MnDon
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Macbook won't boot

When I turn on my Macbook, it just beeps three times.  Prior to this happening, I got a screen that said I must reboot.  Is this a virus?

Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on May 28, 2012 9:56 AM

by BGreg,Solvedanswer
BGreg BGreg
Level 6 (17,522 points)
A:

If you have 2 memory cards, did you try reversing positions? If the memory cards are 1GB or greater, did you try one card at a time?

 

Unless you have a friend with the same model MacBook, so you could try swapping your memory with working memory, or you have a friend in the trade who would let you swap to test, yes, you need to take it either to an Apple store or to an AASP.

Posted on May 29, 2012 3:56 PM

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MnDon

Q: Macbook won't boot

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  • by BGreg,Helpful

    BGreg BGreg May 28, 2012 6:09 PM in response to MnDon
    Level 6 (17,522 points)
    May 28, 2012 6:09 PM in response to MnDon

    It is not a virus.

     

    When you got the screen that said you need to reboot, probably in several languages, that's called a kernel panic. A kernel panic is usually, but not always, caused by hardware, with memory the leading cause.

     

    The 3 beeps is a power on self test error that says the system can't access any operational memory. You should first reseat (take it out then put it back in) the memory, see this Apple note. If that doesn't work, then you should substitute known working memory in place of your existing memory. If that still doesn't work, then you should take the system to an Apple store or Apple Authorized Service Provider for repair.

  • by MnDon,

    MnDon MnDon May 29, 2012 11:31 AM in response to BGreg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 29, 2012 11:31 AM in response to BGreg

    THis helped so I know it is not a virus.  I reseated the memory, but that did not help.  Is the only alternative to take it into an Apple store to be repaired?

     

    Thanks a lot.

  • by BGreg,Solvedanswer

    BGreg BGreg May 29, 2012 3:56 PM in response to MnDon
    Level 6 (17,522 points)
    May 29, 2012 3:56 PM in response to MnDon

    If you have 2 memory cards, did you try reversing positions? If the memory cards are 1GB or greater, did you try one card at a time?

     

    Unless you have a friend with the same model MacBook, so you could try swapping your memory with working memory, or you have a friend in the trade who would let you swap to test, yes, you need to take it either to an Apple store or to an AASP.