How to prevent GRUB from beeping?

Question

Right now I use GRUB version which comes with Ubuntu 10.04 (but I think it used to happen on older versions too). I have a list of options to select. If computer registers more key presses than there are item on a list, it will beep once from pc speaker for every extra key press and until computer finishes beeping, it is unresponsive.

In my list newest Ubuntu kernel is on top and Windows 7 is on bottom. I tend to press down arrow key and keep it pressed until Windows item is selected. Unfortunately, moving the selection is not synchronized with amount of key presses and if I'm not careful, I'll hear a lot of beeps.

How do I stop this behavior?

EDIT As requested, GRUB.cfg

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/GRUB-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/GRUB.d and settings from /etc/default/GRUB
#

### BEGIN /etc/GRUB.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
  set saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then
    saved_entry=${chosen}
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function recordfail {
  set recordfail=1
  if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 35fef0b0-75c0-4019-b907-1447f3445977
if loadfont /usr/share/GRUB/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
    # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
    # understand terminal_output
    terminal gfxterm
  fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9b175976-1267-442f-9f9a-d75d85d328e1
set locale_dir=($root)/GRUB/locale
set lang=sr
insmod gettext
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/GRUB.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/GRUB.d/05_debian_theme ###
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 35fef0b0-75c0-4019-b907-1447f3445977
insmod png
if background_image /usr/share/images/desktop-base/moreblue-orbit-GRUB.png ; then
  set color_normal=black/black
  set color_highlight=magenta/black
else
  set menu_color_normal=white/black
  set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
fi
### END /etc/GRUB.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/GRUB.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic' --class Ubuntu --class gnu-Linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,1)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9b175976-1267-442f-9f9a-d75d85d328e1
 Linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=35fef0b0-75c0-4019-b907-1447f3445977 ro   quiet splash
 initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic (recovery mode)' --class Ubuntu --class gnu-Linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,1)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9b175976-1267-442f-9f9a-d75d85d328e1
 echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-24-generic ...'
 Linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=35fef0b0-75c0-4019-b907-1447f3445977 ro single 
 echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
 initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-23-generic' --class Ubuntu --class gnu-Linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,1)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9b1

Answer 1

It sadly is not as simple as blacklisting pcspkr, since ubuntu hasn't even booted yet. Can you post your (/boot/grub/)grub.cfg here?

Another solution, don't hold down downarrow, just press it until you get to Windows 7. If there are too many grub menu entries for this to be practical, consider removing entries for earlier kernel versions (again, through grub.cfg).

Answer 2

There is only one solution to stop those incredibly annoying beeps: unplug the PC Speaker. Just go into the case and disconnect the SPKR pins from the motherboard.

When the computer is fully up, you can use the real sound card for any audio you need to produce. When the OS isn't yet booted, you don't want to listen to those earsplitting irritating beeps anyhow.