| Author | Comment |
john777
Ultralisk
Posted: 26 Feb 2006
22:20 GMT
Total Posts: 289 | I have an older computer that randomly emits high pitched beeping noises and I know that this usually means that the hard drive is going out but I was wondering if any one knew of a way to check or confirm if it is the hard drive.
Thanks
P.S. Congradulations on getting the forum back up. |
zkostik
Carrier
Posted: 27 Feb 2006
09:12 GMT
Total Posts: 2486 | Well, that's probably a POST error. Does the computer boot into the OS or just makes beeps while in use? If the first question seems appropriate you'll need to know the BIOS make of your computer by taking off the lid and looking for a sticker on one of the chips (often holographic), you'll also need to count the beeps in order to determine what they mean. If this happens from withing OS, it might even be a virus or some other program outputting something to the buzzer. Please be a bit more detailed with your description.
Thanks for your comment about the forum. :)
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BullFrog
Wraith
Posted: 27 Feb 2006
15:02 GMT
Total Posts: 623 | From how the problem is stated, it would seem as though the beeping occurs within the OS. As I remember, there are supposed to be consecutive beeps when the computer is first turned on to let you know something is wrong, not random ones.
I usually receive random beeps when I encounter errors on a computer with no sound card. Just something to check, as Z said.
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"Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds." -Franklin D. Roosevelt |
allynfolksjr
Administrator
Posted: 27 Feb 2006
18:40 GMT
Total Posts: 1892 | I've encountered a computer that whines slightly when the CPU is under load, but I've assumed that's the fan increasing revolutions, and didn't really think of it, other than it's rather irritating. :) |
zkostik
Carrier
Posted: 27 Feb 2006
19:47 GMT
Total Posts: 2486 | Yeah allyn, that's probably cpu or psu fan clocked up due to higher heat level reached while under load. These are usually thermally controlled and will make more noise during more intensive tasks. Other thing that often makes lots of noise is the video card. If its too noisy, I'd suggest replacing your heatsinks with some aftermaker ones.
To BF, that's another possibility. Also, most computer that have a buzzer attached can beep using software (mainly for error heads up in case no speakers are attached and such). If this is the case, you can usually just turn off the beeper from sound settings (at least on most units, some however cannot be turned off like that and you may need to do some homework if your's is one of these).
I hope this kinda helps with your questions folks.
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john777
Ultralisk
Posted: 27 Feb 2006
21:30 GMT
Total Posts: 289 | Well the sound comes out when I am just using the computer (windows 2000) and the number of beeps doesn't seem to follow any kind of pattern. I think it may be something like what Allyn said where the cpu is under load. Also the beeps are very close together so it almost sounds like a constant beep but it is not. But it did seem to be coming from the hard drive. I wasn't sure where to look for the BIOS but it is a dell with a pentium 2 processor. Sorry this is a little random.
Thanks to all of you.
BTW, this is something that I tend to forget at time since I see this very rarely at my computer shop. I hope that help with your question though.
[Edited by zkostik on 28-Feb-06 07:14] |
zkostik
Carrier
Posted: 27 Feb 2006
22:13 GMT
Total Posts: 2486 | Good observation, some hdd's will produce beeps when they're about to go bad or are not feeling well. I noticed that with mainly older drives and some more recent Maxtor ones. I would suggest you make a data backup immediately and then run a thorough disc diag scan (such as Seagate SeaTools available for free on their site). Seeing that the computer is rather old, it would not be uncommon for the hdd to go on your so keep fresh backup copies of your stuff or better yet, reimage yor hdd onto a new one while it still works (would save lots of time than starting from scratch). I'd imagine your have a Quantum Fireball or something similar in that computer and the do make beeping noise when they're about to go bad. So here, now you have something fun to do and do it asap!
Edit: This is something that I see rarely and thus I tend to forget about beeping hdd's. Though, it's kinda funny to hear beeps from the hdd. I hope this info helps answering your question though.
[Edited by zkostik on 28-Feb-06 07:16]
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spiral
Wraith
Posted: 27 Feb 2006
22:58 GMT
Total Posts: 958 | wow a p2, that's like 9 years old, what do you actually plan to DO with it? |
Andy
Administrator
Posted: 28 Feb 2006
04:26 GMT
Total Posts: 939 | >> Edit: This is something that I see rarely and thus I tend to forget about beeping hdd's. Though, it's kinda funny to hear beeps from the hdd. I hope this info helps answering your question though.
