My computer beeps whether power on or off... why??

I have an old (maybe, ancient?) Dell Optiplex GX1. This afternoon it
mysteriously began beeping. It beeps with single beeps about every 5
seconds. There is no pattern to the beeps except that it is regular.
I turned the computer off and it continued to beep in the same
manner. I haven't done anything unusual with the computer, so I don't
think it was because of any change I instigated. My initial thought
was that it is a warning about a dying battery, like with a battery
powered home fire alarm. I would appreciate any ideas about this.

Thanks, Al

On Jul 20, 4:36 pm, alkon <al...@hal-pc.org> wrote:
> I have an old (maybe, ancient?) Dell Optiplex GX1. This afternoon it
> mysteriously began beeping. It beeps with single beeps about every 5
> seconds. There is no pattern to the beeps except that it is regular.
> I turned the computer off and it continued to beep in the same
> manner. I haven't done anything unusual with the computer, so I don't
> think it was because of any change I instigated. My initial thought
> was that it is a warning about a dying battery, like with a battery
> powered home fire alarm. I would appreciate any ideas about this.
>
> Thanks, Al

It's indeed at the age where the CMOS battery would need to be
replaced (they're only a few dollars, and easy to change, you might as
well). But I've never heard of any computer beeping when powered
down. Maybe you could disconnect the PC speaker and ignore it. (it's
old, and it may die soon anyway, why worry? )


Have you confirment that the beeping IS the computer and not some
other nearby device?

>> I have an old (maybe, ancient?) Dell Optiplex GX1. This afternoon it
>> mysteriously began beeping. It beeps with single beeps about every 5
>> seconds. There is no pattern to the beeps except that it is regular.
>> I turned the computer off and it continued to beep in the same
>> manner. I haven't done anything unusual with the computer, so I don't
>> think it was because of any change I instigated. My initial thought
>> was that it is a warning about a dying battery, like with a battery
>> powered home fire alarm. I would appreciate any ideas about this.

If you pull the plug out of the wall does it continue to beep?

Do you happen to have a UPS?