ThinkPad Keyboard Beeps Fixed
I’ve discovered the fix to the elusive keyboard beeps which occurred whenever I pressed certain combinations of three (3) keys. Using experimentation, I came up with this rule:
The computer beeps when I press any three key combination all in the same row including at least two of these keys: 4567rtyufghjvbnm.
Some Google searching found me the fix in a ThinkPad mailing list. At first, I thought they were talking about Linux. But no, it was Windows, and yes, it worked. Another person blogged it too (the original link to his blog was broken, so I feel it is especially important for me to blog it and clarify the instructions). Here’s what you do:
1. Open the Device Manager. You can do this from My Computer -> Properties -> Hardware -> Device Manager.
2. Show Hidden Devices. You can do this from View -> Show hidden devices. This is where I was stuck: I didn’t know the Device Manager had hidden devices.
3. Under Non-Plug and Play Drivers, open the properties for Beep. Go to Driver -> Stop, and the beeping will cease. I think you can also Disable the device, but for me, this would require a reboot.
I believe the Beep device is the most stupid device ever invented. It’s really the stupidest. It serves only as an annoyance, in very strange instances. And I’ve only seen this on the ThinkPad, after using lots of other computers.
Can anybody explain to me why this beep even exists?!
Anyway, I hope somebody found this interesting, or maybe, if you had one of the beeping ThinkPads, found it useful. I’m on a Z61t by the way.
Update: I reinstalled Windows Vista on my ThinkPad and had the same problem again. The steps are similar, but here are updated Vista screenshots to ensure nobody’s confused on what they’re looking for to fix this. Sorry for the low quality, but Microsoft Paint doesn’t compress images very well.
Make sure you select “Show hidden devices”.
There’s that dreaded beep, listed under “Non-Plug and Play Drivers.”
Thx, my T42 was blasting that darned sound every time I typed “have a great day”. I just assumed some grouchy developer at IBM programmed it to whine whenever anyone typed that.
I do a lot of speech signal processing, usually very low-dB recordings that require the volume through the roof. And that beep has shot my nerves for months now. Thank you very much!
You saved my ears! Why do Thinkpads use this annoying feature? It’s potentially harmful. Many times I’ve been shot in the ear, until using this fix. Thanks again.
This saved my ears too!!! I was wondering if this would ever go away. Thanks for this blog!!!!
I like my thinkpad T60 now.
ahhhhh….
Actually, I kinda like the beep…something mindless to do when I’m completely bored. Button combos that go BEEP!
BEEP! Ok, you’re right. Friggin’ annoying. Thanks for the fix!
Thanks, huge help, sucked playing games or doing anything radiolike with my laptop cause one wrong stroke and i’d be deaf
Thanks so much, I had no idea you could turn that damn feature off.
I nearly have a heart attack when I’m at the library with headphones on, and press the wrong keys!
You’re a life saver!
I can’t tell you how grateful I am, that you told me how to get rid of this awful BEEP!
thank you very much for the fix! The beeping is starting to drive me crazy! I have a COMPAQ keyboard. It only beeps when I telnet to my linux and if I try to move the cursor over the boundary.
God, this annoyed me for so long. Thank you very, very much.
At first I thought it was my pre-built HP computer which was causing this problem, but when I switched to a custom build, and switched keyboard, I knew it was something more.
This fixed it so well, thank you so much!
Thank you so much! This has been bugging me for years now, and it turns out to be that simple :-) On a T30 by the way
I’m on a Dell Latitude and the beep was driving me nuts (with or without headphones). i’ve even stopped using the laptop as much because it was so annoying! Thank you for saving my sanity!
I LOVE YOU MAN! THIS HAS BEEN DRIVING ME INSANE!
i have two Thinkpads and i’ve looked high and low for a solution for the beeping. FINALLY! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Thanks Lee. This sound was driving me crazy. I knew it had something to do with the combination but was searching sounds/speaker devices to disable it. Google helped me find you..and wow..after all, ThinkPad rocks ;) I am on a T-60.
Thanks much. Loving my new ThinkPad, except for that ridiculous beep. Never thought of looking for hidden devices.
thanks a lot for posting this easy fix, and making this page easily find-able by simply asking Google “Why does my keyboard beep at me?”!
very good one…………
that stupid sound crap from ibm is finally gone………
many thanks…………
omg. thank you.
I’ve been twitchy since I got my z60, now I can relax… bliss.
Wow… Thanks. Beeps were getting annoying.
I think the Beeps were implemented as a diagnostic tool, esp at points where the soundcard is not initialized. So there’s certain beeping patterns that mean different problems/errors with the computer.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! That beep has been driving me insane, I’ve had buzzing in my ears for a year now. I live in Norway, and several thousand students here has got a Thinkpad T60 because we can get it cheap from the schools. So as a result of this damn beep, half of Norway’s students have lost their hearing..
thank you!!! am a student, was starting to go deaf from hearing the ghastly beep in my headphones at the library…. WHY would they do this??
This evening my silly PC started beeping and I have been trying to solve it all night long with so many google searches and who knows what else. This works thankyou for saving my sanity!