Strange 'beeping' keyboard typing on PB15

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Level 4

1,513 points

Strange 'beeping' keyboard typing on PB15

This is quite strange but pretty benign, so just want to find out if anyone else has had it:

Basically I'm getting faint 'beep' sound when typing in some Safari pages - such as the one I'm typing into now (a reply box in forums etc.). It tends to happen when I'm editing text I've already inputed. Luckily it's not happening right now but when it happens it is slightly annoying b/c it's so inexplicable.

Has this happened to anyone else or is there something basic I'm missing here?

Posted on May 27, 2005 6:26 PM

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Answer 1

Tuttle

Level 7

29,565 points

May 27, 2005 6:41 PM in response to Peter Knapp

At least one other person has posted about this. No replies to that post yet...

Addison Marchese, "Quiet Beeps When I Type On The Keyboard", 04:39pm May 24, 2005 CDT

Tuttle

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Answer 2

Peter Knapp Author

Level 4

1,513 points

May 27, 2005 6:45 PM in response to Tuttle

Thanks Tuttle.

I suspect it's a software thing rather than something hardware related (thank goodness). I'll link that post to this and ask what software he's using when it happens.

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Answer 3

Tuttle

Level 7

29,565 points

May 27, 2005 6:50 PM in response to Peter Knapp

Hi Peter - You may be right. There have been "strange beeping" topics before, though, usually more intermittent beeps than you are experiencing, and not attributable to keyboard actions, but these have often been corrected by changing the Processor Performance setting in System Preferences > Energy Saver to Automatic from Highest. I'm not suggesting that this will work, but I would be interested to know if it does....

EDIT: Also, is this happening when you visit secure pages (beginning with https, for example.)?

Tuttle

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Answer 4

Peter Knapp Author

Level 4

1,513 points

May 28, 2005 5:46 AM in response to Tuttle

Unfortunately it happens when my CPU is set to highest anyway (that is, plugged in to the mains). It hay well happen on secure pages; I'll look out for it in future and post the instances here should a pattern emerge.

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Answer 5

Peter Knapp Author

Level 4

1,513 points

May 28, 2005 6:07 AM in response to Peter Knapp

It just happened again replying to a Apple Discussion page - again not initially when writing it, but going back and editing text I've already typed (inserting new words or letters).

Strange.

In fact it's doing it in this very window when I do that exact thing: insert extra text/edit text that is already there. Is my mac warning me I'm changing something - could this be one of the 200 new feature in Tiger 😉

I'll send a bug report and see what happens.

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Answer 6

Peter Knapp Author

Level 4

1,513 points

May 28, 2005 6:47 AM in response to Peter Knapp

Definitely a text editing noise rather than inputting one. I've worked out it's independent of the sound volume, so may be coming from the HD, as though the bug makes it 'squeak'. I have over a gig of ram, so it really shouldn't be making such a noise.

I've tried to record the sound without success. I may try and borrow a microphone and see if anyone can work out what it is.

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Answer 7

Tuttle

Level 7

29,565 points

May 28, 2005 7:05 AM in response to Peter Knapp

it happens when my CPU is set to highest

Yes. I was suggesting you change the setting to Automatic for both Battery and AC power....

Tuttle

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Answer 8

Peter Knapp Author

Level 4

1,513 points

May 28, 2005 9:42 AM in response to Tuttle

You're absolutely right - it only happens when the CPU is on it's highest setting.

How interesting and bizarre.

Well, there we have it!

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Answer 9

Tuttle

Level 7

29,565 points

May 28, 2005 9:44 AM in response to Peter Knapp

So who's going to tell Addison? 😉

Tuttle

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Answer 10

Peter Knapp Author

Level 4

1,513 points

May 29, 2005 5:42 PM in response to Tuttle

Pah,

It still beeps under automatic. It just appears automatic makes it less likely under certain circumstances.

Still, I've submitted a bug report. Next move to the coders.

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Answer 11

May 30, 2005 12:19 AM in response to Peter Knapp

Hey guys. I just tried changing my "Energy Saver" settings to "Normal" and I'll see if it fixes anything. Also, did you guys see my last reply on the topic I started? Here it is:

"I got my PBG4 in September of 2004, and I can remember it happening as early as October of 2004. It mostly happens in TextEdit and Safari (same as you), but not exclusively. It doesn't feel software related because its happened on both Panther and Tiger, in numerous programs.

What about you? I've always been scared it's hardware related, but it's too hard to reproduce on command at an Apple store to demonistrate the problem to a Apple Genius or whatever."

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Answer 12

Jul 14, 2005 11:29 AM in response to Addison Marchese

How's the beeping been lately?

I haven't gotten it as much on the "Normal" Energy Savings setting, so I just switched it to a custom mode to see if I start hearing it again.

Addison

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Answer 13

Jul 14, 2005 12:00 PM in response to Addison Marchese

Here we go:

I started getting it again on "Custom" Energy Saver settings. Then I switched back to "Normal" and the beep is gone.

What's the deal?

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Answer 14

xtfer

Level 1

40 points

Jul 15, 2005 1:54 AM in response to Addison Marchese

Ive been getting the same problem, and running on automatic seems to quieten it down. Apple tested it and said no problems, but that could mean nothing. Apparently it is quite common on the 15" as they get older, i am told.

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Answer 15

Jul 15, 2005 2:04 AM in response to xtfer

Yeah, not sure. My laptop is not even a year old, and it's been doing it since the first month or two.

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