Long beep and flashing sleep light - no boot - not RAM - help

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troy1974 Author

Level 1

0 points

Long beep and flashing sleep light - no boot - not RAM - help

Hi there

I have PowerBook G4 15" Aluminum 1.25GHz I acquired from a friend who couldn't get it to boot - these are the symptoms

Hit start button
Long low tone
then very fast repeated sleep light
Another short tone
Shut down

I thought this was going to be a RAM issue - changed out RAM - same thing

Logic Board failure? Any help would be greatly apppreciated

Thanks

Troy

PowerBook G4 15" Aluminum 1.25GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Ibook G3 10.4.11, Powerbook Lombard G3 10.4.11

Posted on Aug 22, 2008 1:38 PM

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Answer 1

louie

Level 4

2,950 points

Aug 22, 2008 5:28 PM in response to troy1974

Do the tones and flashes seem to correspond to the Power on Self Test?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1547

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Answer 2

troy1974 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 22, 2008 7:01 PM in response to troy1974

yes one long beep LED sleep light flashes then another beep - this relates to incompatible ram types but I'm using Ram from another powerbook so should be compatible?

thanks

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Answer 3

eww

Level 9

53,028 points

Aug 23, 2008 5:13 AM in response to troy1974

Hi, troy. Different Powerbook G4 models use several different types of RAM. Exactly which Powerbook model has the problem, and exactly which model did you pull the second RAM module(s) from?

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=88248

Is the beeping/flashing behavior exactly the same with the second batch of RAM as it was with the first, or are the behaviors different?

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Answer 4

troy1974 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 23, 2008 4:39 PM in response to troy1974

The problem PB is a G4 Aluminum 15" 1.25GHz - I acquired it with no Ram - I have tried variations of functioning Ram I had from a PB G4 Aluminum 15" 1.5GHz (2 x 256MB sticks) and an iBook G4 12" 1.2GHz (1 x 512MB stick) - I have swapped around Ram between these models before with no issues - am I looking at a faulty Ram slot? The behavior with the problem is the same in all cases one long tone on start-up followed by the sleep light flashing then a shorter tone the the sleep light just blinks

Thanks

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Answer 5

eww

Level 9

53,028 points

Aug 23, 2008 8:53 PM in response to troy1974

Both Powerbooks require PC2700 RAM. RAM that works in the 1.5GHz Powerbook should work fine in the 1.25. PC 2700 RAM will work in the iBook, too (though not at its maximum speed), but an original PC2100 module from the iBook isn't compatible with either Powerbook.

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Answer 6

troy1974 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 24, 2008 3:30 PM in response to eww

Yes the Ram I'm using is PC2700 which is Apple bought specifically for my PowerBook

I don't know what else could be causing this issue other than bad Ram slots - I know Apple did an extension programme for 1.5GHz Powerbooks affected by faulty Ram slots but the 1.25GHz currently isn't included on this programme - this programme finished in July anyway

thanks

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Answer 7

eww

Level 9

53,028 points

Aug 24, 2008 4:04 PM in response to troy1974

Hi, Troy. In one of the 1.25GHz Powerbook's RAM slots, insert a RAM module that you know works properly in the 1.5GHz Powerbook. Leave the other slot empty. Try to start the Powerbook, first from its hard drive and then from a suitable OS installer CD or DVD, and note the results each time. (If you have the model-specific Install/Restore DVD that originally came with the 1.25GHz Powerbook, you can also try to run the Apple Hardware Test on that disc — instructions for running AHT should be on the disc label. Note the reported AHT results, if any.) Then move the RAM module to the other slot, leaving the first slot empty. Repeat the same tests.

If the Powerbook won't start from its hard drive or from a suitable CD or DVD with good RAM in either slot, there are no more diagnostic tests you can perform yourself, short of replacing parts by trial and error — and beginning with the logic board, which could be pretty pricey. Unless you have ready access to a supply of cheap, dependable parts, the machine will have to be repaired professionally before you can use it.

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