PC hardware forum: beeping noise coming from my computer

You maybe at the "theshold" of a alarm condition but is so short lived it corrects itself or falls back under the setting. Check your temp setting and then if you have it active, your "bios monitoring s/w" what it reports. This should all be explained by the manual or if on CD some help guide. usually, its a system monitor pgm. of some sort. If temp "overtemp" alarm, clean out your system case of dust bunnies, etc. to reduce heat build-up and route any cables&harness for bertter air circulation.

Next, you have your sound or audio card too close to a noisy RFI source. When the beep sound or similar appaears again, try moving the mouse alot, if this increases the noise(beep), audio setting is too high, reduce.

There are other sources for "beep codes", thus when it happens, write what if any beep sequence is repeated as a clue to the beep code. The beeps can be interpeted by the bios beep code from the manufacturer or vendor if under warranty as probable cause.

tada -----Willy

The sure way in order to open case is to visit the Dell suppport website. Find your model# and proceed to check "how to replace a HD" that way the instructions for opening case is included. Dell does it differently on various models, but you *may* have a large button(purple/green) on back, depress it and slide outer case back. Once inside case some Dell models you'll find a plastic hood or such over the cpu, the better to cool it, grasp it and remove or slide/pull/lift back to clean cpu area. Hope this helps, but use common sense in all this.

tada -----Willy

Unfortunately, this is my only system. There are letters on the back of the computer that are supposed to be green. I noticed the other day that one was a red/orange...it was the letter D. I mentioned that to the tech this morning and realize now that he never did comment on it. Need to research what that letter indicates, too. Possibly the monitor?

When I built my first computer I read a lot about the beap codes.
The first one I learned about was When I first booted up on my new system. If I got one beep all my case leads to the MB were correct, and I could go on from there. Every time I reboot or turn on my computer I get that one Beep.
If I got more then one beep on first reboot I had a lead problem.
There or other beep codes that let you know there is somthing wrong with My computer.

Thank You for the info you gave:

Wendell H

Hides your plea for help.

Thank you...just what I needed! It's showed 118F when I first downloaded the program and down to 111F this morning. I went online with Dell chat...don't have patience to talk with those people on the phone...and he told me the temp should run between 60 and 110F.

He gave me instructions on how to do a diagnostic just on the fan from the startup and it passed just now. He told me to continue to monitor the temp, count the beeps and run the diagnostic in the middle of the beeps if possible.

I feel better, but cautious.

Thanks to everyone!

Sorry I didn't back sooner. These instructions are for Dell computers only:

Restart your system and press F12 whwn the blue Dell screen comes up.

You'll see an option that says "boot to utility partition". Please select this option and press enter.

You would then get the screen that says Express Test, Extended Test, Custom Test and Symptom tree...choose Symptom Tree.

From the list please choose, "Problems with fan or System seems hot." Click on Run Test.

Okay, here is the actual conversation...some of it is pretty funny...

*****************************************************

07/08/2006 08:28:05AM Agent (Nidhi_01105620): "There is a feature called hyperthreading, I will give you steps to turn it off as it helps in cooling down the system."

07/08/2006 08:28:54AM BECKY MCMULLEN: "I'm sorry, I don't understand...could you explain further?"

07/08/2006 08:29:07AM Agent (Nidhi_01105620): "Sure."

07/08/2006 08:29:53AM Agent (Nidhi_01105620): "Becky, the temperature will *** down if we turn off the hyperthreading."

07/08/2006 08:30:25AM BECKY MCMULLEN: "okay...why is the hyperthreading even there if it causes problems?"

07/08/2006 08:31:30AM BECKY MCMULLEN: "by the way, *** should be spelled come...*** is not a very nice word in English"

07/08/2006 08:32:03AM BECKY MCMULLEN: "just helping you out...no offense intended"

07/08/2006 08:32:06AM Agent (Nidhi_01105620): "I am sorry for the typo error."

07/08/2006 08:32:28AM BECKY MCMULLEN: "no prob"

07/08/2006 08:35:09AM Agent (Nidhi_01105620): "Becky, since the system is too hot to touch when it goes hot, I will consult to replace this system for you."

