HP X4000 Workstation - Annoying Beep

6yd, you should change a new one.

I cannt understand all you said, but I guess it may mostly like to be fan problem. its this caused higher temperature to give out beep tone.

If it works properly, no need to change.

haha, you are right.

his fan may stop by dust. so that the cpu has higher tempereature up to warning level, beep begine. or cmos set wrong temperature number. cause this situation.

I dont know if he has checked.

How long ago you've checked out MB's CMOS battery?

Maybe the time has come replace it to by new one?

IT IS THE CMOS BATTERY THATS WHAT THE BEEP IF FROM IT WOINT SHOW UP ANY WERE IN THE SOFTWARE ,ITS PART OF YOUR MOTHER BOARD.

Did you check the powersupply in the PC? maybe one of its compononents is making the sound.

Back up all your important data. My HP 4000, bought used and reconditioned, died the harddrive death after 4 years. Great machine.

If it's only a beep during start-up you should check the battery of the CMOS memory. If it's a long beep-like sound it can come from the fan of the power supply or the processor.

In addition you should save your data because the lifespan of the HDD is not infinite so maybe it's worth a swap...

Hello ddhanjal:

When does this noise happen. Just as it is startingand the logo comes onto the screen? Or when you try and send mail or search the web? You may have checked it or read the reports after scans, but they are not infalible. If your HDD is about to go, I would stick another one in it and copy all personal stuff you want. And then copy the OS to the new disk. It could be any of the things mentioned here by other posts. If it sounds an 'urgent sound' then it could be the battery, the HDD or the power supply. Are the fans all working properly

This is the battery details .

Replace the existing CMOS battery with 3.0V battery (20mm Dia, 3.2mm High, 220 mA-hr) - Type CR2032 lithium.

Take care...............

The noise starts after about 20 seconds into the boot up operation and stays on after that. Your input is very useful however the machine is not connected to net.

The information is mostly there but I do find that certain data disappears - it may sound odd but no error reports are seen but I am sure the data is somewhere on the machine - possibly hidden but I am not computer literate enough to corner that problem.

If nothing unusual happened before sound started (like even moving computer or periodical cleaning of accumulated dust inside) then it is question when You last cleaned CPU cooler. Battery failing would have other symptoms like losing configuration setting and reset of date and time, so it is probably not as yet actual problem......

If you moved or cleaned computer inside, specially using vacuum cleaner, something may become unsettled by accident, like pushing memory clamp or partly pulling out CPU, which can also happen when cooler is heavy and tall......

Offhand, it could be memory plate clamp that got lose, as CPU would not overheat right from start. Also, it happened to me when additional power connector on Graphic card was not connected, and sometimes even half pulled out connector of Monitor or even keyboard or mouse can cause alarm.

Therefore, check that all connections are connected properly and that memory sit as it should, also all cards in their slots. I had case where Box was badly designed and MB was not at 90 degrees to side where cards are screwed, so end of long graphic card in AGP slot was going out at end..... Sometimes that part of box is hit by vacuum cleaner, leg of chair or human, and side get twisted and pulling out start.........

Last of all, it may be that Power Supply unit has problems and do not supply correct voltage as it should, but then I guess situation would get worse longer machine is switched on and working........ Anyhow, check it also, it may be just dirty ventilator on PS that raise temperature inside of PS and all computer box too......

I had several cases when sound signal appeared that were not described in manual, but then I checked manuals of several MBs and found it described somewhere, or I thought hard what I have done previous to appearance of sound.

But general rule is to check all connectors as I wrote. I had case where computer was working normally with case open, but problem started when I put cover on and screwed it tight :-(( specifically in case of box that was skewed by design.... I had to >>cave in<< that box in area that were holding graphic and other cards, to preclude puling of cards out :-((

Of course, easiest way out is to buy new computer, but our US coleagues dont know that we from poor countries pay overmuch even for second hand and outdated technology, and I know that problem is pronounced in India, where I saw they are selling 486 CPU machines still some 5 years ago..........

I was thinking how countries like US have problems with used computers, and they could nicely pack them and send to India, Africa and even Croatia which is in middle of Europe, then Romania, Ukraine........ Would it not be nice if all school children can get computers to learn to use them and perhaps to make programs? Some compare allready knowledge of computer use with literacy, and surely computers would be there in future also.......

