Random Beep from Laptop?

#1
Secular Sanity Offline
Why am I hearing a quiet, short, random beep from my laptop?  Does anyone know?
Reply
#2
C C Offline
BIOS beep codes. Number of beeps will indicate what the problem is.
Reply
#3
Secular Sanity Offline
(Mar 17, 2018 03:38 AM)C C Wrote: BIOS beep codes. Number of beeps will indicate what the problem is.

But it's just one random beep. It doesn't even occur on a daily basis. I'll google BIOS beep codes, though.

Thanks, C C!
Reply
#4
C C Offline
I had to reseat a memory stick once when it was one beep. At first I thought the thing had gone bad, needed to be replaced.

- - -
Reply
#5
confused2 Offline
Have you done anything to it?
Reply
#6
Secular Sanity Offline
(Mar 17, 2018 06:45 PM)confused2 Wrote: Have you done anything to it?

No, but it says that one beep means that I need to replace the motherboard. Undecided
Reply
#7
confused2 Offline
Probably some liquid got onto it and damaged it.
Reply
#8
elte Offline
I used to hear a beep from my desktop at startup. It hasn't beeped like that in a long time. It just seemed to stop doing it on its own.
Reply
#9
C C Offline
(Mar 17, 2018 07:14 PM)Secular Sanity Wrote:
(Mar 17, 2018 06:45 PM)confused2 Wrote: Have you done anything to it?

No, but it says that one beep means that I need to replace the motherboard. Undecided


Although I lucked out a previous time by just going looking at a generic set, there are different beep codes. So go by either the BIOS manufacturer or those that the laptop manufacturer makes available.

If it is the code set where a single beep pattern means either memory or motherboard as the problem, and you're on Windows 10... Check how much RAM you've still got working to ensure it's not memory as the specific and easier possibility.

Click Settings, then About, then look down at Device Specifications for the Installed RAM. If it reads less than what the laptop originally came with, then that's the difficulty. And it might be nothing more than the stick needing to be reseated because it became loose or got dust on the contacts. I also hope that Device Specs place on Win10 still indicates the actual live status of working memory as windows 7 and XP did. Don't know why it wouldn't unless Win10 is fully the pits as many of us want to believe.

I've only fiddled with desktop computers in regard to reseating or replacing RAM, so... Haven't even watched the video below but I assume it's as good as any. Don't bother if it only has one stick, though -- your laptop wouldn't still be working if none of other slots are filled or they aren't plural in number to begin with.

You don't want to replace the problem-causing stick, though, unless it's truly gone kaput. For the time being, just use the video's instructions for identifying the bad stick and removing and snapping that old one back in place rather than a new one (tracking down a new one of the same type to order is nightmare enough in itself).

How to Replace RAM/Memory in a Laptop Computer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-lrI3Kswrs

- - -

(Mar 17, 2018 07:37 PM)elte Wrote: I used to hear a beep from my desktop at startup. It hasn't beeped like that in a long time. It just seemed to stop doing it on its own.


Depending on the code set, sometimes a single beep is about nothing more than an error, so it should disappear eventually. If RAM was the culprit, the computer will also still keep working with the remaining sticks. The system will just run slower or hang briefly more often because of the lesser amount of available working memory. But one would expect the beep to continue, though maybe it could finally give up if the bad stick isn't addressed.

- - -
Reply
#10
elte Offline
Something that came back to my mind is that the cat 5/6 ethernet section on the computer's pc board is bad. It went bad soon after I first began to use the computer. I plugged one of those very small wifi stubby things into a USB port but internet seems like it might be about as slow as dial-up since then.
Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Random thoughts/comments Leigha 1,582 80,476 Nov 22, 2024 06:33 PM
Last Post: Magical Realist



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)