Try moving the system to a different location to eliminate the EMI possibility on the electrical outlet. You should also run the system on battery alone and AC power alone to see if the power source is involved in the cause. If the noise is present in both cases, then the motherboard will likely need to be changed. You can have this done by contacting Dell Support.
It's not EMI or the motherboard. It happens in any location and I have tried every power source scenario. Dell already replaced the unit once for the same problem, yet it has done it again. I think that something that I am installing as I "build" the machine is causing a conflict with some hardware. I am not positive what software it is. Dell Tech Support helped walk me through MSCONFIG startup options to isolate the problem, but it was ultimately inconclusive.
The best way to describe the sound is like a high-pitch pulse that is unlike anything that would come out of a speaker. It seems to be an electronic sound that only occurs when I am on [any] wireless network - be it at home or the University.
I experience the exact same problem with my new X300. There is this high pitched "morse code" originating from just around the USB port and Delete key on the right side of the computer.
I have tried running on battery alone. I have tried switching outlet. I have tried turning off the wireless radio. None is these measures made any difference.
When I deactivate the built-in Bluetooth radio, the sound stops for about 40 seconds. Then it starts all over again. The same thing happens when I reactivate the Bluetooth radio.
Every time the hard drive is working continuously, the sound stops temporarily. As soon as the hard drive is finished, the sound is back.
There must be some sort of hardware problem here. Please advice.
The sound is definitely linked to MSN Messenger. When this program is not running, the sound is still there but low-pitched. As soon as MSN Messenger is started (Messenger 6.1, Plus 2.52.007) the sound changes into being high-pitched.
Hmmm. Interesting that our posts have been viewed so many times, yet Dell isn't really participating in the discussion. I can only hope that they are researching it and that we aren't being ignored. Glad to hear that someone else is in the same conumndrum as me ;)
It's a bizarre fault. Your description is exactly the same as mine. It's definitely related to internet software, since the problem disappears when all internet related programs are quit. But there is another way that usually stops it - tell me if it works for you: Use Tsk Manager to "End Process" on qttask.exe It's apparently a Quicktime utility, but stops the beeping. I have noticed that it will occassionally come back a few minutes later.
And there is another oddity that is related. Tell my if this is what you mean by the lower frequency sound that occurs. I have a very faint scratching sound, from the same general area, that sounds like a needle scratching very lightly on a chalkboard. I don't think it's the HDD, since it's coming from the same area as the beeping. I think the HDD is under the right palm area, right? Again, the crazy thing is that the unit is dead silent when anything is plugged into one of the USB ports or is on the mediabase.
As I reported earlier in the thread, Dell replaced my first unit for the same reason and this one acts the same. You have the same problem, so it's not a "lemon" issue. I have been dealing with the problem by using a wireless mouse that has a little RF transmitter that plugs into the USB. I hope to learn of a fix to this problem, but I'm so impressed with the machine otherwise that I am willing to put up with the USB fix until a solution is found.
Please keep this thread going, perhaps others will join in as they realize that they are not alone.
DELL, IF YOU ARE READING THIS PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION OR AT LEAST SHOW US THAT THERE IS A CORPORATE PULSE AND THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON IT!
I would send this unit back for a full refund. This is a new PC and has been replaced once already and the new unit has the same problem. This to me would be totally unacceptable, no matter how well the rest of the unit works. So you would keep a new car that had something wrong with it from day one and pay full price for it.
With that type of attitude, I can live with this problem, don't expect Dell to fix it.
Yes it is strange that Dell does not actively try to solve this problem. However I found a solution on the Community pages, more specifically the second post from RS66 on
It seems as if the built-in Bluetooth module is receiving power from the usb hub, and when the hub is powered down, the Bluetooth module starts to emit this sound.
I would not call the solution permament, but at least it stops the annoying sound. I will call Dell later today and complain anyway, and have them replace my unit.
Thanks for the tip - I couldn't find any other threads on this topic when I statred this one, but now I see that others have the same problem. It doesn't seem like getting another unit will fix the problem (I already tried and both units produce the sound) so I wonder if DELL is working on a firmware update or a downloadable patch?
I don't have Bluetooth installed in my machine, so I'm inclined to believe that it's more USB related - but that Bluetooth is intergrated into the same hardware.