Useful information. Interestingly it started when the computer was running and I answered a call from my daughter. She said that her phone battery was running low and just at that point the beep started. I know this may just be a coincidence and the problem is with some of the hardware. I will now check all the points you have made and hope to resolve the issue. It is interesting also that you have had the beep in your computer too - that tells me it can be resolved. Thanks to all for their contribution.

Have You protection on your computer against high voltage spikes in power supply from grid?

Disappearing of files is extremely bad symptom as probably HD heads crashed and are ploughing HD plate.

I hope this is wrong guess for your sake, but test it by connecting Your ear to stick and other end on HD, if origin of sound is there, You would know at once.......

But sound of hardware alarm could stay on in case of bad connection, and it could also be HD cable connected to controller on MB, sometimes cable that goes over wires of PS, specially those powering MB can get disconnected in part as those wires form elastic arc that can slowly push at flat cable and in time pull it out partly.........

Good luck in any case!

Hello Hendrik14,

How are you?

GA to you for adding things which some other posts had not mentioned.

By the way, there is several 'western' organisations collecting and refurbishing computers and sending out to 'needy' countries. Try searching and I am sure you will find some.

Take care......................

Try this link. It may help.

http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?admit=109447626+1235736907249+28353475&threadId=1006811

Steve

Thanks Steve - these are beep codes - I did not know about them. The beep I am getting is a continuous deafening one.

As was said above check or change the cmos battery. You can also reset the cmos by leaving the battery out for 20 minutes and pushing the power button, after you take the battery out, (with the computer unplugged) to discharge the electricity. There is also jumpers near the chip that will do the same thing if you dont want to wait.

What I have done in the past to troubleshoot is to take one component out at a time (ram stick, video card, sound card, ect.) and reboot to see if it corrects the problem. That will help you narrow down a hardware problem. Also, I have read that dust in a USB port will wreak havoc on a system so I always vacuum them when cleaning the inside of my case.

Steve

Here's a link the the workstation "Getting Started Guide" on the HP website

Getting Started Guide

In the troubleshooting section, it mentions that there is a special diagnostics partition on the hard drive, accessible during the boot-up sequence. I would run these diagnostics to see if may they will report the cause of the problem.

These older HP Workstations have a lot of alarms/diagnostics built-in. I would guess that the alarms are configured via the BIOS setup. I'm going to guess too that the beep is some kind of alarm, such as processor temp, open case, stalled fan, bad detected voltage level, etc. Hopefully the built in diagnostic software will help you locate the problem. If all else fails, and the machine seems to be working like it 's supposed to, you could always disconnect the speaker . Be sure to follow up to let us know what you find. Good luck!

Tom

I did not get to do that this time and I possibly would not find it again. Last time I tried - it illuded me.

Is this some program that would disappear if operating system is reinstalled?

Last time was when I was trying to install Proe and it would just not accept the licence. It had to be cleaned out and the operating system added anew. Then it allowed me to install Proe.

A further bit of information - I had installed a cracked version of Proe on this computer it worked for a while then at one point it suddenly disappeared along with a fully licenced version on another computer networked together. It seemed to have corroupted the system - and then it was necessary to reinstall the operating system.

That all happened when the computers were connected to the net. Since the last install it allowed me to use the legitimate copy of Proe and after some time developed this beep.

The diagnostic partition would be OK if you just reformatted the hard drive, but if you used FDISK to repartition (or repartioned when reinstalling the OS), you probably wiped it out. If you have the restore CD's for the machine, they also have a copy of the Diagnostics on them. It will be easy to find out if the Diagnostic partition is still there, here' s the instructions from the Users Guide I linked in my earlier post; (If the diag. partition is gone, see the end of the pasted section for using the CD's)

Tom

<begin paste>

Using e-DiagTools for Hardware Problems

NOTE

Run e-DiagTools before contacting HP for warranty service. e-DiagTools

gives you information your support agent needs.

Use e-DiagTools to diagnose hardware-related problems on your HP

Workstation. If any of the Diag LEDs on the front panel of your

Workstation are on, go to "Understanding the Diag LEDs" on page 35

before attempting to use e-DiagTools.

