IBM Thinkpad R31 wont stop beeping

[billyboy]

So we have an IBM Thinkpad R31 which beeps from the second it powers up until it is shut down, I have done a fresh install of Windows which didnt help. Re flashed the bios that didnt help.

Its strange as it sounds like a bios beep code error but the system works fine apart from the beeping. It can be muted by pressing the button on the keyboard. The pattern of the beeps are just 3 beeps, pause 3 beeps etc. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[grayfoxcomputing]

try this link:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-39706.html

It appears that 3 beeps could be a thermal issue. Maybe the CPU is getting hot, a fan is clogged, etc.

Let us know.

 

[paristotle]

Here's the official chart to the beep code meanings. http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-39706.html
They are not very definitive. It does indicate a post error. That's strange since you have been able to reinstall the OS. Check your peripherals and if you find nothing wrong with the machine. Then try this:
Go into your device manager, go to View-> Show Hidden Devices, and then under Non Plug and Play Devices, choose Beep. Under Driver, change Startup to Disabled.

 

[billyboy]

The fans are clean and i replaced the thermal paste it runs cool, il try the device manager fix and report back

 

[Saddle]

Can you unplug the keyboard and plug in an external just to make sure it's not a stuck key?

Just a thought... although that sure sounds like a post error... However the post codes quit when POST is done. That's what made me think of a stuck key...

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

I've had bad RAM make machines beep at start-up and still boot, but I suppose if there is one good chip and one faulty one it might be possible the machine would keep beeping. Usually there has always been more than one chip installed anytime I've seen this.

 

[billyboy]

Can you unplug the keyboard and plug in an external just to make sure it's not a stuck key?

Just a thought... although that sure sounds like a post error... However the post codes quit when POST is done. That's what made me think of a stuck key...

I was thinking stuck key at first too, it is one of them weird keyboards with the power button on it, so if I remove the keyboard I cant turn it on...


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KEYBOARD-IBM-THINKPAD-R30-R31-02K6044-02K6045-CG89-LS-/330494487308?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item4cf301ab0c That is the keyboard it has.

 

[billyboy]

I've had bad RAM make machines beep at start-up and still boot, but I suppose if there is one good chip and one faulty one it might be possible the machine would keep beeping. Usually there has always been more than one chip installed anytime I've seen this.

There is only one stick of RAM in it, it has passed memtest with no errors!

 

[paristotle]

Had a very similar problem this week and it turned out to be a faulty keyboard.

 

[billyboy]

Had a very similar problem this week and it turned out to be a faulty keyboard.

Just tried a new keyboard, still got the same problem...

Sent from my HTC Wildfire using Tapatalk

 

[paristotle]

So you've ruled out BIOS, RAM, CPU, and keyboard. What's left? Is there any weirdness going on with the LEDs? Battery logic is a big part of the hardware on these laptops. Maybe try booting it on the adaptor only without the the battery installed to see if the battery is involved in this?
Even though it sounds like a POST error Thinkpad POST errors often come with a text error message/code. At this point I would pull the Ram to try and force a post error just to see if the code will also be visible. Maybe for se reason the code is not displaying or isn't visible.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

There is only one stick of RAM in it, it has passed memtest with no errors!

3 days now and still haven't figured it out? Did you even try another RAM chip to be 100% sure? Other than that its fairly simple. Take it apart and disconnect things (except speakers) until it stops or vis versa and strip it down to nothing and add things one piece at a time.

 

[Martyn]

3 days now and still haven't figured it out? Did you even try another RAM chip to be 100% sure? Other than that its fairly simple. Take it apart and disconnect things (except speakers) until it stops or vis versa and strip it down to nothing and add things one piece at a time.

+1 there is no substitute for replacing the ram. You should have spare sticks around as 'tools'.

 

[Countryside]

Ear plugs?
Remove the beeper?