Screechy noise when starting laptop

[jonesthewine]

It's a Dell Inspiron 8200...passed down to mom, it serves her well for an email and word processing machine.

It recently began to issue a very loud, screeching sound when booting up. The noise is definately coming from the speakers. It occurs even when the speakers are muted. Once it has booted into windows, the noise comes and goes.

Short of removing the speakers, doe anyone have an idea what could be causing the noise?

I'll have an opportunity to spend a few hours with the machine tomorrow.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on the matter.

 

[MichaelD]

According to your post, the noise comes from the speakers during boot up AND when Windows is loaded.

That takes the blame away from software (I.E. it only makes the sound when a certain program is started) and focuses it on a HARDWARE issue.

It could also be that the screeching sound is some sort of warning...maybe letting you know the BIOS battery is going dead? Just a thought...it IS and older laptop.

Speakers don't "cause" noise; they just play what they are told to.