strange clicking sound like something is loading/help

Hi, having some slight problems with a clicking sound (through my speakers) every so often. I ran all the apps suggested on this site and even hitman pro and a few others from japan (i'm half Japanese) and nothing is coming up. I don't know what this clicking is. Maybe someone here can help me out?

here's my hijackthislog:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 7:05:38 PM, on 1/6/2010
Platform: Unknown Windows (WinNT 6.01.3504)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.7600.16385)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\IAAnotif.exe
C:\Program Files\Alienware\Command Center\AlienwareAlienFXController.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Creative\Sound Blaster X-Fi\Volume Panel\VolPanlu.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\PowerDVD8\PDVD8Serv.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\Shared Files\brs.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Razer\DeathAdder\razerhid.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Replay Media Catcher\FLVSrvc.exe
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\CTXFISPI.EXE
C:\Program Files (x86)\Razer\DeathAdder\razertra.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Razer\DeathAdder\razerofa.exe
C:\Program Files\Alienware\Command Center\AlienFXHook32Mngr.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Mail\wlmail.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Contacts\wlcomm.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Xfire\Xfire.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Bing
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = MSN.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = MSN.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = Bing
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Bing
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = MSN.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\blank.htm
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: Search Helper - {6EBF7485-159F-4bff-A14F-B9E3AAC4465B} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\Search Helper\SEPsearchhelperie.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Toolbar Helper - {E15A8DC0-8516-42A1-81EA-DC94EC1ACF10} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Toolbar\wltcore.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Windows Live Toolbar - {21FA44EF-376D-4D53-9B0F-8A89D3229068} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Toolbar\wltcore.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [JMB36X IDE Setup] C:\Windows\RaidTool\xInsIDE.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [36X Raid Configurer] C:\Windows\SysWOW64\xRaidSetup.exe boot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VolPanel] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Creative\Sound Blaster X-Fi\Volume Panel\VolPanlu.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RemoteControl8] "C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\PowerDVD8\PDVD8Serv.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PDVD8LanguageShortcut] "C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\PowerDVD8\Language\Language.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BDRegion] C:\Program Files (x86)\Cyberlink\Shared Files\brs.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DeathAdder] C:\Program Files (x86)\Razer\DeathAdder\razerhid.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Ask and Record FLV Service] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Replay Media Catcher\FLVSrvc.exe" /run
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdobeCS4ServiceManager] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\CS4ServiceManager\CS4ServiceManager.exe" -launchedbylogin
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe ARM] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Steam] "c:\program files (x86)\steam\steam.exe" -silent
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CtxfiReg] CTXFIREG.exe /FAIL1 (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CtxfiReg] CTXFIREG.exe /FAIL1 (User 'Default user')
O9 - Extra button: Blog This - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &Blog This in Windows Live Writer - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O16 - DPF: {7530BFB8-7293-4D34-9923-61A11451AFC5} - http://download.eset.com/special/eos/OnlineScanner.cab
O16 - DPF: {F6ACF75C-C32C-447B-9BEF-46B766368D29} (Creative Software AutoUpdate Support Package) - http://ccfiles.creative.com/Web/soft...5111/CTPID.cab
O16 - DPF: {FFB3A759-98B1-446F-BDA9-909C6EB18CC7} (PCPitstop Exam) - http://utilities.pcpitstop.com/Optimize3/pcpitstop2.dll
O23 - Service: Andrea RT Filters Service (AERTFilters) - Andrea Electronics Corporation - C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\AERTSr64.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Creative ALchemy AL6 Licensing Service - Creative Labs - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\AL6Licensing.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Audio Engine Licensing Service - Creative Labs - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\CTAELicensing.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Audio Service (CTAudSvcService) - Creative Technology Ltd - C:\Program Files (x86)\Creative\Shared Files\CTAudSvc.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\efssvc.dll,-100 (EFS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: ESET HTTP Server (EhttpSrv) - ESET - C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus\EHttpSrv.exe
O23 - Service: ESET Service (ekrn) - ESET - C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus\x86\ekrn.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Acresso Software Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service 64 - Acresso Software Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService64.exe
O23 - Service: GoToAssist - Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\GoToAssist\514\g2aservice.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Matrix Storage Event Monitor (IAANTMON) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\IAANTMon.exe
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Nero BackItUp Scheduler 4.0 - Nero AG - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Nero\Nero BackItUp 4\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (nvsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\nvvsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: PnkBstrA - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\PnkBstrA.exe
O23 - Service: PnkBstrB - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\PnkBstrB.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: SiI31xx HBA Wakeup Utility (SiHbaWakeupService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Silicon Image\SiI31xx HBA Wakeup Utility\SiHbaWakeupService.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\sppsvc.exe,-101 (sppsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Steam Client Service - Valve Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Steam\SteamService.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vaultsvc.dll,-1003 (VaultSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Extreme Tuning Utility (XTUService) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Intel\Intel Extreme Tuning Utility\PerfTuneService.exe

