ENVY 32 All-In One integrated B&O speakers picking up random TV or Radio broadcasts

[Caesar88]

Hi

 I have a relatively new 32 AIO with integrated B&O speakers and have an utterly BIZARRE recurring issue.

The speakers will on occasion start playing at max volume what sounds like broadcasts from a TV, radio or once I even heard the Netflix loading sound followed by some show.  When this happens, the volume is maxed out and I can neither stop the sound nor control the volume.  It seems to run completely independently of sounds I know I'm running in programmes, e.g. if I'm listening to music on Spotify I can still control that music and its volume, but it is drowned out by these random broadcasts at max volume.  The broadcast only stops if I turn off the power to my PC.

It is definitely not a program running in the background.  I've closed everything whilst monitoring Task Manager.

I've scanned for all viruses, malware, rootkits etc and found nothing - this PC should be incredibly clean as it's relatively new.

I've gone into my driver settings and checked I have the latest drivers for every single audio related driver.

I wondered if someone in my building is somehow inadvertently connecting to the speakers somehow, so I switched off Bluetooth settings but the issue still occurs!

Am getting desperate and I am considering drastic things like full factory reset etc...

Any help to try to avoid having to do so would be much appreciated!

Thanks.

[The_Fossette]

@Caesar88,

I reviewed your post and I understand that the computer starts playing random audios.

Don’t worry, I assure you I will try my best to get this sorted.

Do you use a shared internet connection?

Have you tried switching off the wireless connection when this happens?

Meanwhile, I recommend you follow the below steps and check if it helps.

1. Run Audio Troubleshooter

  - Launch Troubleshooting by typing and clicking “Troubleshooting” in   

     Windows search.

  - Click on "Playing Audio".

  - Follow the on-screen instructions.

If you continue facing the issue, then uninstall the audio driver from device manager and then download and install it from the below link.

https://support.hp.com/in-en/drivers

Here is how it is done.

1. Type "Device Manager" into the search field to open the device manager console.
2. Expand the node that represents the type of device that you want to uninstall, right-click the device entry, and click Uninstall.
3. On the Confirm Device Removal dialog box, click OK to start the uninstall process.
4. When the uninstall process is complete, remove the device.

NOTE: On the Confirm Device Removal dialog box, click the Delete the driver software for this device option to delete the driver package that was used for the device.

Let me know how it goes and you have a great day!

P.S: Welcome to the HP Support Community 😊

If you wish to show appreciation for my efforts, mark my post as Accept as Solution. Your feedback counts!

Cheers!

Stay Home – Stay Safe

[Caesar88]

Hi thanks for the reply

I use a TPLink Powerline connection for my PC instead of wireless connection to my WiFi router that hooks up directly via the electricity mains.

I will test out next time what happens if I disconnect from the internet when I get it.  So far the only way of stopping the unwanted max volume broadcast is to switch the power off.  Often it really sounds like the B&O speakers are independently picking up radio broadcasts outside of my PC's controls.

On uninstalling and reinstalling audio drivers, under device manager, which ones do I uninstall, is it just the Realtek ones?  I see 2 Realtek Audio drivers (speaker/headphone and stereo mix) under "Audio inputs and outputs", and also Realtek(R) Audio under "Sound, video and game controllers".  I already tried uninstalling and reinstalling the latter one before.

Thanks

[The_Fossette]

@Caesar88,

I recommend you uninstall both the drivers from device manager and then download and install the driver from the link I have shared.

Let me know how it goes.

Cheers!

[Caesar88]

Hi

I uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers but the random broadcasts have happened again.  When it happens, the broadcasts sometimes fade in and out, but always at high/max volume and seems to be completely independent and non-responsive to  the sound/volume controls in Windows.  I wonder if there is some kind of hardware fault with the B&O speakers where it is actually picking up radio stations somehow.  However, strangely it also sometimes plays the loading tune from Netflix, too, so it isn't always what sounds like radio or TV broadcasts.

I'm still covered by warranty and am considering if I should request a replacement PC if nothing else works.

Thanks

[Caesar88]

The other interesting things I've observed from times this has happened:

1.  Even when i uninstalled the drivers and software such that the Windows speaker icon in the bottom right of the taskbar was no longer functioning (small red cross on icon), the broadcast was STILL playing.

2.  When I restart the PC, the broadcasts continue playing until the moment at which the power goes off.  Upon restart and power back on, the broadcasts continue.

3.  The ONLY way the broadcasts seem to stop is when I choose "shut down" instead of restart.  Upon powering off and then powering on again, only then does it seem to stop.

[The_Fossette]

@Caesar88,

Thank you for keeping me posted. 

To pick up broadcasts you need a wireless receiver and the speakers on your computer don't have any receivers. 

I recommend you perform a system restore on the computer back to the date when everything was working fine on the computer.

Follow the steps in the below article for the detailed steps to perform a system restore.

https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c03327545

Let me know how it goes and you have a great day!

If you wish to show appreciation for my efforts, mark my post as Accept as Solution. Your feedback counts!

Cheers!

Stay Home – Stay Safe

[Caesar88]

Hi, I think I may have identified the problem.  This PC has the following bluetooth speaker controls accessed via the OSD controller at the bottom right of the PC monitor.

https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c06505819

Under this menu, there is an Audio menu that has a "HP Envy BT Speaker" option that allows bluetooth connections to audio devices - this seems completely outside of Windows bluetooth pairing and volume controls?

When I switched this option from on to off during when this weird audio stream was being picked up, it stopped!

Is it possible that some device in the area (e.g. a neighbour's apartment) is inadvertently pairing with my PC WITHOUT my permission and streaming audio?  If so, that seems like an oversight from HP and/or Bang&Olufsen in the setup of these integrated speakers.

Thanks 

[spork141]

In case it helps, I have the same machine and had the EXACT same problem and had the exact same solution. It was like something was scanning Bluetooth devices and found my speaker. The odd thing is that even with the volume all the way down it still happened.

Now I have a different speaker problem where in the middle of the night the speaker screams at me for a split second and wakes me and my wife from down the hall. Good times

On a side note. You would think HP support would have told you to try turning off your B&O bluetooth . Just sayin!

[Caesar88]

Awesome.  We have solved the problem then.

As you say, it is pretty poor that HP and B&O when integrating these speakers have somehow allowed external devices to pick up / access / output to the speakers without any permission from the user via the PC.

Other than this extremely weird issue, the PC is fantastic.