For more information about this utility, refer to the HP x4000

Workstation Technical Reference, available at

www.hp.com/workstations/support

.

HP e-DiagTools is pre-installed on your hard disk drive. Your hard disk

includes a hardware diagnostic partition containing HP e-DiagTools

hardware diagnostic utilities. Do NOT delete this partition.

The HP Workstation Recovery CD-ROMs that came with your

Workstation also contain a copy of e-DiagTools in case you are unable to

start this utility from your hard disk drive.

Starting e-DiagTools from the Hard Drive's Utility

Partition (Recommended Method)

NOTE

This method only works if the diagnostics partition on your hard disk

drive is intact.

1. Start or restart your Workstation.

2. Press function key F10 when you see the message "Press F10 to enter

HP Utility Partition or any other key to proceed."

3. Select the option to run e-DiagTools hardware diagnostics.

Troubleshooting

Using e-DiagTools for Hardware Problems

38 Chapter 2

Starting e-DiagTools from the CD-ROM

Use this method if for any reason you are unable to start this utility from

the hard disk drive partition.

1. Insert the CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive.

2. Restart the Workstation. The Workstation should boot from the

CD-ROM rather than the hard drive.

3. Select the option to run the hardware diagnostics.

NOTE

If you are unable to boot from your CD-ROM drive, restart your

Workstation and press F12 to change the system boot order. You can also

change the boot order from the Setup utility (see "Configuring Your

Workstation" on page 19). Check the Boot device settings to ensure that

your Workstation can boot from the CD-ROM.

You've been BAD refer to post #18, turn off the beep

1. In Device Manager click View and click "Show hidden devices"
2. This should make "Non-Plug and Play Drivers" visible in Device Manager.
3. Expand Non-Plug and Play Drivers by clicking the plus and double-click Beep.
4. Within the "Beep properties" window click the Driver tab.
5. Under the driver tab if you wish to temporarily disable this device click the Stop button. If you wish to permanently disable this device under the Startup Type select Disabled.

Tried turning it off. It did not stop the beep.

I am sorry that You still cannot locate problem, unless You already have located it when turning HD off. So if You can afford it, buy new HD and reinstall OS on it. Actually the moment You take old HD off and boot from WINDOWS CD (did You try to do it? That You can do even with old HD still connected, and there is no need to reinstall OS, just to see if noise is stopped!) You would know if old HD is source of noise or it is OS problem, but in my experience beep is always announcing hardware problem, unless there is some kind of virus that is doing it, so try to ignore noise and check HD for viruses.........

Yeah, that was idea! I searched WEB for >>Beep virus<< and found severall such exist! Better try this Yourself!

But then, if it is real hardware problem and HD is crashed, You would endanger all your data that You may want to preserve, if running test for viruses on damaged HD......

I am sorry that I cannot take a look at Your machine personally, as usually there is something quite obvious to me and invisible for owner :-))

Anyhow, if beep disappear with new HD, then You may be sure it is HD problem one way or another, so transfer Your data onto new HD an trash old one, it is more expensive to try to repair HD or dangerous to use it even if reformatted, and certainly it is not worth time You spend on troubleshooting as surely You have more important work to do.........

But, if beep is present even with new HD connected instead of old, then I would say PS is damaged, but I never saw PS with speaker built in..........

Therefore, as I already recommended, try to locate exactly from where beep is coming, if it could be called >>beep<< and not >>scratching noise<< :-((

All the best,

Marijan Pollak

I am familiar with HD crashes - it is not that. I will try to get a bootable disc and try that.

Original Windows installation CD is bootable, just You have to change boot sequence in BIOS so first boot go from CD drive, if bootable CD is found in there.........

How about viruses? Some are out as they dont produce continuous Beep, but then I did not study them all.........

Did You try to locate exact source of sound?

Is there any difference in sound if computer box is open or completely closed?

You mentioned disappearance of files, was there any other beside that cracked program original installation? Sometimes authors protect their programs from unauthorized copying by setting nasty protection of protection, so if one protection is removed or altered then another start wrecking files and even HD itself, spreading viruses and generally do all damage they can............

Hello ddhanjal,

Computer never stops beeping or has solid beep.