Not at all. At a LAN party a couple months ago, my friend accidentally belly-flopped his USB hard drive while it was on... It refused to turn back on, instead given a siren-ish beep when power was applied.
>> wow a p2, that's like 9 years old, what do you actually plan to DO with it?
There's plenty that can be done with P2's... I'd get into deal about how half the computers I work with at work ar P2's but I dont' have time now.
[Edited by Andy on 28-Feb-06 13:26] |
john777
Ultralisk
Posted: 28 Feb 2006
22:00 GMT
Total Posts: 289 | Thanks the information was very helpful. And I also have a pentium 1 that my dad got from his work. I don't have many plans right now but I will probably just play around on it. This used to be our regular computer but we just got an HP Pavilion with an AMD 64 processor. On account of the strange noises we decided it was time to upgrade.
Thanks again
EDIT by L: have a pentium 1, not has :) . I like fixing grammar in case you couldn't tell.
That's good gramar is very important. Feel free to correct me any time. :)
[Edited by john777 on 02-Mar-06 07:02] |
john777
Ultralisk
Posted: 8 Mar 2006
19:40 GMT
Total Posts: 289 | Just wondering what would be the best way to reimage the hard drive to a new one.
Thanks |
zkostik
Carrier
Posted: 8 Mar 2006
22:57 GMT
Total Posts: 2486 | Norton Ghost generally does a good job, though make sure you get version 9 insteald of the crappy v.10 seen in the stores these days. Buy it online if needed. There are other Ghost like tools available but from personal experience Ghost does a good job and is one of the least expensive of the bunch while sporting a good set of features.
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john777
Ultralisk
Posted: 9 Mar 2006
20:44 GMT
Total Posts: 289 | Sounds good thanks. |
Lunchbox
Carrier
Posted: 10 Mar 2006
15:23 GMT
Total Posts: 2007 | Norton made a good program? I'm thoroughly impressed. The only thing my Norton antivirus has done for me is try to block harmless dls and screw with my graphics when I run certain programs. |
ryantmer
Wraith
Posted: 10 Mar 2006
19:29 GMT
Total Posts: 692 | It's actually not too bad for me, except that I really can't tell, as I have at least four (or possibly more, I really don't know) anti-virus programs on my computer, not including several anti-spyware/adware. |
Andy
Administrator
Posted: 11 Mar 2006
08:01 GMT
Total Posts: 939 | NEVER install more than one antivirus program. That's a well-known FACT. They all install kernel-level things, and they do NOT get along well with others. Your computer is a disaster waiting to happen. In fact, I wouldn't even try to uninstall them -- do a full reinstall of Windows and only install one this time.
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/docid/2000031316555206
http://www.oit.umass.edu/virus/software/multiple_app.html
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ryantmer
Wraith
Posted: 11 Mar 2006
10:18 GMT
Total Posts: 692 | That's the thing. My computer is a disaster that has already happened. But thanks for the advice. I never knew that. ('~') It is actually possible that I don't have more than one anymore (thanks to numerous hard drive wipes and Windows reinstalls), but I know I still have Norton. x_x
P.S. Is having more than one adware/spyware program bad, too?
[Edited by ryantmer on 11-Mar-06 19:20] |
threefingeredguy
Ghost
Posted: 11 Mar 2006
15:58 GMT
Total Posts: 1189 | You need a processor that has virus prevention. Those are cool. I don't know how they work, or even if they work, but the thought amuses me.
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Someone call for an exterminator? |
ryantmer
Wraith
Posted: 12 Mar 2006
04:21 GMT
Total Posts: 692 | By "I don't know if they even work", do you mean you don't know if they exist, or that you really don't know if these processors work? |
Andy
Administrator
Posted: 12 Mar 2006
07:30 GMT
Total Posts: 939 | Multiple ON-DEMAND spy/adware scanners are fine... But ONLY ONE that sits there and watches over your system (for the same reasons as virus scanneres). |
threefingeredguy
Ghost
Posted: 12 Mar 2006
11:10 GMT
Total Posts: 1189 | They exist. My friend has one.
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Someone call for an exterminator? |
spiral
Wraith
Posted: 16 Mar 2006
15:23 GMT
Total Posts: 958 | the closest thing to "built-in" virus protection is the XD/NX -bit, which can at times prevent buffer overflow exploits. |
