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Random Chimes in PowerMac G5

Christine1234

Christine1234

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 2, 2011
161
10
Snowflake, AZ
My Powermac G5 has just started giving off single random chimes every 15 minutes or so. The timing varies. It sounds just like when it's notifying me of an incoming email, but there is no new e-mail. Googling didn't give me any answers. Any idea what is causing this? This computer is my main, workhorse computer and everything is on it. TIA.
 
What version of OS X?

In Date/Time in System Preferences there is the option to have the Mac chime on the hour or every 15 minutes. Perhaps that is set?
 
It could be the noise when it fetches new email but dosent find anything. How often does mail update your inbox?
 
I don't know how often it updates it, because I only use the mail app on those rare occasions when Yahoo has a lot of flash type stuff on their sign in page that causes my computer to hang up. Most of the time I don't use the mail app, and I was not using it today.

Hopefully those chimes don't mean something is going wrong. :(
 
Is it an actual boot 'bong' or a notification sound? Does it happen with no apps open or is it when you're web browsing? I wonder if it's some lousy script pop under advert that you've picked up?
 
Christine1234 said:
I don't know how often it updates it, because I only use the mail app on those rare occasions when Yahoo has a lot of flash type stuff on their sign in page that causes my computer to hang up. Most of the time I don't use the mail app, and I was not using it today.

Hopefully those chimes don't mean something is going wrong. :(
Click to expand...
I wouldnt think so. Usually on a G5, you'll get long beeps on boot up (or patterns) nothing during it being used.
 
It's not the boot-up bong sound, it's a chime like when a new e-mail comes in while the e-mail app is on. It's random, and happens every 10 to 20 minutes or so while web browsing. It has OS 10.5.8 installed.

It's good to hear that this is not likely to be a major problem. Failing hard drives make odd noises, and that is what I was most worried about.
 
Safari is the only browser on the computer.

This happened some months back for several days then it went away, and yesterday it was doing it again. Today I've been gone and haven't had the computer on for more than a few minutes, so I don't know if it's still happening.

I wish I knew what's causing this.
 
Christine1234 said:
Safari is the only browser on the computer.

This happened some months back for several days then it went away, and yesterday it was doing it again. Today I've been gone and haven't had the computer on for more than a few minutes, so I don't know if it's still happening.

I wish I knew what's causing this.
Click to expand...

I'd try TenFourFox for a while, see if it goes away. If it still persists, install some TFF add ons that block adverts and java script - there's plenty of recommendations here in the forum. I'm working on the assumption that some dodgy code has hijacked your browser and is constantly trying to launch an ad to grab your attention.
 
Dronecatcher said:
I'd try TenFourFox for a while, see if it goes away. If it still persists, install some TFF add ons that block adverts and java script - there's plenty of recommendations here in the forum. I'm working on the assumption that some dodgy code has hijacked your browser and is constantly trying to launch an ad to grab your attention.
Click to expand...

I just downloaded TenFourFox. It'll take a day or two before I know if this will solve the problem, but it seems to be a case of so far, so good. If it starts chiming again, I'll install those add ons. Thank you! :)
 
Christine1234 said:
I just downloaded TenFourFox. It'll take a day or two before I know if this will solve the problem, but it seems to be a case of so far, so good. If it starts chiming again, I'll install those add ons. Thank you! :)
Click to expand...
Also take a look at the tweaks @eyoungren found for improving the performance of TFF. @Altemose made a download for the tweaks so you don't have to look through all the settings
 
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MacCubed said:
Also take a look at the tweaks @eyoungren found for improving the performance of TFF. @Altemose made a download for the tweaks so you don't have to look through all the settings
Click to expand...

That will help a lot, thank you.

So far, there have been no chimes using TFF. I switched back to Safari for a few minutes because my bookmarks didn't import and I wanted to check on something, and got a chime. Then I went back to TFF and it's been quiet, although it's still too early to be sure.
 
