Bizarre volume increase behaviour. Mind of its own.

X82

X82

X82

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Joined
24 May 2010
Posts
212
I powered up my PC this morning (Win 8.1 x64) and noticed the volume increases on its own.
The on screen display will keep popping up, even when it is at 100. As if something is increasing the volume. I've unplugged my keyboard and mouse, still happens. I've gone through as many processes as I can and ended some and the issue still happens.
Safe mode isn't an option since the sound drivers don't work with safe mode.
Using a Creative Fatality XFi card.

Far short of a complete re-format, I'm at a loss. Even as I type this the on screen display keeps popping up at 100. I can't listen to anything since my volume level is between 40 and 50. 100 is much too loud.
 
Are there any driver updates for the XFi? Do you have any bluetooth devices with volume controls perhaps? A sibling or a friend with a disposition for subtle practical jokes? I suppose it could just be the XFi has a hardware fault.

I realise I'm clutching at straws but I'm determined to help you on the basis you correctly used its instead of it's.
 
I focus myself like a laser when it comes to its/it's.
I've removed the XFI and enabled on-board sound. The problem remains. I am at a loss, my years of computing troubleshooting means nothing in the face of this. Also, your signature made me lose at least 15 clicks into the void. Well played.
 
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How about disabling all recording devices. Were the drivers for the on-board sound installed before you installed the XFI? If so you could try removing them.
 
The drivers for on-board were the ones with Windows. I did some testing and it would seem that the issue, at least so far, goes away if I remove both the keyboard and mouse from their respective ports. If I plug any of them back in, the problem seems to return.
After trying to update the USB 3 drivers, which made no difference. I can't say 100% at the moment the removal of the 2 devices mentioned fixes the issue. All I can say is when I removed them, the issue didn't happen. I left this for a few minutes. But the problem is so intermittent that the issue just may not have happened in that time. As I type 10 minutes past before the volume went up to 100, it is acting like someone else is controlling it, but I have nothing on my PC to allow this action, only myself and my partner live here, no troublesome children or siblings to deal with.
 
The keyboard would seem most likely, especially if it has media buttons. I will note that in your OP you claimed you had tried without the keyboard and mouse plugged in. Lies, god-damn lies.
 
It is bizarre. This is why I think it isn't the keyboard. If I plug the mouse back on its own, the problem returns. But again, at random. Every few seconds, every 10 minutes, random. But never longer than about 10 minutes until it happens. I think signs are pointing me to a re-format. It infuriates me when odd things like this occur, as well as other issues, applications not running etc and the only solution I have found is a wipe. Applications which didn't run before, run fine. The same will be said of this, I know it will fix it, but it is just the hassle of re-installing all my stuff, again.
 
I decided to pull out all USB cables from the case in a rage. The problem stopped.
As I worried about possible motherboard issues, I realised that one of the cables was to my headset. This Roccat headset has a control box for volume, although the headphones are not USB sound, they still require USB power. I assume, perhaps wrongly (time will tell), that for some reason the control box is now freaking out. Activating the volume up on its own. I've fiddled with the control box and plugged everything back in. I've managed to type all this and wait 10 minutes prior and so far, no issues have arose. I won't be happy until a few hours have passed, but so far, so good. Unbelievable.
 
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