NP9262 scary BIOS beeps, help?

My machine seems to be running fine, but it is giving these strange bios beeps that are making me think something is critically wrong with my wonderful new machine.

I am doing almost nothing on the machine (usually happens with Firefox the only open process) and I will get a series of long pulse bios beeps. Usually 6, but sometimes 7 or 8. Then they stop, and nothing seems wrong, machine still working fine. Temperature (to the touch) seems absolutely normal. There is no "break" or "pause" between the numbers of pulses to help identify some kind of code, just steady pulsing BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.

They will come in waves. 6 beeps, then a while of normal operation, then 7 or 8 beeps... sometimes the last beep cuts off midway.

As you can imagine this is freaking me out. Can anyone advise? What can I do to figure out and deal with this problem?

Sager NP9262, WinXP, clean new install, PhoenixBIOS.

 

Are you sure it's the bios that's making the noise and not windows?

 

Do the beeps start as soon as the machine is turned on?

Or does it take a while before they start?

 

Ayle: no, not certain, but it sounds like bios style beeps. And it has happened a few times - I look intensely and can see nothing happening in Windows that connects to this beeping.

Wu Jen: no, this is happening in the middle of a windows session, with the machine on and working normally. It seems totally random as to when exactly it happens.

And THANKS MUCH to both of you for the attention!

 

Oh, and it isn't a low battery warning, this machine is plugged in.

 

What are the machines temps? I.e. CPU, GPU? Does it happen after you've been playing games or when?

Are you using max fans? Function + 1

 

Wu Jen: can you advise me how to access gpu / cpu temp controls? I didn't know about fn 1, thanks so much! I have my fans going max now.

It seems to happen after the machine has been on a while, but as I said not doing any heavy lifting - this evening I have only been surfing the web, cpu usage at 1% or so, and it happened.

And please excuse me for being so ignorant...

 

You can download and install Notebook Hardware Control to monitor temps of your CPU etc.

Can you list the specs on your notebook?

Also check this thread...Gophn deserves much applause for writing that up.

Read it and it will help a ton.

From the sound of your problem though, I'm guessing that it's a heat issue. Which is kind of strange my D901C has been one of the coolest running notebooks I've ever had and I've had it for a year now.

Hope that helps!

 

Thank you, Wu Jen, I'll follow up on these links. If the high fan solves it, then it must have been a heat issue, we'll see.

 

You still shouldn't need to have it on max fans though, that speaks of a problem. How old is your notebook? Have you cleaned the fans/vents lately?

 

Here are more specific system specs:

D900C
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
3X local disk non-partitioned Capacity - 232.88 GB
NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX
4 GB RAM

The machine is maybe 3 months old. I checked the fan intake vents and there was a wee bit of lint outside that I've wiped, so the fan ports are now clear. I notice that now, with the fans on high, the air coming out is just slightly warm, much better than previously.

 

I think "ARGH" is having the same problem. Try to contact him and see if he's got some more info on it.
Here are his youtube videos about the beeping issue http://youtube.com/watch?v=_iQImZ0F4ug, http://youtube.com/watch?v=YvXakR-ucyY
and this is his forum profile http://forum.notebookreview.com/member.php?u=76510.

 

Get the latest keyboard controller firmware update. There was another thread earlier on where the OP had the same problem, and it wasn't actual overheating, but problems with the keyboard controller, and the beeps were apparently related to an overfull keyboard buffer.

The reason the problem goes away when you force fans to max is not because you have a heat problem, but because it essentially bypasses the fan-control logic, meaning that the keyboard controller (which is involved in the cooling system because of the fan-control hotkeys) no longer has to worry about reading temps or turning the fans on and off.

The thread where ARGH hashed out the BIOS beeping problem, and ultimately discovered that it was faulty KBC firmware, is this thread. The actual post in which the conclusion is stated that the BIOS beeping was due to faulty KBC firmware was this post:

 

Wow, that is excellent news you guys, thanks so much. It is great to hear this is an easy fix and my $$$ laptop is not critically broken.

All the best to you all, this place rocks!

 

Even better, let us know if it actually works.

 

yes, like what shyster as said, conact your vendor and request for an updated firmware update. i bought my machine through sager direct so my tech support is with them, naturally.

the only difference with your beeps is that you stated they happen even with light usage, like surfing the net. my beeps occured when i was using gpu-intensive applications, like games. but it appears that you are experiencing the same thing i was.

i can email you the fan firmware update, but i highly recommend you contact your vendor for tech support as i will not take any responsability if you want me to email it.

i also want to add that make sure you test the problem by running max fans. if you notice that the beeps never occur with max fans then you definately have the same faulty KBC firmware as i did.

 

i had to actually get my keyboard replaced cause a key was STUCK!... wen i went in windows my writing would scroll to the rite... My right arrow was stuck. Then wen i disconnected my keyboard, the computer worked fine. It might be a stuck key if the new firmware doesnt help. BUT, you MIGHT NOT KNOW! After a while ,your computer will start up and shut down the key thats stuck so it wont function at all. GL

 

I too am having the same problem. only thing is i get it when i play games that is all. I have a np9262. it is a month old and just started this problem i will contact sager and get tech support from them. but none the less great find on figuring out what causes this problem

 

Let us know how it works out for you Meatbomb. Keep us updated.

 

Hello,

Sorry to pop-up so late in. I had the same problem. In my case when I was running the proc at 100 % for long time. The beeps are coming from the internal spekaers, this why he was saying they are BIOS beeps. The problem solved partially wiht the new firmware. Something is geting overheated and it would help to lift the back part of the computer so that the air is circulating easy.

PL

 

A quick update from me. I experimented a bit, and did get the "seven beeps" behaviour again, and only when it was auto fan vs. forced fans.

I have installed the firmware update, and at least so far the problem hasn't returned. So fingers crossed, it's all good now.

Once again I want to thank all of you dedicated guys here, I know exactly where to come to discuss the specifics of this machine next time!!

 

so has the beeping ever returned since the firmware update?

 

I would assume not, but this is a good thing to let people know about since it seems to be semi common amongst NP9262 owners. I bookmarked it for future reference. It would be nice if it could be added to that D901C mega thread and have that stickied though.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=134808
+rep to Wu Jen for that awesome chunk of awesomeness.

 

Nope, it has been fine sailing since then. So it was obviously that old firmware that caused the problem.

Anyone with the "seven beeps" issue - upgrading firmware is the solution.

 

OMG finally i have found someone else with the same problem. however with my problem i have upgraded the bios and changed the KBC firmware and i still get the random beeps.