Thanks for the link to RS66 comments. I am in the midst of final exams right now and will have to defer the fix until winter break - next week. Don't want to start messing with settings until I have turned in all papers! Until then, I look forward to hearing what DELL tells you when you call to complain! I really hope they step in and troubleshoot this problem since it affects so many people.
Just wanted to let you know that my problem was resolved, but from the help and advice of other users. DELL did virtually nothing to resolve this issue which is apparently a problem that many x300 users are experiencing. You posted a quick response to my post, but the advice was way off base and there was never any follow up after I attempted to clarify. It has been a month now and DELL had no input on the matter. So I want to thank other users who contributed to this discussion and who ultimately discoverd the fix.
...accidently hit "submit", so this is a continuation......
I would hope that tell takes this solution and incorporates it into their internal "knowledge base" so that they can offer quick and sound advise to users who call in this problem on their new x300. In a nutshell, I am delighted with my new laptop, especially now that it works, but I am not impressed with DELL commitment to help resolve customer issues.
Just thought I'd add my input on this one, since I had a similar problem that led me to this forum. Maybe others have had the same prob...
I was getting the same annoying chirping sound from my Dell Latitude CPiR after I installed Windows XP... or so I thought. It turns out the sound I was hearing was coming from my laptop speakers.
Anyway, after trying to remove a bunch of programs that I thought were doing it, I hit on an idea - take the stinking network PCMCIA card out. Sure enough, that was it. Too bad I wasn't smart enough to try that first.
Anyway, if anybody knows of a way to turn off the sytem sound that is created when a PCMCIA card is installed in XP, I'd be grateful.
DELL-BobT
3.1K Posts
0
November 14th, 2003 12:00
eilevin,
Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
Try moving the system to a different location to eliminate the EMI possibility on the electrical outlet. You should also run the system on battery alone and AC power alone to see if the power source is involved in the cause. If the noise is present in both cases, then the motherboard will likely need to be changed. You can have this done by contacting Dell Support.
eilevin
8 Posts
0
November 14th, 2003 14:00
Thanks for the quick reply! Here's more info....
It's not EMI or the motherboard. It happens in any location and I have tried every power source scenario. Dell already replaced the unit once for the same problem, yet it has done it again. I think that something that I am installing as I "build" the machine is causing a conflict with some hardware. I am not positive what software it is. Dell Tech Support helped walk me through MSCONFIG startup options to isolate the problem, but it was ultimately inconclusive.
The best way to describe the sound is like a high-pitch pulse that is unlike anything that would come out of a speaker. It seems to be an electronic sound that only occurs when I am on [any] wireless network - be it at home or the University.
Any more ideas?
aslakege
3 Posts
0
December 6th, 2003 08:00
Hi
I experience the exact same problem with my new X300. There is this high pitched "morse code" originating from just around the USB port and Delete key on the right side of the computer.
I have tried running on battery alone. I have tried switching outlet. I have tried turning off the wireless radio. None is these measures made any difference.
When I deactivate the built-in Bluetooth radio, the sound stops for about 40 seconds. Then it starts all over again. The same thing happens when I reactivate the Bluetooth radio.
Every time the hard drive is working continuously, the sound stops temporarily. As soon as the hard drive is finished, the sound is back.
There must be some sort of hardware problem here. Please advice.
--
Best regards,
Aslak Ege
aslakege
3 Posts
0
December 6th, 2003 09:00
The sound is definitely linked to MSN Messenger. When this program is not running, the sound is still there but low-pitched. As soon as MSN Messenger is started (Messenger 6.1, Plus 2.52.007) the sound changes into being high-pitched.
I have no idea what could be causing this.
--
Best regards
Aslak Ege
eilevin
8 Posts
0
December 7th, 2003 02:00
Aslak,
Hmmm. Interesting that our posts have been viewed so many times, yet Dell isn't really participating in the discussion. I can only hope that they are researching it and that we aren't being ignored. Glad to hear that someone else is in the same conumndrum as me ;)
It's a bizarre fault. Your description is exactly the same as mine. It's definitely related to internet software, since the problem disappears when all internet related programs are quit. But there is another way that usually stops it - tell me if it works for you: Use Tsk Manager to "End Process" on qttask.exe It's apparently a Quicktime utility, but stops the beeping. I have noticed that it will occassionally come back a few minutes later.
