Startup chime keeps repeating - Mac won't boot

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Level 1

1 points

Startup chime keeps repeating - Mac won't boot

Help - My MacBook Pro froze while I was working - upon restart attempt, startup chime keeps repeating and MCB Pro will not boot. After several attempts MCB Pro will play startup chime once and then a black and white horizontal screen patterns appears on screen and nothing else happens. I tried to restart with Boot CD and MCB Pro will not recognize disc. I also tried starting up in safe mode and as a Firewire drive to another MCB Pro. Any suggestions on getting my MCB Pro back in action?

<Edited by Host>

Thanks in advance for your help!

MCB Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on May 2, 2009 6:52 AM

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Answer 1

May 3, 2009 1:26 AM in response to shellie619

HI,

*"upon restart attempt, startup chime keeps repeating"*

That could be the RAM.

1 tone, a 5-second pause, repeat No RAM installed
3 successive tones, a 5-second pause, 3 successive tones RAM does not pass data integrity check
1 long tone when holding down the power button Firmware upgrade in process. See this article for more details.
3 long tones, 3 short tones, 3 long tones Firmware restoration from CD in process. See this article for more details.

*"I tried to restart with Boot CD and MCB Pro will not recognize disc"*

Go here http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417 Scroll down to where you see, Use fsck.

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 2

shellie619 Author

Level 1

1 points

May 4, 2009 7:59 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thanks for the info - but I cannot get my mac started to use the fsck commands. Any other suggestions?

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Answer 3

May 4, 2009 10:57 AM in response to shellie619

HI,

*"I tried to restart with Boot CD and MCB Pro will not recognize disc. I also tried starting up in safe mode and as a Firewire drive to another MCB Pro." "but I cannot get my mac started to use the fsck commands"*

It's time to take it in for service. Without being able to boot from the install disk, or use fsck, or Target Disk Mode, it's obvious the boot disk needs repairing or replacing. Sorry...

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 4

Lyssa

Level 8

41,327 points

May 4, 2009 11:23 AM in response to shellie619

In most cases, seeing lines across the screen means a graphics card failure. For a MacBook, this means the logic board needs to be replaced.

If you can't get the machine to boot from an install disc, you can't do much more troubleshooting at home. As Carolyn said, it's time to bring it in to a store and have a Tech take a look.

~Lyssa

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Answer 5

May 4, 2009 11:26 AM in response to Lyssa

Thanks Lyssa, I couldn't think of any other trouble shooting ideas... nice to get back up help!

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 6

Lyssa

Level 8

41,327 points

May 4, 2009 11:34 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

No problem, Carolyn. Even if the RAM/HD in the computer were bad, the install disc should be able to boot the machine, which makes me think the logic board has failed in the OP's machine.

~Lyssa

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Answer 7

shellie619 Author

Level 1

1 points

May 4, 2009 1:19 PM in response to Lyssa

Thanks so much for all the replies - I took my MacBook Pro to the Apple Genius Bar and they tested the Graphics Accelerator Chip, and as luck would have it - this was part of the BAD batch NVIDIA and is completely covered for 2 years from date of purchase - regardless of your Apple Care status. This bad video chip also gets me a brand new logic board - with no cost whatsoever to me. The guys at the Genius Bar were friendly and efficient. I will get me newly refurbished MacBook Pro back in about a week - which was perfect timing because I am heading out of town for 6 days and will be fine without it.

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Answer 8

Lyssa

Level 8

41,327 points

May 4, 2009 1:26 PM in response to shellie619

Good to hear things have been resolved! Do come back if you have more issues 🙂

~Lyssa

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