jaruzek
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Mac Pro startup - full chime, then 4 brief ones. Help?

Hello, sorry in advance for the long post, but I want to be concise.

 

I own a Mac Pro 1,1 which has started to exhibit some strange behaviour. Namely, when the Power On Self-Test runs (meaning I just stated my Mac from full shutdown), I hear the full chime, and then 4 brief ones.

 

I think that means I get 4 "beeps":

4 beeps = no good boot images in the boot ROM (and/or bad sys config block)

 

Unfortunately, the article doesn't suggest any way in I might rectify this issue.

 

Cause or coincidence, but the other day I installed an OCZ Petrol SSD (with Icy Dock) at around the same time this began. However, I tend to leave my Mac Pro on for extended periods of time, so this may have started earlier. I have removed it and tried to use my usual HD, but no difference there.

 

To date, I have verified/repaired disks and permissions, and both reset the PRAM and the SMC. I used Rember to test the RAM, and TechTool Deluxe 3.1.3 (not boot from disc) to test everything else (it crashes when testing Video RAM). Everything checks. I still have the original ATI X1900T kicking around somewhere.

 

I would love to run Apple Hardware Test, but I don't have the discs that came with the system. I tried seeing if it'd run from Lion internet recovery, but all I got the first time was a blank grey screen that never amounted to anything, and thereafter it would just boot the system normally.

 

Trying to boot any DVD other than my Lion disc (burnt in Disk Utility from InstallESD.dmg) gave me a circle with a line crossing it. This includes TTD, Snow Leopard and Leopard.

 

Here are my current specs:

 

Mac Pro 1,1:

  • Mac OS X Lion 10.7.3 (11D50b)
  • 2 x 2.66 GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon
  • 8 GB 667 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM (4x1GB original from Apple, 2x2GB from Crucial)
  • ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024 MB
  • MCE 12x Blu-ray Disc Internal Recordable Drive
  • Pioneer DVD-RW  DVR-112D (original from Apple, bay 2)
  • OCZ Petrol 128GB 2.5IN SATA3 Indilinx Everest SSD (enclosed with Icy Dock MB882-SP-1S-1B)
  • Drobo (2nd gen), connected via USB (Firewire has proven very problematic with Lion, despite all updates)

 

It seems, besides loading older OS discs (never tried before) and the 4 chimes, everything is working as usual.

 

What can I do to fix this?

 

Thanks,

Jonathan

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Mar 9, 2012 11:56 AM

by X423424X,Solvedanswer
X423424X X423424X
Level 6 (14,237 points)
A:

The multiple chiming thing with added periphials was a problem that was posted some time ago.  I don't remember if there was a solution or not.

 

I don't have that thread handy so you would have to fish around with google to see if you can stumble upon the right keywords to find it (hint, add site:discussions.apple.com in a google search to limit the searches to just these apple discussions).

 

I don't use Lion so I won't comment on it's problems in this thread's context.

Posted on Mar 9, 2012 12:59 PM

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jaruzek

Q: Mac Pro startup - full chime, then 4 brief ones. Help?

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  • by X423424X,

    X423424X X423424X Mar 9, 2012 12:05 PM in response to jaruzek
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    Mar 9, 2012 12:05 PM in response to jaruzek

    Have you tried booting without any additional peripherals attached (FW, USB)?

     

    Are any diagnostic leds lit on the logic board?

  • by jaruzek,

    jaruzek jaruzek Mar 9, 2012 12:07 PM in response to X423424X
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 9, 2012 12:07 PM in response to X423424X

    I will disconnect everything and give it a shot. As far as I can see, there are no diagnostic lights lit when peering inside.

  • by jaruzek,

    jaruzek jaruzek Mar 9, 2012 12:37 PM in response to X423424X
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 9, 2012 12:37 PM in response to X423424X

    Looks like I couldn't edit my last post, but here's an update. I unplugged all other peripherals, reset PRAM and SMC (for safe measure). I have power cycled a couple of times, with no additional chimes. Really, don't know why I tried everything but that.

     

    I wil reconnect everything one-by-one and see if there's any culprit. Though it is curious that the system would not boot any older operating systems. Has Lion really prevented that? Would like to know for sure.

     

    I'll add an update later today after, I finally eat something and maybe take a nap. If it really was as simple as you suggested, X423424X, I could kiss you.

  • by X423424X,Solvedanswer

    X423424X X423424X Mar 9, 2012 12:59 PM in response to jaruzek
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    Mar 9, 2012 12:59 PM in response to jaruzek

    The multiple chiming thing with added periphials was a problem that was posted some time ago.  I don't remember if there was a solution or not.

     

    I don't have that thread handy so you would have to fish around with google to see if you can stumble upon the right keywords to find it (hint, add site:discussions.apple.com in a google search to limit the searches to just these apple discussions).

     

    I don't use Lion so I won't comment on it's problems in this thread's context.

  • by jaruzek,

    jaruzek jaruzek Mar 9, 2012 5:10 PM in response to X423424X
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 9, 2012 5:10 PM in response to X423424X

    X423424X wrote:

     

    The multiple chiming thing with added periphials was a problem that was posted some time ago.  I don't remember if there was a solution or not.

     

    This. As suggested, I disconnected all additional peripherals.

     

    One-by-one, I reconnected to see which device may have been causing the 4 chimes. Sadly, it's my beloved Drobo. But only via USB (Firewire 800 A-OK). And I tested other ports as well. My other external USB Lacie HD seems alright.

     

    This is a problem. Until now, USB was the only reliable way to use the Drobo (gen 2), since Lion somehow messed up its interface with Firewire. With FW, large data transfers freeze up the system and/or the Drobo.

     

    To reinforce, I never had any issue whatsoever with Snow Leopard. I'm even using the most up-to-date firmware and dashboard. I will have to pen a ticket with Data Robotics, again.

     

    Thanks for your help, X423424X. And if anyone has a similar issue, or can explain my booting from disc mystery, I would love to hear it.

  • by X423424X,

    X423424X X423424X Mar 9, 2012 5:40 PM in response to jaruzek
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    Mar 9, 2012 5:40 PM in response to jaruzek

    Well at least you now know what the problem is.

     

    Since I don't use Lion I'll stary away from the disk boot problen.