When a computer is first booting and continuously beeps or never stops beeping this is often either a keyboard related issue or an indication that the computer is not passing the POST.

Keyboard or other non POST issue

If the computer appears to be working normally (you have a display and it's booting) apart from the constant beeping or solid beep it's likely you're encountering a keyboard related issue or system case issue.

Keyboard has a stuck key

A stuck key or a keyboard that has failed can cause the computer to beep abnormally.

• Turn off the computer and temporarily disconnect the computer keyboard and turn on the computer. If the beeping does not occur when the computer keyboard is disconnected it is likely that a key is stuck or that the keyboard is bad. Slapping the back of a keyboard to dislodge any dust, dirt, or hair may help ensure there are no stuck keys on the keyboard.

Computer has a password

Some computers have the capability of having a BIOS keyboard password. This password will sometimes cause the computer to beep and the keyboard not to work. To determine if this is the case look at the keyboard LEDs (Num Lock / Caps Lock / Scroll Lock) if these are flashing continuously the computer has a password.

System Chassis alarm

A beeping or buzzing tone can also be caused by the system chassis alarm also known as the intruder alarm when the system case is removed. Verify that the beeping or buzzing noise does not also occur when the computer is off. If this is the case attempt to remove and cover of the case and then put the case back on.

If the computer appears to be working normally (you have a display and it's booting) apart from the constant beeping or solid beep it's likely you're encountering a keyboard related issue or system case issue.

Hi wire,

GA to you sir.

The Keyboard mention is good. I knew about it, and other plug and play divices like USB keys etc, but the keyboard note I have seen only once before.

It is no problem to check as if you have a wireless keyboard like I do, you will need a 'ps2' (sp2)' type wired keyboard to work in the BIOS anyway.

Take care

I agree that sometimes stuck keyboard can make racket, but this sounds like string of the >>Bip<< sounds, like very fast and regular hitting on high tone piano key, not like one continous sound that is described, but then, perhaps description was not so good as it has to be... Yes, that would also explain 20 second delay in start of sound also.

Now I am curious if our coleague has finaly found true reason for appearance of sound, so I ask him to report what it was that caused this sound, so we can see who was closest to corect determination of cause :-))

That is more important then getting GA, that we have helped him, and then GA may come to one who was correct in diagnosing real reason for noise, and from all of us who were trying to help!

Have checked that all fans work. The system battery OK.

Inside cleaned as well as I could. Ram chips seated. The beep comes in about 1min after start up not 20s as I reported.

Processor seated OK although I did not remove it to ensure.

Removed power off the Disc Drives and it stopped short of loading operating system saying 'operating system not found' BUT no beep even after about 5min when I switched it off.

Also tried removing the SCSI cable and same thing 'operating system not found' and no beep

So I guess it may not hardware fault but problem with operating system?

Did you try to run the utilities I mentioned in my earlier post? (#17)

If there was a temperature alarm, there is a good chance it might not sound when there is not operating system running. The processor is not doing any work, so it will not heat up like it will once the OS is running, and the power supply would not be loaded as heavily either.

Considering your recent experience, not getting the beep when the OS is not running, I wonder if it will sound off when you run the diagnostics.

One way to eliminate the OS or a program that runs on startup would be to boot and run the machine on of the Linux distributions that are available. If you can get access to a Linux bootable CD, that would be a good test. Do you have any friends/coworkers that are very computer literate? Keep us posted, it's an interesting mystery! At least it's interesting to us "nerd" types.

Tom

Where does the beep originate from, is it the speaker? or from a component? (it could be the switching power supply)

Hi guys,

I have been out of circulation for about a year due to family problems overseas.

Since being back - I have found the problem. The computer is configured in raid and one of the sectors on one drive 'has been corroupted'. The adaptec card (raid controller) has a beeper on it and it is that producing the sound.

I changed the configuration to one drive (using new disc drive) and using the recovery disc reinstalled the system and it is working fine now. I have not tried to see which of the two original drives was the problem and do not even know whether I can check that by some change of configuration?

Anyway I am not sure the raid system helps or hinders - caused no end of bother to me and need some technology to find out where the problem on the disc is and then, as there is plenty of disc space, direct the drive to use different sectors! May be the operating system (windows 2000 professional) is not advanced enough to cope with that.