elusive audio alert that seems to occur randomly on your system. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially identify the source of this mysterious sound:

Steps to Identify the Source of the Sound:​

1. Event Viewer Analysis:
   • Check the Windows Event Viewer logs for any corresponding entries around the time the sound occurs. Look for any specific events that might be related to the sound.
   []Resource Monitor:
   • Use the Resource Monitor to monitor activity in real-time. Keep an eye on the "Associated Handles" tab to see if any programs are accessing audio devices when the sound happens.
   []Third-Party Software:
   • Review all installed applications and utilities that might have their unique notification sounds or alerts. Sometimes apps come with their sound settings independent of the Windows system sounds.
   []Scheduled Tasks:
   • Check the Task Scheduler for any tasks that might be triggering these sounds. Look for any tasks that could be running periodically and playing sounds upon completion.
   []Update or Disable:
   • Ensure all your applications and drivers are up to date. Sometimes outdated software can cause unexpected issues. If you can't identify the source, consider temporarily disabling non-essential applications to narrow down the cause.
   []Process Monitor:
   • Use a tool like Process Monitor to track system activity and filtering it by audio-related events. This can help pinpoint the process responsible for playing the sound.
   []Audio Configuration:
   • Check audio settings in applications that frequently access audio devices, like Audacity. Ensure all audio configurations are correct within these applications.
   []Audio Recording Tests:
   • Perform specific tests by recording continuous audio with Audacity to see if the sound gets captured. This can help determine if the sound is system-level or specific to certain applications.
   []System Sounds:
   • While you’ve checked the sounds in the Control Panel, verify system sounds are disabled or set to a sound you can recognize to differentiate them from the mystery sound.
2. Event Sounds:
   • Even if you've checked the Windows default sounds, some programs may have their own event sounds. Reviewing settings within applications that might produce the sound could help. By systematically going through these steps, you may be able to narrow down the source of the mystery alert sound and resolve the issue. Let me know if you need further assistance or if you discover anything specific during your investigation.