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Christine1234 said:
I switched back to Safari for a few minutes because my bookmarks didn't import and I wanted to check on something, and got a chime. Then I went back to TFF and it's been quiet, although it's still too early to be sure.
Click to expand...
Maybe it is instant messaging like if you have Facebook or Gmail opened? Or some Flash ad (which wouldn't work an TenFourFox because plugins are not supported).
 
I don't have Facebook, Gmail, or instant messaging, but maybe it is a flash ad of some type.

The chiming happens with Safari but not with TFF. This is good news, since it means that it’s not a hardware issue, which is what I was worried about when I started this thread.

The bad part is that TFF looks similar to Windows 10. The good part is that it works better with my online classes. A certificate that I needed proving that I took a class would not print completely with either Safari (at home) or Windows 10 (at work). The part in the middle with the proof on it would only print as a series of colons. It printed off just fine using TFF.

The chiming on Safari may stop after a few days like it did last time, but this little adventure was worth it because now I can prove that I’ve taken the classes. :)

Thank you!
 
Christine1234 said:
I don't have Facebook, Gmail, or instant messaging, but maybe it is a flash ad of some type.

The chiming happens with Safari but not with TFF. This is good news, since it means that it’s not a hardware issue, which is what I was worried about when I started this thread.

The bad part is that TFF looks similar to Windows 10. The good part is that it works better with my online classes. A certificate that I needed proving that I took a class would not print completely with either Safari (at home) or Windows 10 (at work). The part in the middle with the proof on it would only print as a series of colons. It printed off just fine using TFF.

The chiming on Safari may stop after a few days like it did last time, but this little adventure was worth it because now I can prove that I’ve taken the classes. :)

Thank you!
Click to expand...
And if you really do not like the way TFF looks (as in Windows 10), then it is easy to go to "Tools, Add-Ons" and pick a different theme.
 
I just looked, and the only option it'll offer me is the default theme, but the layout isn't a big issue. It works, and that's what counts. Thanks.
 
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Oh wow, it looks like TFF is available for G3's that run Tiger! I have an old grape G3 iMac that runs Tiger. I maxed out the RAM on it and it's a good little machine, but there was too much it couldn't do on the internet with Safari. If TFF will work for it, I'll have a second computer that is able to go on the internet. My other Macs are stand-alones.
 
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Christine1234 said:
Oh wow, it looks like TFF is available for G3's that run Tiger! I have an old grape G3 iMac that runs Tiger. I maxed out the RAM on it and it's a good little machine, but there was too much it couldn't do on the internet with Safari. If TFF will work for it, I'll have a second computer that is able to go on the internet. My other Macs are stand-alones.
Click to expand...

On a G3, TenFourFox is easily usable but following eyoungren's tweaks makes a world of difference.
 
I'm back using the grape iMac with the matching hockey puck mouse and keyboard using TFF. Eat your hearts out, vintage Mac fans! :)

It is capable of doing You Tube now, something it can't do with Firefox. It's a bit dusty and could use a new battery, but that's about it. Now I have a backup internet computer.

It's slower than the G5 and typing on this forum is quite slow. Which add ons do you recommend? I put AdBlockPlus on it right away.

The TFF on the iMac G3 and the G5 have new backgrounds. :)
 
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Christine1234 said:
I'm back using the grape iMac with the matching hockey puck mouse and keyboard using TFF. Eat your hearts out, vintage Mac fans! :)

It is capable of doing You Tube now, something it can't do with Firefox. It's a bit dusty and could use a new battery, but that's about it. Now I have a backup internet computer.

It's slower than the G5 and typing on this forum is quite slow. Which add ons do you recommend? I put AdBlockPlus on it right away.

The TFF on the iMac G3 and the G5 have new backgrounds. :)
Click to expand...
Bluhell Firewall is recommended by many as a better choice for Ad blocking.
It catches most ads and is much easier on resources.
 
Christine1234 said:
It's slower than the G5 and typing on this forum is quite slow. Which add ons do you recommend? I put AdBlockPlus on it right away.
Click to expand...

My suggestion would be to remove AdBlock and go ahead and install Bluhell Firewall. It offers similar ad-blocking functionality but the system resource use is much less.
 
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