07/08/2006 08:36:27AM BECKY MCMULLEN: "what happened to turning off the hyperthreading? Is replacing absolutely necessary as my hard drive is too full of info to lose it"


07/08/2006 08:40:16AM Agent (Nidhi_01105620): "Becky, let me give you the steps to turn off the hyperthreading as if simple step can take care of this issue then I will not recommend you to backing up the data and it will take lot of time and efforts."

07/08/2006 08:41:15AM BECKY MCMULLEN: "okay...if that doesn't work, we can then talk about a new system."

07/08/2006 08:42:04AM BECKY MCMULLEN: "can I find info about hyperthreading on your site?"

07/08/2006 08:42:42AM Agent (Nidhi_01105620): "I will give you steps for the same."

07/08/2006 08:43:01AM BECKY MCMULLEN: "thank you"

07/08/2006 08:47:02AM Agent (Nidhi_01105620): "Restart the Computer and as soon as you see the Dell Logo Screen (The very first screen that comes up) start tapping "F2" Key."

07/08/2006 08:49:29AM Agent (Nidhi_01105620): "Click on performance on the left hand side and highlight hyperthreading and turn it off."

07/08/2006 08:50:17AM Agent (Nidhi_01105620): "Hit escape and save the changes and exit."

*****************************************************

I did all of the above, but the hyperthreading is off by default so no changes were necessary. I then went back in and turned the hyperthreading on to see if perhaps he made a typo and to see if it made a difference in the temperature. It raised the temp almost immediately.

He never did tell me the importance/definition of hyperthreading so don't know its function or whatever or a link on the Dell site to see what it is, so that's my next step.

Bottom line is it looks like they will be replacing the computer, but I'm assuming that it will be a refurbished one. Anybody know?

If not 100% sure....download/run CPUZ....it'll tell you exactly what CPU is installed in your system. Be interesting to see what Intel shows as the thermal operating temps and limits are of your CPU. Many systems have CPU Temp warning options where the user can go into the BIOS and set CPU TEMP WARNING THRESHHOLD. So if you set the TEMP warning at 90F and the CPU runs normally at 120F, it'll beep all the time. Alternatively if you set it at 150F, it will rarely or never beep. If Intel says the max CPU temp is 170F...then 150F might be OK for most situations.

VAPCMD

Here's the spec on the Intel 530 CPU...max temp looks like it's about 155 degree F: Thats more in the range I thought might be the max. Sure about having two processors ... slots usually refer to RAM.

sSpec Number: SL7KK
CPU Speed: 3 GHz
PCG: 04A
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Bus/Core Ratio: 15
L2 Cache Size: 1 MB
L2 Cache Speed: 3 GHz
Package Type: LGA 775
Manufacturing Technology: 90 nm
Core Stepping: D0
CPUID String: 0F34h
Thermal Design Power: 84W
Thermal Specification: 67.7C (154F)
Core Voltage: 1.4V

Product Documentation:
http://developer.intel.com/design/Pentium4/documentation.htm

VAPCMD

Is there a temperature in my house that I should maintain?

Should I shut down my computer when I'm not using it?

Pretty much what I expected, but was grasping at a straw, so to speak. My pc also runs 24/7 with house temp between 75-78F. Will do some experimenting there. Thanks for all your time and help!

Becky

Your conversation sounds like what I have been through with HP. If so, forget a new computer, forget anything but more of the same. I bought a new HP Pavilion last October. It has had 3 complete harddrive failures since then. I have had 3 hard drives in it. The last time I demand a new computer. I finally was able to "chat live" via the Internet with someone who actually spoke English. HP's best offer was to not charge me for a tech installing the new harddrive and for the running a complete check on all circuitry, connection, etc. Tech came to house. Stuck in the harddrive, started loading the 12 disks it takes to load the crap they have on their harddrive. Oops! It failed to load right! He calls some mysterious number, is told to bypass something and he begins to reload the disks again. At disk 3 out of 12 he says he has to leave and for me to just go ahead and finish loading them. He checked anything. I installed the first two harddrive replacements. I now have a lovely HP doorstop. I have let it sit for a month because although I had all data backed up, it took a day to load the HP junk. Then I have a day or two reloading and resetting all my old programs before I can reload data. I have spent weeks trying to find a way to reach a higher up to talk to. The CEO says it will be looked into. Yeah, there is a whole web site of what she is not looking into.

Try my latest method. I am posting my problems on every web site I can find that deals with computers. Maybe someone from HP will read it and care enough to do something about it. You know, like Microsoft cares