Computer beeps and I have no control over it

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tim Penhey
  • Start date Start date
T

Tim Penhey

Hi All,

I have a computer that arrived with XP Pro installed. It has always had
this problem but it is really starting to get to me. The beep is not
from the sound card, but a system beep from a beep speaker. Muting the
sound using the applet in the system tray does not affect it. It also
only happens during some applications.

I use Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird for web and email. Skype does not
effect it, nor winamp. But MS Money does, and Norton antivirus when
doing a system scan does. Very annoying.

Has anyone come across this before? If so how did you fix it?

Thanks
Tim
 
Go to start>run and enter

sndvol32

then go to "Options" then select "Properties" then check "PC Speaker">"OK"
then all you have to do is mute the PC Speaker

Good Luck
 
Not necessarily true. I just did as you suggested and found NO listing for
the motherboard or case speaker.
 
WTC said:
Go to start>run and enter

sndvol32

then go to "Options" then select "Properties" then check "PC Speaker">"OK"
then all you have to do is mute the PC Speaker

Good Luck
Click to expand...

Don't have an entry for "PC Speaker".
Do have:
Volume Control (General)
Wave
SW synth
CD Player
Line In

Any other ideas?
 
go to start>run and type

devmgmt.msc

double click on "System Devices">the go to "System speaker" right click and
disable it.

Good Luck
 
Tim Penhey said:
Don't have an entry for "PC Speaker".
Do have:
Volume Control (General)
Wave
SW synth
CD Player
Line In

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...

Bring up the volumn control, click options, properties
and check PC speaker, click OK and it will show up.
Then you can do as WTC said.

Jim M
 
JBM said:
Bring up the volumn control, click options, properties
and check PC speaker, click OK and it will show up.
Then you can do as WTC said.

Jim M
Click to expand...
Never mind, I should learn to read better.

Jim M
 
I'm stupid, but it seems to me that finding out WHY the
system is beeping and fixing the problem might be a good
idea. Just turning the speaker OFF, either in Windows or
the BIOS, is like fixing a broken finger while the compound
leg fracture is untreated.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


| Not necessarily true. I just did as you suggested and
found NO listing for
| the motherboard or case speaker.
|
| | > Go to start>run and enter
| >
| > sndvol32
| >
| > then go to "Options" then select "Properties" then
check "PC
| > Speaker">"OK"
| > then all you have to do is mute the PC Speaker
| >
| > Good Luck
| > --
| > William
| >
| >
| >
| > | >> Hi All,
| >>
| >> I have a computer that arrived with XP Pro installed.
It has always had
| >> this problem but it is really starting to get to me.
The beep is not
| >> from the sound card, but a system beep from a beep
speaker. Muting the
| >> sound using the applet in the system tray does not
affect it. It also
| >> only happens during some applications.
| >>
| >> I use Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird for web and
email. Skype does not
| >> effect it, nor winamp. But MS Money does, and Norton
antivirus when
| >> doing a system scan does. Very annoying.
| >>
| >> Has anyone come across this before? If so how did you
fix it?
| >>
| >> Thanks
| >> Tim
| >
| >
|
|
 
You are getting the beeps because there is a problem somewhere. Fix it and
the beeps will go away.
 
When one of the warning lights comes on in my car, I just remove the bulb.
Don't you?? <g>

JAX
 
Just for the oil pressure or gas gauge, and doesn't
everybody ignore the check engine light?


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


| When one of the warning lights comes on in my car, I just
remove the bulb.
| Don't you?? <g>
|
| JAX
|
in message
| | > I'm stupid, but it seems to me that finding out WHY the
| > system is beeping and fixing the problem might be a good
| > idea. Just turning the speaker OFF, either in Windows
or
| > the BIOS, is like fixing a broken finger while the
compound
| > leg fracture is untreated.
| >
| >
| > --
| > The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
| > But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
| >
| >
| > | > | Not necessarily true. I just did as you suggested and
| > found NO listing for
| > | the motherboard or case speaker.
| > |
message
| > | | > | > Go to start>run and enter
| > | >
| > | > sndvol32
| > | >
| > | > then go to "Options" then select "Properties" then
| > check "PC
| > | > Speaker">"OK"
| > | > then all you have to do is mute the PC Speaker
| > | >
| > | > Good Luck
| > | > --
| > | > William
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > | > | >> Hi All,
| > | >>
| > | >> I have a computer that arrived with XP Pro
installed.
| > It has always had
| > | >> this problem but it is really starting to get to
me.
| > The beep is not
| > | >> from the sound card, but a system beep from a beep
| > speaker. Muting the
| > | >> sound using the applet in the system tray does not
| > affect it. It also
| > | >> only happens during some applications.
| > | >>
| > | >> I use Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird for web and
| > email. Skype does not
| > | >> effect it, nor winamp. But MS Money does, and
Norton
| > antivirus when
| > | >> doing a system scan does. Very annoying.
| > | >>
| > | >> Has anyone come across this before? If so how did
you
| > fix it?
| > | >>
| > | >> Thanks
| > | >> Tim
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|
 
Jerry said:
You are getting the beeps because there is a problem somewhere. Fix it and
the beeps will go away.
Click to expand...

No sh*t sherlock.

Given that most of the time I have no problem at all, but for just a few
apps (MS Money and Norton Anti-virus) it beeps at (seemingly) random
times, it seems a little hard to track down the problem, let alone fix it.
 
