Continuous beeping from computer

mickdw

I need help,

My computer just started beeping continuously. Its a be ba be ba (like an ambulance) coming from the computer tower. One beep is the same as the one I hear on startup and the other is a slightly deeper sound.
Anybody know what this would be related to?
Its an old system with windows 98.
The fan has started to get noisy for the last few weeks, could it be overheating?

IT-Guy

mickdw wrote: »

I need help,

My computer just started beeping continuously. Its a be ba be ba (like an ambulance) coming from the computer tower. One beep is the same as the one I hear on startup and the other is a slightly deeper sound.
Anybody know what this would be related to?
Its an old system with windows 98.
The fan has started to get noisy for the last few weeks, could it be overheating?

Most likely explanation. Got any spare fans around? Is there much dust inside the case?

stevire

You could go into the BIOS, and turn off the notification when your computer gets to a certain temperature. Might not be on this old machine

mickdw

IT-Guy wrote: »

Most likely explanation. Got any spare fans around? Is there much dust inside the case?

No spare fans. Yes it woud be very dusty inside.
Im just copying stuff onto external drive at the minute. If I then let it cool down by turning it off, It should run for a while without the alarm again I assume if overheating is the problem?

Mena

One long one short beep is usually (not always) the beep error code for system board error.

Some codes here and here

Just google BIOS Beep codes / Bios Error Tones etc.

mickdw

stevire wrote: »

You could go into the BIOS, and turn off the notification when your computer gets to a certain temperature. Might not be on this old machine

I will try this when it finishes copying stuff to the external drive. I think Ive seen temperature details in there before.

mickdw

Mena wrote: »

One long one short beep is usually (not always) the beep error code for system board error.

Some codes here and here

Just google BIOS Beep codes / Bios Error Tones etc.

If it was system board, it that it pretty much f*cked?

IT-Guy

mickdw wrote: »

No spare fans. Yes it woud be very dusty inside.
Im just copying stuff onto external drive at the minute. If I then let it cool down by turning it off, It should run for a while without the alarm again I assume if overheating is the problem?

Use a hoover to remove as much dust as possible from inside the case and leave the side of the case off. You should be able to copy what you need to the external drive. I had an old P4 1.8Ghz that used beep like that when it overheated, I just left the side of the case off to keep it cool until I got a better fan.

Mena

mickdw wrote: »

If it was system board, it that it pretty much f*cked?

Usually pretty much, but it sounds like you have it running so, assuming you get everything off it, see how long it lasts :P

Could certainly be something other than the system board though, those error codes are not always very accurate. Could well be an overheating issue.

mickdw

Thanks everyone, I'll be back later Im sure!

mickdw

Well I hoovered out the case, opened the power supply, cleaned the fan in there and its vents. Cleaned other small fan attached to some cooling fins. turned it on, running fine now so I guess overheading is the problem. Now I wonder if it will stay ok or overheat in a few hours again.

Anyway,

Thanks everyone

robz18

Just try to clean it out fairly often and you should be fine. Maybe get a can of compressed air, they can be handy for getting the dust out of spots that the hoover won't get to. Is the fan spinning fine also?

daftdave

robz18 wrote: »

Just try to clean it out fairly often and you should be fine. Maybe get a can of compressed air, they can be handy for getting the dust out of spots that the hoover won't get to. Is the fan spinning fine also?

i know the recession is in full flow and money is tight for everyone but win 98 is pretty dated and asking for trouble , try come forward to xp if you can , with a "newer" pc , even 2nd hand will do , you should find a world of difference , xp is a great operating system and worth the move , especially from windows 98

robz18

daftdave wrote: »

i know the recession is in full flow and money is tight for everyone but win 98 is pretty dated and asking for trouble , try come forward to xp if you can , with a "newer" pc , even 2nd hand will do , you should find a world of difference , xp is a great operating system and worth the move , especially from windows 98

Heh, I presume you meant to quote mickdw, anyway yeah I'd agree with you, might even get away with it on the same machine, maybe throw some new RAM in there.

mickdw

daftdave wrote: »

i know the recession is in full flow and money is tight for everyone but win 98 is pretty dated and asking for trouble , try come forward to xp if you can , with a "newer" pc , even 2nd hand will do , you should find a world of difference , xp is a great operating system and worth the move , especially from windows 98

I have an xp laptop which I use for the net and stuff but the machine that was beeping is used for Autocad and general work stuff. It has afew hundred houseplans and associated docs on it. I must buy a new machine, its just Ive had that since about 1999 and never any problems really. It also seems to be alot quicker than alot of the basic modern laptops although from the spec quoted, they would appear to be light years ahead. I know nothing about computers though.

mickdw

robz18 wrote: »

Just try to clean it out fairly often and you should be fine. Maybe get a can of compressed air, they can be handy for getting the dust out of spots that the hoover won't get to. Is the fan spinning fine also?

Is it common practice to clean out the case of computer? Ive never done it before.
The fan is spinning almost silently now after cleaning. It was getting noisy for the last while but good as new now it seems.

robz18

It's common if it's needed, once a month should be more than safe.

Overheal

IT-Guy wrote: »

Use a hoover to remove as much dust as possible from inside the case and leave the side of the case off. You should be able to copy what you need to the external drive. I had an old P4 1.8Ghz that used beep like that when it overheated, I just left the side of the case off to keep it cool until I got a better fan.

I prefer a combo of Vacuum and Duster-Can myself: If your vacuum has a plastic nozzle theres a slight chance you can build up a charge of static from the rush of air. Better to blow the dust out and suck it up from a distance.

Computers can tolerate a lot of dust buildup but depending on your environment it should be cleaned anywhere from 1-6 months regularly. The more human/fabric activity in the room the more dust buildup.

CHW

mickdw wrote: »

I have an xp laptop which I use for the net and stuff but the machine that was beeping is used for Autocad and general work stuff. It has afew hundred houseplans and associated docs on it. I must buy a new machine, its just Ive had that since about 1999 and never any problems really. It also seems to be alot quicker than alot of the basic modern laptops although from the spec quoted, they would appear to be light years ahead. I know nothing about computers though.

Why would you want to get a new one it this one does what you want, and you may have given it a new lease of life with a good clean, might last you another 10 years!

You might also find yourself shelling out for new software as well if there are any incompatabilities with your old software with a new OS.

About cleaning, I'd say I clean mine one or twice a year, but it will depend on the environment they're being used in. Compressed air is the best, if you have access to it. I've seen cruddy, bunged-up PCs at work go to look like spanking new after a minute with a compressed air supply. Power supplies seem to accumulate the most, so worth taking them out and blasting a good volume of air through them as well. Same goes for the processor heatsink. I'm sure the components work more efficiently without layers of dust on them, might even reduce power consumption, though it might take a lot of dust to notice a difference in this respect.