Macbook Pro 2011 runs perfectly but beeps 4 times every 5 minutes or so...

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Hey there, in a nut shell, I have a 2011 unibody Macbook Pro. I have had zero problems with it until now, it is a 13 inch, running Lion.

When it is on, it will be 4 times (2 mini beeps per beep). It sounds like a cell phone timer or something like that, not actual absurd beeps that happen when there are hardware issues.

If I turn the volume to mute, it takes care of the beeps.


What can do I do here!!!!??? My computer is running at 100% and is perfectly fine minus the beeps!!! The beeps are HIGH pitch.
 

chscag

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The beeps probably have nothing to do with the POST since you can mute them out.

What have you got running in the background? Open your Activity Monitor application from Utilities and look for something that's running that's causing the beeps. Perhaps a timer program or some such?

Another test you can do: Start the machine in Safe mode and see if the same happens. Press and hold the Shift key as soon as you hear the chime. Safe mode disables startup and background activities.
 
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Actually, it's every 2 minutes for me, and the beeps are more like double beeps.

So every two minutes I hear:

beepbeep - beepbeep - beepbeep - beepbeep
 
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Actually, it's every 2 minutes for me, and the beeps are more like double beeps.

So every two minutes I hear:

beepbeep - beepbeep - beepbeep - beepbeep

That's exactly what is happening now for me, it used to be every 5-6 mins now it's every 2-3 at times, but 5-6 at others, its quite random!

When are you going into the apple store? I went in and they had no idea!
 

chscag

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Did you read Post # 4 above? Try what was suggested and let us know.
 

chscag

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OK, guys. If the beeping stopped when in Safe Mode, that tells us it's a program or process that's running in the background (what I suggested to you in my first reply). Now you need to find out which one....

Open your Activity Monitor app and closely watch the processes. See if you can associate the beep, beep, with something that's running. Also make sure all your startup and login items have been shut down.
 
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OK, guys. If the beeping stopped when in Safe Mode, that tells us it's a program or process that's running in the background (what I suggested to you in my first reply). Now you need to find out which one....

Open your Activity Monitor app and closely watch the processes. See if you can associate the beep, beep, with something that's running. Also make sure all your startup and login items have been shut down.

I think mine has stopped now too every since I ran it in safe mode.. I am in now booting regularly with no problems....yet (knock on wood).


If it does come back, how do I know what program it is? That would take forever!

What do you mean startup and login items?
 
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My beeping came back. I'll try finding the program using activity monitor. I'll let you know if I have any luck.
 
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212 AAM Updates Notifier jacksonmclean 0.0 3 9.8 MB Intel
12196 Activity Monitor jacksonmclean 2.2 3 56.7 MB Intel (64 bit)
200 AirPort Base Station Agent jacksonmclean 0.0 3 7.9 MB Intel (64 bit)
275 AppleSpell.service jacksonmclean 0.0 2 12.2 MB Intel (64 bit)
175 com.apple.dock.extra jacksonmclean 0.0 2 34.2 MB Intel (64 bit)
1940 cookied jacksonmclean 0.0 2 2.8 MB Intel (64 bit)
187 DashboardClient jacksonmclean 0.0 6 121.7 MB Intel (64 bit)
269 dbfseventsd jacksonmclean 0.0 1 156 KB Intel
137 distnoted jacksonmclean 0.0 4 5.9 MB Intel (64 bit)
149 Dock jacksonmclean 0.0 6 45.0 MB Intel (64 bit)
209 Dropbox jacksonmclean 0.0 17 22.2 MB Intel
153 Finder jacksonmclean 0.0 11 126.9 MB Intel (64 bit)
152 fontd jacksonmclean 0.0 2 19.7 MB Intel (64 bit)
229 Google Chrome jacksonmclean 0.5 36 153.2 MB Intel
261 Google Chrome Helper jacksonmclean 0.0 5 53.9 MB Intel
12120 Google Chrome Renderer jacksonmclean 0.1 6 133.1 MB Intel
12165 Google Chrome Renderer jacksonmclean 0.2 10 261.0 MB Intel
12179 Google Chrome Renderer jacksonmclean 0.7 6 37.1 MB Intel
12128 Google Chrome Renderer jacksonmclean 0.0 6 33.4 MB Intel
12184 Google Chrome Renderer jacksonmclean 1.1 6 70.9 MB Intel
240 Google Chrome Worker jacksonmclean 0.0 7 32.1 MB Intel
241 Google Chrome Worker jacksonmclean 0.0 7 35.2 MB Intel
195 imagent jacksonmclean 0.0 4 14.1 MB Intel (64 bit)
132 launchd jacksonmclean 0.0 2 2.0 MB Intel (64 bit)
39 loginwindow jacksonmclean 0.0 2 52.5 MB Intel (64 bit)
12154 mdworker jacksonmclean 0.0 4 20.7 MB Intel (64 bit)
12192 mdwrite jacksonmclean 0.0 2 13.1 MB Intel (64 bit)
142 pboard jacksonmclean 0.0 1 2.3 MB Intel (64 bit)
12159 Quick Look UI Helper jacksonmclean 0.0 3 33.5 MB Intel (64 bit)
12124 QuickTime Plug-in 7.7.1 jacksonmclean 0.9 70 98.4 MB Intel
208 SophosUIServer jacksonmclean 0.0 6 9.1 MB Intel
151 SystemUIServer jacksonmclean 0.1 5 65.5 MB Intel (64 bit)
150 talagent jacksonmclean 0.0 2 31.2 MB Intel (64 bit)
190 ubd jacksonmclean 0.0 10 35.4 MB Intel (64 bit)
135 UserEventAgent jacksonmclean 0.0 3 24.5 MB Intel (64 bit)
189 warmd_agent jacksonmclean 0.0 2 6.0 MB Intel (64 bit)
 

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Looks like you're running Sophos - Antivirus software for the Mac is notoriously crappy. I'd suggest uninstalling it first and seeing if that resolves the issue.
 
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Same exact problem here. Gonna ask the people at the Mac repair place on campus.

That's exactly what is happening now for me, it used to be every 5-6 mins now it's every 2-3 at times, but 5-6 at others, its quite random!

When are you going into the apple store? I went in and they had no idea!

My beeping came back. I'll try finding the program using activity monitor. I'll let you know if I have any luck.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that both of you are taking courses with online components developed by Desire2Learn.

My girlfriend was using her computer yesterday and there was an incessant beeping that sounded like a pager. It is a pager. The software has a pager/instant message option.

If you go into your settings you should see an option to have the pager make no sound!
 
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I will agree that I think it is Desire2learn.
It has to do with if you have something in your inbox or instant message notification. At least for me (CU boulder) it is in the top right corner and looks like a speech bubble. Check and see if that works for you.

P.S. Thanks Mr. Emrich. This happened before and I couldn't remember what caused it
 

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