beeping sound - iMac

[Barrygou]

I have a 27 inch iMac that is about one year old. Every 15 minutes or so, I hear a very faint single "beep" sound coming from the Mac. Everything is working fine. I contacted the Apple retailer that I purchased the machine from (who is also a certified repair center) and they said they have no idea what it could be. Any guesses?

 

[pigoo3]

There are "beep codes" that can occur with Mac's when there's a problem (troubleshooting beeps). But usually these happen when a computer is first started & in the startup phase. They usually don't occur every 15 minutes during use.

Maybe something was installed on this computer that's been activated (like an alarm clock or a task reminder app). Many apps have short-cut keyboard command combinations. And maybe one of these combinations was accidentally triggered…activating something…resulting in the beeping.

Without more info…hard to know what the issue could be.

- Nick

 

[pm-r]

It would sure help crackdown the source if you could list ALL the applications you have running while the faint single "beep" sound is occurring.

And the OS X version as well… and is it new or…

 

[Barrygou]

OS X 10.11.3 - iMac was purchased in August 2013 - Cmd > Option > Esc shows - Mail, Daylite, Messages, MS Word, Preview, Safari, Notes, Finder. Or do you want to see the complete list from Activity Monitor?

 

[pigoo3]

Or do you want to see the complete list from Activity Monitor?

Yes this would be better. It will list much more than the command + option + esc does (this 3-key shortcut is actually a force-quit application shortcut).

I would suggest quitting all open apps (other than Activity Monitor). Then look thru the "All Process's" list of apps in Activity Monitor. Look for any apps that are non-OS related that may have been installed…and are auto-running.

- Nick

 

[dtravis7]

What is Daylite? I google and it looks like some Appointment manager. Do you have any alerts set within that app?

 

[pigoo3]

What is Daylite? I google and it looks like some Appointment manager. Do you have any alerts set within that app?

Nice catch Dennis! That was the sort of app I was thinking could be involved with the beeping.

- Nick

 

[Barrygou]

Daylite is a CRM, database. Yes you can set alerts in it, and I have some set, but when those alerts fire they make a loud ding / bell sound. (You can set the Daylite alerts prefs for a wide choice of sounds) but the sound I started this thread about is a very soft, faint beep and does not beep when anything is happening with Daylite.

 

[dtravis7]

Daylite is a CRM, database. Yes you can set alerts in it, and I have some set, but when those alerts fire they make a loud ding / bell sound. (You can set the Daylite alerts prefs for a wide choice of sounds) but the sound I started this thread about is a very soft, faint beep and does not beep when anything is happening with Daylite.

Does this happen daily? If so could you possibly record the sound and upload it here?

Also does that iMac have a rotational hard drive? I have heard some hard drive make a soft beeping sound from time to time.

 

[Barrygou]

It has a Soild State drive, not a mechanical HD. The sound is so faint, I don't know if it could be recorded. And its intermittent. Not on a regular schedule.

 

[pm-r]

OS X 10.11.3 - iMac was purchased in August 2013 - Cmd > Option > Esc shows - Mail, Daylite, Messages, MS Word, Preview, Safari, Notes, Finder. Or do you want to see the complete list from Activity Monitor?

Before listing all the Activity Monitor stuff, which may be overkill right now, does the beep quit when you quit the running apps you listed???

PS: Are you running a trackpad???

 

[Barrygou]

No Trackpad. Magic Mouse. The beep is so intermittent that I would have to close everything and sit in front of the iMac for an hour, waiting and listening. Wish I could but I don't have the time.

 

[pigoo3]

No Trackpad. Magic Mouse. The beep is so intermittent that I would have to close everything and sit in front of the iMac for an hour, waiting and listening. Wish I could but I don't have the time.

One way to determine if it's a software or hardware issue is boot the computer from an external HD with a fresh install of an OS on it. If the beeping stops…then it's a software issue. If the beeping continues…then it's a hardware issue.

An intermediate step to troubleshoot with is to start the computer up in "Safe Mode":

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

Which means to reboot the computer with the Shift key held down until you see the Apple logo.

- Nick

 

[pm-r]

I'd be interested to know from Barrygou the OP if he's still here and if he's still getting the very faint single "beep" sound coming from the Mac, but also if the "beep sound" changes with any volume difference if the Mac's sound volume is changed.

I just want to confirm that it might be some OS X system/app sound before posting a possible solution to find the cause that I've used in the past on my own Mac.

 

[Barrygou]

Problem solved. I have a Seagate 1TB external hard drive plugged in to a USB port which is for Time Machine auto backups. That external HD was almost full and the very faint beep was coming from it. I guess letting me know it was almost full. I connected a new external HD, and no more "beeps"!
Thanks to everyone who offered help. Sounds can be like a rattle in a car. Difficult to tell where they are actually coming from.

 

[dtravis7]

Problem solved. I have a Seagate 1TB external hard drive plugged in to a USB port which is for Time Machine auto backups. That external HD was almost full and the very faint beep was coming from it. I guess letting me know it was almost full. I connected a new external HD, and no more "beeps"!
Thanks to everyone who offered help. Sounds can be like a rattle in a car. Difficult to tell where they are actually coming from.

I had a feeling it was a drive somewhere! So glad you found it! Good going!

 

[pigoo3]

Congrats on the solution. Those external devices sometimes can cause one real headaches.

- Nick

 

[pm-r]

Problem solved. I have a Seagate 1TB external hard drive plugged in to a USB port which is for Time Machine auto backups. That external HD was almost full and the very faint beep was coming from it. I guess letting me know it was almost full. I connected a new external HD, and no more "beeps"!
Thanks to everyone who offered help. Sounds can be like a rattle in a car. Difficult to tell where they are actually coming from.

Glad to hear you discovered the cause of the beep problem and thanks for the feedback, but I'd question the diagnosis that is was giving you some warning because your Time Machine backups had almost filled it.

It was giving you that beep sound only because it had almost died and was malfunctioning!!!

Just do a google search for 'Seagate hard drive beep' etc. and you'll get all kinds of hits. And basically, it's the noise of a failing drive and it seems the Seagates are good at it. And I'd suggest that Seagate HDD is close to being or as good as being KAPUT!!!

That's also why I was asking if the sound you mentioned was actually coming from your Mac and/or associated with its sound settings.

 

[chscag]

Just do a google search for 'Seagate hard drive beep' etc. and you'll get all kinds of hits. And basically, it's the noise of a failing drive and it seems the Seagates are good at it. And I'd suggest that Seagate HDD is close to being or as good as being KAPUT!!!

LOL, another Seagate fan! Unfortunately, Apple still uses them in their fusion and spinning hard drive combos. My late 2013 27" iMac has one. It's like waiting for a ticking time bomb to go off. Hopefully it goes south while my Apple Care is still current.

 

[dtravis7]

I wish Apple would use WD at least for their Spinning drives. I have 5 1TB WD Blacks and never an issue.


My Early 2010 has a 1TB Seagate. From the late 2009 and up you either have to get the OCW sensor kit or go with the same drive you took out. Not sure on the 2013 if OWC has a work around or not.