Strange Startup "buzz"-beep from iMac G4

[tmtomh]

Hi guys,

I recently got a very nice iMac G4 (17" 1.25GHz/USB 2.0 model). It works fine - but, when I start it up, it makes a strange sound.

It makes the normal startup bong, and then right after that it will make one, two, or three short buzzes. Startup is not interrupted during this time. The computer starts up normally and works fine, and it never buzzes except those one, two or three quick buzzes a couple of seconds after the startup bong. The Diagnostics section of System Profiler shows that it passed its Power-on Self Test (POST), and the Memory section of System Profiler shows all the installed memory.

This doesn't sound like POST error beeps I've heard on similar-era Macs (and in any event the computer works fine), but it only seems to happen on cold boot, not on restart. I wonder if it's something to do with the Pro Speakers initializing, because it almost sounds like the computer is sending some kind of short-burst low-volume buzz through one or both of the speakers.

Any ideas? TIA.

 

[Mars478]

Hmmm you upload the sounds it makes?

 

[Mycatisbigfoot]

Does it get louder when the screen is brighter? or is the computer is working on lots of files at once?

 

[tmtomh]

Does it get louder when the screen is brighter? or is the computer is working on lots of files at once?

Nope - only happens right upon startup.

 

[macguy]

A real puzzler.

Have you tried a startup using the DVD installer for that iMac to determine if it makes the same "sound" at startup running the DVD driver ?

In my way reasoning, the above "test" would show me that this sound may be coming from the DVD drive/mechanizim and not the internal hard drive mechanizim.

If you suspect that it;s " the Pro Speakers initializing, because it almost sounds like the computer is sending some kind of short-burst low-volume buzz through one or both of the speaker" have you tried muting down to zero those speakers ?

Are these the internal speakers ? You can actually kill the startup chord and those speakers if you are running your sound play back thru USB or a mixing board. If you need to know how let me know.