Windows 7 Major Beeps at Startup

Back, again [wish I wasn't]. Ever since 9th August, I've noticed my laptop would continuously beep at startup. First it would turn on and go directly to the Boot Manager [which it never did before] and ask which operating system I wanted to run. "Windows 7 [recovery]" is the only option available. [FYI, my laptop was upgraded to Windows 7 from Vista]. Once I would select that, then the laptop would go to the "Starting Windows" screen..and the annoying beeps would start. I've tried counting the beeps, but there are so many and there are no pauses between them..just back-to-back beeps. I am able to boot to safe mode with no issues.

Any aid would be appreciated. Sorry if I'm posting to the wrong forum, but I had no idea what category this would fall under.

^_^

 

This could be caused by several things: overheating, bad hard drive, bad memory, bad power (battery is failing or has failed, the charger is failing or has failed, internal power circuit is failing or has failed).

BUT - you say you can boot to a desktop in 'Safe Mode'. This is bizarre. Normally, numerous beeps at startup (or when powering on) are caused by a fairly serious hardware failure as I mention just above. However, since the PC does boot in 'Safe Mode', it confuses the issue A LOT! On a functional PC, download and burn the Ultimate Boot CD. It's a CD full of diagnostics; run a hard drive diagnostic (as appropriate for the manufacturer of your hard drive; if unsure, use the Hitachi/IBM advanced test); and run a memory diagnostic (I use the Windows Memory Diagnostic and press "T" for the extended tests, and I run at least 3 passes; it will take HOURS so be patient). Before running these tests, it's probably a good idea to use an air compressor or some canned air to blow out the fans and heat sinks (this is a bit tricky on a laptop) to make sure that a build-up of crud or a failing fan isn't the cause. I have worked on laptops that acted all crazy with the beeps and video artifacts until the fans/heatsinks were cleaned of pet hair and dust.....

 

It could be a stuck key...with computer off press firmly on each key and see if that does it..

 

@ a_cup: that's actually a really good thought! Laptop keys stick fairly easily and would result in crazy beeps . . . but it doesn't explain normal operation in 'Safe Mode', but my ideas don't either . . .

:confused

 

Yeah I thought it was weird to boot in safe mode too. It's a laptop by the way, not a desktop. If it matters, [I don't know if it doesn't] the key for the number "Six" no longer functions..in fact it stopped functioning about 4 or 5 days ago. No matter how hard I press. I've even popped the key off and cleaned under it with compressed air to get the crumbs out :-o [yes, I know I shouldn't eat near a computer..but who can resist cookies!]

I've also taken the compressed air, opened up the laptop from the bottom, and cleaned out all of the dust from the fan, near the motherboard [as safely as possibly], and the speakers. I'm guessing my next option is to pop off all the keys and clean under those too.

Any reason as to why the Boot Manager keeps popping up? It's only since THAT started happening that the beeps would start. I'm looking at "System Configuration" right now...what does "Make all boot settings permanent" do if I check that box? Will it stop the black Boot Manager screen from coming? Also, what's "No GUI Boot"?

Thanks again in advance!

 

Very important as the number keys are also your function keys...

tapping F6 during boot will take you to the boot manager...

 

Shot in the dark but do you still get the beeps if you first physically disconnect all peripherals?

 

@ a_cup, yes I know TAPPING F[six] will take me to boot manager..but I'm not touching anything. I literally just power on the laptop and it automatically goes to the TOSHIBA screen, then the black screen that says "Boot Manager: please select which OS you would like to start" comes up. I'm not touching anything for that to come up, and it only started doing it a few days ago. I want it to stop.

@Earthling: I have not gone as far as to disconnect them. If it were a simple desktop, I wouldn't hesitate to, but being as it's a laptop and the wiring is different, I am not 100% comfortable with doing it.

 

I'm only suggesting you unplug any external USB devices or any other wire connected bits and pieces, and remove any cards from card readers.

 

@Earthling: oh okay. Well that's simple then. There are no cards in any of the card readers [I have two] and USB drives are disconnected...still beeps though.

I switched to using my desktop computer to type on this forum..since I'm kind of terrified of the beeping on the laptop

 

If the function key that brings you to boot manager is stuck it would bring you to boot manager without tapping it...Just a suggestion...


I would follow dlb's suggestion and run diagnostic test...

 

Um..okay I'm trying to run the diagnostic test, but I'm confused. I've downloaded from the link I was given by dlb, but it's nothing but a bunch of folders. There's no application in it. In the folders, there are files that are .lst .cfg C32 files, GZ and CFG files. What exactly would I be running from those... :/ I don't see any files to mount.

