Random Beep News

OK. This may be premature, but for those just purchasing a laptop or nearing the end of their warranties, I thought it best to post now.

I came across some threads regarding the beep problem being solved by replacing the Hitachi HDD. I had (have) the Hitachi HDD. I got Dell to replace it. They sent a refurbished unit. That was last Wednesday. Since then, I have not heard a single beep/screech. Still a Hitachi but the problem seems to be solved. None of the "disable beep" suggestions worked (all of them appreciated, though--I learned a lot).

If it all goes south, I will post here--I hope not to do that!

If your laptop is randomly beeping, call Dell, request a new HDD.

Thanks, folks!

 

Also:

Just to let you know, I pulled the old HDD, stuck in the new one and had some strange results with it loading. It went to black screen and seemed stuck. So, I turned the PC off via power button and re-started. It went through the restore process and came back with my original configuration. (I.e., not the normal Dell recovery.)

Once I was satisfied the new HDD was NOT beeping, I reinstalled the old HDD and recovered it to remove my personal data, Then I reinserted the new HDD and it booted up right back where I left off with it. No problem.

Any questions, I'll be glad to help.

 

I've never heard of an HDD beeping. I've heard of system beeps and the network card beeping, but this is a first for the HDD.

Can you tell us how you or dell determined it was the HDD that was beeping?

 

Well, the HDD is not beeping--just sounds like it. I believe it is actually screeching when parts make contact. This is something I came across on a thread somewhere in my many hours of Googling. Someone (down under, maybe, or maybe it was asia) had posted about their HITACHI HDD screeching/beeping. Once theirs was replaced, the problem went away.

So, that was my next tack on my course to a solution. I called dell yet again and they wanted me to pull the modem, pull the battery and pull the DVD writer to try to narrow down the problem. I told the lady I had been down this path and that I had heard the screech come from the HDD (I had, as subjective as that may seem) and that my request was that they send me a replacement HDD or maybe I should call my credit card company and see about a refund. On hold for a minute and then they told me they were sending another HDD (a refurb, they didn't say that; but, I don't care as long as the screech/beep stays away).

Amost a week now and no beep/screech. Fingers still crossed.

I pushed Dell a little because I am nearing a trip to the beach and I want my laptop with me--not missing parts and me trying to diagnose what's wrong. And, I HAVE been in contact with them from the beginning on this matter.

Their support is worth what I paid for it ($0.00) and maybe a little more. At least they offered some suggestions to try. Albeit, the hard work was mine and thus the solution.

To quote Holmes:

"By the method of exclusion, I had arrived at this result, for no other hypothesis would meet the facts."

and:

"How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?"

Meaning:

I eliminated every possible system speaker sound/setting and every system beep and every notification alert and everything else I could find that may have triggered any kind of sound or alert; even turned off the laptop speakers. I removed the cordless USB mouse and its software. I recovered the entire computer.

After each of these attempts, the beep/screech was back within hours at most.

Thanks, again, for all the help and suggestions!