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M17x R4, beeping at Power-up
Hey all, I've got an old beefy M17x R4 that I hadn't used in a few years but just started to again recently. When I hit the power button, it starts beeping. I have to hold the power button down to force it off, then press it again to power on--then it boots up and runs perfectly. Any idea what's going on here though and a fix? It shouldn't have some warning beep or whatever's going on when I first try to boot it up.
Thanks in advance!
JOcean
7 Technologist
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12.1K Posts
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March 13th, 2023 09:00
Try reseating the RAM and seeing the age of the system, I would definitely replace the CMOS (coin cell) battery. Leave the old one out of the system for 15 minutes before installing a brand new recently purchased battery.
filbert
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March 13th, 2023 09:00
You have a hardware issue. Make note of the number of beeps in each group. According to the Alienware Beep Codes Table posted many years ago (since yours is a very old laptop), here is what they mean depending upon the number of beeps:
1 Possible Motherboard (covers BIOS corruption or ROM error)
2 No RAM detected
3 Possible Motherboard Chipset
4 RAM failure (other)
5 CMOS Battery
6 Video card/chip
7 CPU
8 LCD
First, I would try this:
Given that the laptop is 14 years old and has been unused for years, you should replace the CMOS battery even if that is not the cause of the current error. Likely that is what the beeps indicate. Leave the main battery and AC adapter both disconnected with CMOS battery removed for 15 or 30 minutes before installing the new CMOS battery.
EDIT: Yikes, @JOcean beat me again as I was typing. He's getting faster. lol
JOcean
7 Technologist
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March 13th, 2023 10:00
Be sure to watch for a beep count based on @filbert post. The number of beeps is critical in diagnosing the problem.
mattyb3
5 Practitioner
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1.5K Posts
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March 13th, 2023 13:00
It sounds like it will most likely be the 5-beep CMOS battery error. Most other beep codes are terminal and won't allow the laptop to boot while you can bypass the CMOS beep code with a hard shutdown and restart. This only works once though so when you try booting again then the error will return. You will need to replace the CMOS battery.
If you have the M17x R3 or R4 then this is just a CR2032 battery that you can get for $1-2 from most supermarkets, don't buy one from ebay for 10x the price.
From memory, the M17x R1/R2 CMOS battery is a wired one so you will have to pay a little bit more for one of these online.
Occasionally you can get a 1-Beep error that can be intermittent so the laptop will boot. Most of the time this will require a replacement motherboard but reflashing the system BIOS can sometimes fix it.
filbert
4 Operator
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March 15th, 2023 07:00
If you're willing to do a little more work, you can use a standard CR2032 coin battery that is widely available. You just need to carefully disassemble the current casing and remove the contacts to reuse on the new battery. I did it recently, so can help you with any questions.
This will give you the idea:
https://youtu.be/Mzr7Mbm1L3k
https://youtu.be/5DdAZrTZjEM
Do NOT solder the contacts to the new battery, even though some videos suggest that. The heat from a soldering gun can easily cause the battery to explode and you could be hurt. I used aluminum tape to fasten the contacts to the battery, then wrapped it in electrical tape.
ItaliaTib2k3
4 Posts
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March 15th, 2023 07:00
You're correct--it was the 5-beep CMOS battery indicator.
I had to order one online though because it's the wired version unfortunately.
ItaliaTib2k3
4 Posts
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March 15th, 2023 08:00
Appreciate that a lot but after looking at vids on how to do this online, I'm just gonna have a pro take care of it. I don't have the plastic puller (though I know I can probably improvise with something else) but it's also just a bit more detailed than I'm totally comfortable.
mattyb3
5 Practitioner
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1.5K Posts
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March 15th, 2023 13:00
Hopefully the new battery sorts you out. Are you sure you have the R4 though? This should have the basic coin battery. The R1 and R2 had the wired ones.