--
End of file - 10108 bytes

Our spyware fighters are busy right now, but reading your post does not sound like a software problem (which HJT is designed to do) but rather a hardware problem. I'm transferring your post to the Computer Help forum where other members will be able to help.

hey yeah, thanks. The weird thing is the same thing is happening on two different computers. something i installed and i wonder if it's steam (which never did that before) or windows lives. I work at phoenix tech and i can't find any problems with the hardware. Something .. it sounds like basically when you click a link in IE, and I ran something that shows you all processes going on and waited for the click but nothing spiked. I don't know what it is. I wonder if it's that pcpitstop thing installed since this and the other computer with the same problem both have it.. or something related to IE.

shot in the dark... you dont use facebook when this happens do you?

nope I don't use facebook at all but i have gone to the page probably once or twice for dj pages or something. Everything is closed like my browsers but I hear that IE click unless i turn off my speakers. Not sure what that is. Some process... i wonder if it's related to any of this alienware junk like that command center, i absolutely hate it but i need it... I dont think it's that because my other computer clicked too and it didn't have that. There is nothing weird with beatport.com or audiojelly sites? I'm just trying to figure out what this is. I mean I have everything closed so it couldn't be.



I too am researching but all I have found is something about maybe - The Java runtime environment making random clicking sounds, but I have no idea how to check for that. D you know if NOD32 do this at all?

As you are hearing these sounds with no apparent applications running, it's possible that they are coming from something running in the background. Looking at your HJT log, you have quite a few of them - as denoted by the 04 entries, many of which don't need to be running.

To check which can be shut down, go here SystemLookup - Startup List >, highlight the .exe file on each 04 entry and Copy (one by one) & Paste into the white box and click the search button (magnifying glass). The next window will tell you what the .exe does. If there is a Y, leave the entry, if U you must decide if you need that utility at your finger tips 'right now' or instead, check the box off and shut the .exe down .. this does not delete the program, instead, all you have to do if you want to access it is either go to Start > All Programs or click on a shortcut on your desktop (not in the tray at the bottom right next to the time) Entries for Printers, Graphic/photo programs and programs like MS Office do not need to be running. There is also an N for not needed, check the box on these. If noted as an X or ? leave alone and an expert will tell you how to handle them. In HJT, after you've checked the box next to the ones you want stopped, click the Fix Checked button and reboot the machine.

Note: When looking up these entries, you may encounter multiple definitions. Look at the beginning of the 04 line and you'll note the name, usually in brackets [ ], you need to match this up with the definition under the Name column.

NOTE: Do not delete antivirus or firewall programs (you should only have one antivirus program running). Leave mouse pad entries if using a laptop.

You can do a simple check to see if it is a running process causing the problem by starting in Safe Mode and seeing if the noises are still there. If yes, the problem may well be hardware.

well all those running seem to be legit and things I do want running when I start up, except maybe that a few are optional but it's the raid ones... I'm unsure if I should touch those. I also know what these are below, but I am wondering why there is two of each of these:

O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CtxfiReg] CTXFIREG.exe /FAIL1 (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CtxfiReg] CTXFIREG.exe /FAIL1 (User 'Default user')


Anyway, if I just turn off my speakers I don't hear this "link being clicked sound" so I don't know.. hmm this is confusing. Everything on my computer seems to be running perfectly fine, this is just a little annoying. I read a lot of posts about this on various sites but no one ever seems to have a fix.

Quote:

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O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CtxfiReg] CTXFIREG.exe /FAIL1 (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CtxfiReg] CTXFIREG.exe /FAIL1 (User 'Default user')

---

You can disable all of those entries.

Additionally, you can disable the following...

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [JMB36X IDE Setup] C:\Windows\RaidTool\xInsIDE.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [36X Raid Configurer] C:\Windows\SysWOW64\xRaidSetup.exe boot

Did you try this?

Quote:

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You can do a simple check to see if it is a running process causing the problem by starting in Safe Mode and seeing if the noises are still there. If yes, the problem may well be hardware.

---

Safe Mode starts with no running processes, so will indicate if they are a problem or not.

no I will try safe mode. sorry about that. I'm waiting for something I do for work to finish on here. I will try safe mode and see. I have a friend who just installed windows 7 and is now hearing what I am describing, so I will tell them too. Maybe between the 3 of us we can figure this out.

You should also try to isolate your machine from any external electrical signals which could be picked up by the system and be output as a sound. I once had a similar problem with incessant clicking coming through the speakers, and eventually found out that my neighbour was using an electric fence to keep his dogs enclosed!

A lot of electrical equipment can create similar problems. Microwave cookers are the worst, but even a faulty thermostat on a heater can 'flutter' and create electrical noise.