Well, you can turn the Money off because you can do without
the program, at least for a while. You might even uninstall
it. But the Norton does seem to be important for just
general on-line running.
So the first steps might be to uninstall all the optional
applications and disconnect from the Internet. Then run the
computer for a reasonable time period, perhaps running some
benchmarking program to cycle the system and test all the
installed hardware. Then install programs, one at a time,
and re-test. You might start with the programs that you
think are the most problematic. Note the event log for
problems (My Computer/right click, Manage) [Purge the log so
you start clean and it will be easier to find the new
events]
There are on-line test sites, such as www.pcpitstop.com that
might detect a problem before you go to all the trouble of
beginning detailed troubleshooting.

Beep error codes are often at the lowest hardware level
because that is all that is available to indicate a failure.
If high-level software has a problem, you will usually get a
pop-up error message or at least a event log.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


| Jerry wrote:
| > You are getting the beeps because there is a problem
somewhere. Fix it and
| > the beeps will go away.
|
| No sh*t sherlock.
|
| Given that most of the time I have no problem at all, but
for just a few
| apps (MS Money and Norton Anti-virus) it beeps at
(seemingly) random
| times, it seems a little hard to track down the problem,
let alone fix it.
 
Beeps generated within Windows apps will go the same route that .wav
go; to sound drivers and out the external speakers (unless that crusty
old "PC Speaker driver" is uses internal speaker *as* "sound card")

Beeps within Windows that are heard through the internal speaker are
either from DOS apps, or from BIOS. For example, BIOS may be set to
beep if temp or voltage thresholds are breached, etc.
 
For the not so mechanically inclined, removing light bulbs may be a real
challenge. I have found that the application of a piece of black electrical
tape, or duct tape, over the offending signal works well in most
cases...right??

JAX
 
I save the black tape to cover the high beam indicator that
is so bright that I can't see the road. But yes, black tape
can "solve" many problems.


| For the not so mechanically inclined, removing light bulbs
may be a real
| challenge. I have found that the application of a piece of
black electrical
| tape, or duct tape, over the offending signal works well
in most
| cases...right??
|
| JAX
|
in message
| | > Just for the oil pressure or gas gauge, and doesn't
| > everybody ignore the check engine light?
| >
| >
| > --
| > The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
| > But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
| >
| >
| > | > | When one of the warning lights comes on in my car, I
just
| > remove the bulb.
| > | Don't you?? <g>
| > |
| > | JAX
| > |
| > | "Jim Macklin" <p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm>
wrote
| > in message
| > | | > | > I'm stupid, but it seems to me that finding out WHY
the
| > | > system is beeping and fixing the problem might be a
good
| > | > idea. Just turning the speaker OFF, either in
Windows
| > or
| > | > the BIOS, is like fixing a broken finger while the
| > compound
| > | > leg fracture is untreated.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > --
| > | > The people think the Constitution protects their
rights;
| > | > But government sees it as an obstacle to be
overcome.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > | > | > | Not necessarily true. I just did as you suggested
and
| > | > found NO listing for
| > | > | the motherboard or case speaker.
| > | > |
| > message
| > | > | | > | > | > Go to start>run and enter
| > | > | >
| > | > | > sndvol32
| > | > | >
| > | > | > then go to "Options" then select "Properties"
then
| > | > check "PC
| > | > | > Speaker">"OK"
| > | > | > then all you have to do is mute the PC Speaker
| > | > | >
| > | > | > Good Luck
| > | > | > --
| > | > | > William
| > | > | >
| > | > | >
| > | > | >
| > | > | >
| > | > | >> Hi All,
| > | > | >>
| > | > | >> I have a computer that arrived with XP Pro
| > installed.
| > | > It has always had
| > | > | >> this problem but it is really starting to get
to
| > me.
| > | > The beep is not
| > | > | >> from the sound card, but a system beep from a
beep
| > | > speaker. Muting the
| > | > | >> sound using the applet in the system tray does
not
| > | > affect it. It also
| > | > | >> only happens during some applications.
| > | > | >>
| > | > | >> I use Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird for web
and
| > | > email. Skype does not
| > | > | >> effect it, nor winamp. But MS Money does, and
| > Norton
| > | > antivirus when
| > | > | >> doing a system scan does. Very annoying.
| > | > | >>
| > | > | >> Has anyone come across this before? If so how
did
| > you
| > | > fix it?
| > | > | >>
| > | > | >> Thanks
| > | > | >> Tim
| > | > | >
| > | > | >
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|
 
Jim Macklin said:
I save the black tape to cover the high beam indicator that
is so bright that I can't see the road. But yes, black tape
can "solve" many problems.
Click to expand...

The tape works on smoke alarms as well.

JAX
 
For smoke alarms, a dead battery is 100% reliable,


|
in message
| | >I save the black tape to cover the high beam indicator
that
| > is so bright that I can't see the road. But yes, black
tape
| > can "solve" many problems.
|
| The tape works on smoke alarms as well.
|
| JAX
|
|
 
Hey guys!

This is a major digression!
Tim, please find what motherboard you are using and check the motherboard
manual or just check google for some hints as to why the PC is beeping.

I had this problem a month ago, changed the motherboard and the problem is
more or less fixed now.
My old FIC motherboard website provide few clues so this is a possible
pointer to a not-so-good board, that they are unable to support.

If you are getting the beeps continuously there must be a reason. If there
appears to be no clear reason for it then change the motherboard until
you've got something which gives you a reason.

I am using an ASUS P4C800-E. Its pricey but its virtually fool-proof. I
know, because I am a fool with Pcs :).

Don't buy this though unless you've got a couple of ATA 133 hard drives for
the RAID. Look around though for similar fool-proof security.

Rubix
 
Actually, the PC speaker works off the timer chip. MS still program that
to get beeps. This is generally wired to the input of any built-in
sound card, but not if you have a PCI sound card.

The easiest thing to do if you get it only from the PC speaker, is to
remove its cable, or if its soldered on, rip the bloody thing off!
(that's what I did).

Greg
 
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