Why is my MacBook Pro beeping at me??

Question

Level 1

15 points

Why is my MacBook Pro beeping at me??

I tried to install some new Crucial RAM - 4GB - into my MacBook Pro (Penryn).

I snapped it into place and when I replaced the battery and tried to boot up, it started this alarm-like BEEP BEEP BEEP at me, only stopping when I took out the battery. Very frightening ...

I tried again and the same thing happened. Very, very frightening...

But when I put the original 2GB of RAM back in, it booted up like normal.

What did I do wrong? What's happening? Help!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Jun 24, 2009 3:36 PM

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Answer 1

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Jun 24, 2009 3:55 PM in response to Trevor Cole

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1547

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Jun 24, 2009 3:55 PM in response to Trevor Cole

See Power On Self-Test Beep Definition - Part 2.

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Answer 3

Jun 24, 2009 4:09 PM in response to Trevor Cole

I had a very similar situation, I installed 2 2gig strips and I would get the chime, then three beeps. It turned out one of my strips was bad. The way they troubled shot it was by putting one in at a time, the first one booted fine, the second one three beeps and nothing. Replaced the 2nd and has been working like a champ, check your ram.

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Answer 4

Trevor Cole Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 25, 2009 8:37 AM in response to Trevor Cole

Thanks for the help. It turns out it was, in fact, a bad module. One worked fine and the next caused the beeping, so they say they're sending me a new one.

You'd think they'd test these things before they ship them.

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Answer 5

ken986

Level 1

0 points

Sep 7, 2009 6:01 AM in response to Trevor Cole

What do you mean by module? Are you referring to the RAM stick?

I am also a victim of the annoying beeps at boot-up except mine are 9 beeps. I testes the RAM and both work perfectly. My particular issue is that the top RAM socket is defective. I'm able to boot perfectly with no problem when only the bottom RAM socket is occupied. May someone tell me how to fix this? Is this one of those cases where Apple is going to send me a new laptop?

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Answer 6

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Sep 7, 2009 8:29 AM in response to ken986

Hi Ken,

ken986 wrote:
What do you mean by module? Are you referring to the RAM stick?

Yes, that's a reference to a RAM module.

I am also a victim of the annoying beeps at boot-up except mine are 9 beeps. I testes the RAM and both work perfectly. My particular issue is that the top RAM socket is defective. I'm able to boot perfectly with no problem when only the bottom RAM socket is occupied. May someone tell me how to fix this? Is this one of those cases where Apple is going to send me a new laptop?

If you are still covered by Apple's one year hardware warranty, or have purchased AppleCare and are still covered under the additional two years, contact AppleCare or visit an Apple Store/AASP. Only they can tell you what they're going to do.

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