Have you tried running kmix or gmix and adjusting or muting any of the mixer controls. A beep is usually the system speaker so I would expect that control would mute the speaker sounds.

for vi, you need to input the line :
:set vb t_vb=

to make it permanent, you need a .gvimrc file in your home directory with
:set vb t_vb=
in it.
an example file is in /usr/share/vim/vim61/gvimrc_example.vim

add the line i gave, reboot your gui, tell me what you get

i tried opening kmix but when it loads there is nothing there. its like an empty window.

tobyl:
i tried the method you suggested and still get the beep when i exit vi in xterm.

[edit]

nevermind guys i found how to turn it off. xterm has a '-vb' option for visual beep rather than audio one. thanks for all the help =)
[/edit]

Yeah, sorry my method only seems to work for Vi IMproved...

or create in your home a file ".inputrc" ( without quotes and with a dot).

This file should contain just one line

set bell-style none

If you want to disable the beep within a linux console:

I also use my /etc/issue to set up my console upon relogin. To see what you can do read the console_codes manpage.
The most commonly used by me are: ESC[H and ESC[J, which clear and reset my console. Looks kind of nice.
There is also a console code to set the length of the beep (to 0 of course): ESC[11;0]

To insert an escape symbol in vi use CTRL-V and then ESC.

One can also use:

This will set up your issue to clear the screen and set the length of the beep to 0.

This will only work until you "reset" your terminal.

Lachezar.

FWIW, my solution to beeps is to compile my 2.6 kernels with CONFIG_PCSPKR=m and then just don't ever load the module . This has the added benefit on a laptop of no double beep when inserting my wireless card. Music will still play through the speakers, without loading the module.

as a sidenote only the option "none" works. if one wants a visible "bell" it doesn't work.

the other way is to compile a 2.6.x kernel and don't compile in speaker support.