anyone seen my startup sound?

[Makosuke]

Sounds like you've checked the obvious--reset PRAM, make sure the volume isn't turned all the way down at shutdown, make sure the speakers actually work, etc. The popping sounds you hear while doing a PRAM reset are normal, assuming they're coming from your internal PowerBook speakers--that's the audio circuitry being powered up, which produces a bit of static. The same happens when most speakers/amplifiers first get turned on.

Here's two additional suggestions, assuming your PowerBook has up-to-date firmware (Software Update would tell you if you didn't--try running it if you don't usually), and you don't want to reinstall the OS (which I'm not so sure would help anyway, since the chime should be lower level than the OS):

One, if you REALLY want to reset everything, boot into the rather scary Open Firmware (Command-Option-O-F at startup; you'll get a white screen with a command line prompt), then type "reset-all" (with the hyphen, no quotes). I think the computer will restart immediately at that point, but you might have to type "shutdown" or "reboot" afterwards (or just hold down the power button to turn the computer off).

Two, you can do a disk check (which is always a good idea once in a while) by starting up from the CD that came with your computer or a Panther CD, selecting "Disk Utility" from the menu, and using it to check your hard drive. Probalby nothing wrong, but worth a shot if you don't do it occasionally as maintenance.

Three, the only time that I've seen a Mac not produce an audible startup chime when the volume was on was when there's something plugged into the headphone jack--it routes sound through the headphones automatically. Perhaps something has gone physically wrong with your jack, causing the Mac to incorrectly assume that's where the sound should be going, although if that were the case I'd expect you'd have no sound after startup, either.

Not much helpful here, but good luck.

 

[Makosuke]

Almost forgot; if you want to try the CUDA switch (more accurately called the Power Management Unit (PMU) reset button), here's an Apple Knowledgebase article that explains the process:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449

(The instructions for your computer are down near the bottom, and it looks like yours probably doesn't even require opening up the keyboard--just holding down Shift-Control-Option-Power. But check that article to make sure.)

 

[Bedawyn]

*blink* Thank you so much for starting this thread! My startup sound has also vanished in the last week. I've always thought it was too loud -- but I also use it as an alarm clock in the morning, so I want it back!

My sound isn't muted, and the only thing I can think of I've done in the right time frame that might be remotely related is removing the volume control from the menu bar. Have to try the suggestions here when I get home from work.

 

[EGT]

My brother had the same problem with his powerbook. Resetting the power management unit did the trick, although i still think he had the volume turned off

I love the start up sound. Gives me tingles down my spine!

 

[King Cobra]

please read, he can not hear the chimes at ALL.

I did read. He said that his computer doesn't make a startup sound. (I've been following the thread since it had 8 posts, so don't think I haven't read it.) That's why I included the "a little over a minute" comment. Besides, I said both the number of chimes and the time parts so that others would become familiar with how the PRAM reset works.

 

[siliconjones]

Thanks for answering about the CUDA button Duff-Man. Yep cordova, It's the equivalent of pulling the cmos battery for a few minutes.