Comment 13 for bug 290204

Same problem with a fresh install of Intrepid on an x60s.

The gconf editing solution from w1zard (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-session/+bug/290204/comments/12) does not work for me, but the blacklisting solution of Vytas (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-session/+bug/290204/comments/7) does.

I didn't know how to blacklist, but there's an explanation at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=166624 which boils down to doing

sudo sh -c 'echo blacklist pcspkr > /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-custom'

As the original poster mentioned, the Fast User Switch Applet doesn't have the beeping problem, so just using that to shutdown, instead of System -> Shut Down, is probably the easiest solution.