 

The download comes as a .ISO file. This is what we call an "image file", not to be confused with a graphic image or picture. It's an 'image' of a full CD - basically, it's the entire contents of a bootable CD (including boot sector) in a single file. It CANNOT be burned as a std CD. DO NOT extract it. Just about every burning program has an option to "create disc from image file" or "burn image to CD" or something similar. Personally, I use ImgBurn to burn ISO images (it will burn just about every image format including NRG, BIN, IMG, and others). Using ImgBurn: install and launch it - I've attached some screen shots below to illustrate how to use ImgBurn to burn an ISO.... in the 2nd shot, I say to use 4x or 8x or 16x to burn the ISO file; ideally, you want to use the slowest speed possible. Most newer CD/DVD burners will not burn a CD slower than 8x, and some won't go slower than 16x; the idea is to use the slowest speed possible for burning any ISO file. Slower burns end up with more reliable data. This seems to affect ISO burns, DVD movies (like VOBs and IFOs), and CD audio (not MP3 but true CD audio) much more than std data or MP3 burns.

 

Yes, I know how to burn/mount. What I'm saying is that I mounted and there's nothing there but folders within folders..within folders...within folders and then files that either A) cannot be opened because there's no program to open them B) are just word documents C) are actual images [and not the mounting kind...I mean ACTUAL "take a picture" images] or D) Web pages. There is no application for me to run for the diagnostic test to begin.

I also tried burning to a CD and doing it that way...same thing.

 

Yeah - you can't mount it. It's been named the "Ultimate BOOT CD" for a reason.... you have to BOOT to the CD....

LOL

 

hahaha okay got it: slow moment. okay I'll put in the one I already burned to a CD, boot from it/run it and report back once it finishes/finds anything.

 

-____________-

WELL! My laptop refuses to boot from the CD. Never had this issue before [since I've had to do a Windows Recovery about five months back]. The .iso is *definitely* burned onto the CD..I've tested it on the desktop computer and it works. My laptop is just being stubborn. I've tried several times.

Idk if it's relevant, but the beeping starts right at the "Starting Windows" screen. There aren't any pauses, long and short etc. It's just continuous beeping..not one long beep..but continuous beep-beep-beep-beep etc and there are no pauses and it's indefinite beeping. I let it beep for 2 minutes straight before my ears hurt and I turned it off.

My laptop WILL boot [without beeping] once in a while, but the black Boot Manager screen continues to come up [and no it's not from a sticky key..I've cleaned them all and under it] so that is really starting to annoy me because I'm tired of seeing the boot manager screen, and it's not my normal boot manager screen.

Is it possible that the beeping can come from malware? I did have a virus or trojan that I thought I cleaned up literally right before all of this started happening, because before then, my laptop ran like it was out of the box...

 

IMO, malware is not the cause. I have dealt with TONS of malware, and never had it cause beeps. Since the UBCD won't boot on the laptop, you might try the "stand-alone" diagnostic directly from your hard drive maker. They all have 'em (except for Toshiba hard drives which is odd). If you can't locate the stand-alone diagnostic for your hard drive, the IBM/Hitachi Fitness Test works with all hard drive makes and models. Diagnostics for all other makes can be found here at Major Geeks, or at the drive maker's web site. Also, a stand-alone RAM diagnostic can be downloaded from this link. Others can be found here at Major Geeks (MemTest86+ is excellent). Beeping is almost always caused by some type of hardware problem: failing HD or faulty RAM (as we've discussed), thermal or overheating problems, or power/battery problems. Try running the laptop plugged in to the wall (using the AC adpater obviously ) but with the battery removed. If you don't get the beeps, then we know it is likely the battery or the power circuit on the motherboard; if it runs OK w/o beeps using ONLY the battery (not plugged in), then we know it's either the power circuit or the AC adapter.....

(when running any diagnostic, always use the "extended" or "advanced" tests instead of the "quick" or "short" or "basic" tests; I have seen many hard drives pass a "quick" test, but fail miserably when running the "advanced" tests - these diagnostics for RAM and HDs can take a VERY long time, running 3 passes of an extended RAM test can take over 4 hours; full HD tests can take 3-4 hours too, maybe longer - patience is REQUIRED! Also, some RAM diagnostics will appear to lock up, in 6+ years of running diagnostics on RAM, I have NEVER had a test truly lock up, it just looks that way sometimes, so be patient; get a 6 pack and a pizza)

 

Yes, I always keep it plugged into the AC adaptor..well, not *always*, once in a while I use the battery just to keep the "juices flowing" through the battery, but 9/10 times my laptop is plugged in. Nothing faulty with the AC adaptor that I can see.

I'll try those links you gave me for the stand-alone approach. Although, I have a Toshiba -_- haha. I'll report back if it works and/or what info I'm giving.

 

As I suggested above, try running it with the battery removed but plugged in (obviously, unplug it before removing the battery, then plug it back in ).

 

Okay well none of those seemed to work. Since I have a "newer" model of Toshiba, I was unaware that Toshiba had a memory diagnostic test already on this laptop...so naturally, I ran it.

And it freaked me out. It asked if it was okay to restart the laptop in order to run the test..I said/clicked yes. Shutdown etc..upon reboot, I got the Toshiba screen [and learned that my bios is Insyde h2O] and then instant black screen (no boot manager) and LOUD annoying beeps. I counted 15 back-to-back beeps before I freaked out and turned it off :-o

Does this mean it's a memory issue? I hope not..swear this thing was fine before the stupid virus..

 

Curious as to whether this could be a temperature alarm going off...If you are still having the problem you could test if it is by going into BIOS and turning it off..