Sound is extremely distorted and I cannot mute it with my volume settings?

Within the past ten minutes, my computer began to make an odd squeak noise and random, lengthy intervals - like vinyl skipping. Within the last five minutes, it began emitting a horrific, high-pitched sound, half of the time when I try to play any kind

of audio, and half the time when nothing (no video, audio, nothing) is playing on my computer. I can't mute it with the volume controls on the desktop, And the sound continues if I plug in headphones. I have been able to mute it using the headphone volume

dial. I tried using device manager to update my sound drivers, but it said they were all up to date. I have an Alienware M17x (more specs can be provided if necessary), and the only thing I have downloaded/installed today is Dota 2. My only activity on the

computer has been normal schoolwork and browsing YouTube. If need be, I can try a system restore from two days prior, but I am currently running a virus scan and would like to finish that first.

Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

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