And there is another oddity that is related. Tell my if this is what you mean by the lower frequency sound that occurs. I have a very faint scratching sound, from the same general area, that sounds like a needle scratching very lightly on a chalkboard. I don't think it's the HDD, since it's coming from the same area as the beeping. I think the HDD is under the right palm area, right? Again, the crazy thing is that the unit is dead silent when anything is plugged into one of the USB ports or is on the mediabase.
As I reported earlier in the thread, Dell replaced my first unit for the same reason and this one acts the same. You have the same problem, so it's not a "lemon" issue. I have been dealing with the problem by using a wireless mouse that has a little RF transmitter that plugs into the USB. I hope to learn of a fix to this problem, but I'm so impressed with the machine otherwise that I am willing to put up with the USB fix until a solution is found.
Please keep this thread going, perhaps others will join in as they realize that they are not alone.
DELL, IF YOU ARE READING THIS PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION OR AT LEAST SHOW US THAT THERE IS A CORPORATE PULSE AND THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON IT!
Eric
Ed C
2 Intern
•
3.2K Posts
0
December 7th, 2003 16:00
I would send this unit back for a full refund. This is a new PC and has been replaced once already and the new unit has the same problem. This to me would be totally unacceptable, no matter how well the rest of the unit works. So you would keep a new car that had something wrong with it from day one and pay full price for it.
With that type of attitude, I can live with this problem, don't expect Dell to fix it.
aslakege
3 Posts
0
December 8th, 2003 06:00
Eilevin,
Yes it is strange that Dell does not actively try to solve this problem. However I found a solution on the Community pages, more specifically the second post from RS66 on
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=latit_general&message.id=32627&page=2
It seems as if the built-in Bluetooth module is receiving power from the usb hub, and when the hub is powered down, the Bluetooth module starts to emit this sound.
I would not call the solution permament, but at least it stops the annoying sound. I will call Dell later today and complain anyway, and have them replace my unit.
--
Aslak
eilevin
8 Posts
0
December 8th, 2003 14:00
Thanks for the tip - I couldn't find any other threads on this topic when I statred this one, but now I see that others have the same problem. It doesn't seem like getting another unit will fix the problem (I already tried and both units produce the sound) so I wonder if DELL is working on a firmware update or a downloadable patch?
I don't have Bluetooth installed in my machine, so I'm inclined to believe that it's more USB related - but that Bluetooth is intergrated into the same hardware.
Thanks for the link to RS66 comments. I am in the midst of final exams right now and will have to defer the fix until winter break - next week. Don't want to start messing with settings until I have turned in all papers! Until then, I look forward to hearing what DELL tells you when you call to complain! I really hope they step in and troubleshoot this problem since it affects so many people.
eilevin
8 Posts
0
December 14th, 2003 14:00
Just wanted to let you know that my problem was resolved, but from the help and advice of other users. DELL did virtually nothing to resolve this issue which is apparently a problem that many x300 users are experiencing. You posted a quick response to my post, but the advice was way off base and there was never any follow up after I attempted to clarify. It has been a month now and DELL had no input on the matter. So I want to thank other users who contributed to this discussion and who ultimately discoverd the fix.
If DELL does anything
eilevin
8 Posts
0
December 14th, 2003 14:00
...accidently hit "submit", so this is a continuation......
I would hope that tell takes this solution and incorporates it into their internal "knowledge base" so that they can offer quick and sound advise to users who call in this problem on their new x300. In a nutshell, I am delighted with my new laptop, especially now that it works, but I am not impressed with DELL commitment to help resolve customer issues.
oldcivic
1 Message
0
January 6th, 2004 17:00
I was getting the same annoying chirping sound from my Dell Latitude CPiR after I installed Windows XP... or so I thought. It turns out the sound I was hearing was coming from my laptop speakers.
Anyway, after trying to remove a bunch of programs that I thought were doing it, I hit on an idea - take the stinking network PCMCIA card out. Sure enough, that was it. Too bad I wasn't smart enough to try that first.
Anyway, if anybody knows of a way to turn off the sytem sound that is created when a PCMCIA card is installed in XP, I'd be grateful.