Dell Laptop keeps beeping!!!

Tozer

Bit of a query with my Dell Vostro 1500 running Vista Business. Every now and again, for no apparent reason, it makes a sound - 4 beeps in a row. Not particularly loud but a bit annoying. Sounds like the sort of beep a dishwasher or microwave might make. Nothing else seems to happen. Its usually when it is left alone.

Any ideas gratefully received!!!

Little_John

Normally a pc beeps at you when in use to let you know its over heating but it doesnt stop until it cools down or is switched off your stops after 4. There are lots of people on the net with dell laptops that have it beeping at them too some say it comes from the optical drive some say its a bios beep.

sorry I can't help you but at least you know it happens to others. maybe you should phone dell.

Tozer

Anyone else got any ideas?

BritBrat

It's warning you something is wrong.

Take it in for someone to look at it before it is totaly scrap.

Currently, many Vostro laptops suffer from three different issues - grainy WXGA+ screens[2], high pitched whiney noise (also known as the beep-problem)[3] and loose batteries[4]. Also there is a disturbing noise in the headphone jack, similar to the noise electrostatic interference creates, which cannot be reduced by the volume control panel. This is a hardware problem and to date, Dell has yet to release a final fix. But in spite of that, it should be noted that the Dell Vostro 1400 series has been shown to experience this problem with much more rarity. Because the headphone jack is placed at the front of the notebook, this problem seems to show up at a much lower rate, if ever in the 1400 series.

The 1500 appears to be the most problematic of all Vostro series with the audio problem. There are two known workarounds to this problem; to run RMClock (Windows only) to reduce the noise generation, or buy and external sound card via USB dongle or Express Card. The RMClock workaround solution has merely led to the hard drive's speed being increased, which has also led to the battery life being decreased, and the external sound card solution tends to cost anywhere from 30 to 120 US Dollars.

wikipedia.org

Tozer

Nothing quite so dramatic. Updated the BIOS driver and all is now well.