Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High near 50F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..
Cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 36F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: April 3, 2022 @ 8:03 am
Q: I dropped my Dell Inspiron laptop on a hard tile floor. Fortunately, the PC still runs properly. But now, every time the PC starts it gives a series of five beeps that are repeated five times. Do the beeps mean something is wrong? If not, how do I get rid of the beeps?
—Bruce Burton, Bloomington, Minn.
A: The beeps a PC makes at startup are a warning code, although the meaning varies from one PC brand to another. On a Dell Inspiron laptop, five beeps means that the CMOS battery on the main circuit board has failed (see tinyurl.com/35af53tn).
CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) is a type of computer memory chip that stores some important data — the PC’s BIOS (basic input/out system), how the PC’s hardware is configured and the time of day and calendar date. The chip is powered, even when your PC is turned off, by a small round, flat battery that’s similar to the batteries used in car key fobs. These batteries can last for up to a decade, so many PC owners never encounter the beep warning you’re hearing. But by dropping your PC, you probably caused the CMOS battery to come loose from the PC’s main circuit board, triggering the warning.
If that’s the case, you should be able to fix the beeping computer problem by tightening the battery-to-circuit board connection (use a pencil to push on the metal clip that holds the battery in place), or, if necessary, by replacing the battery for around $2.
However, this fix involves opening your laptop and touching the main circuit board, which is very sensitive to static electricity (see directions and warnings for changing a CMOS battery at tinyurl.com/yc7jurdc). As a result, it might be better to let a repair shop do the work.
Q: I have three old PCs with Windows XP. Can I donate them to anyone?
—Edward Lassus Jr., Metairie, La.
A: Most PCs with Windows XP (introduced in 2001) are too old to donate. The World Computer Exchange, a charity that transfers used computers to developing countries, requires that donated laptop PCs be no older than 2005 and use “dual-core” or newer processor chips. Desktops must be no older than 2008 and use Intel Core “i Series” chips. (See tinyurl.com/5n8r9wr3).
Contact Steve Alexander at [email protected]. Please include a full name, city and phone number.
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