2010 unibody 15" Macbook Pro 3 beeps after reformat

Yes, that is a drive, I wish I could have helped you, and I am REALLY surprised OGELTHORPE was not able, as he is one of those guru types. I wish you all the best, I think when you erased the disk, you might have messed up the format. I had the unpleasant experience myself, and it is quite easy to do. I wish all the best, @ $350.00/gallon :)

SMC reset:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

Ciao.

OGETHORPE got here first, boy that guy is fast, as I was dealing with a person who needed handholding. Not to mention my machine will ot stop binging!

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

Hey OLGETHORPE, Thank you very much kicking in on this:)

I have spent the bulk of the morning recreating what you have done with dissimilar but unsuccessful results.

I have a 2006 MBP with 3 partitions. I made that a Target Disk MBP and used my 2010 MBP as the source to install a retail Snow Leopard OS in an empty partition. The result was that some of the OS files were installed but not all. My 2010 MBP made the restart chime but was stuck on the Apple logo screen with the SL install disk inside. A PRAM reset was needed to unfreeze it and retrieve the disk. The 2006 MBP has Snow Leopard installed in another partition and Leopard in the third partition. Thus it is not a question of incompatible hardware.

Currently I am in the process partitioning the 2010 MBP in order to install the Snow Leopard retail disk OS just to make certain that it is functional.

My question to you is why did you choose to use Target Disk Mode to install the OS? Are the Optical Drives inoperable?

I'll respond later when I get the 2010 fully partitioned and see how the test install fares.

Ciao

What should be simple, turned out to be otherwise. After three failed attempts at partitioning, A PRAM reset allowed a new partition to be installed.

Inserted the retail SL disk and about 25 minutes into the install, hear the chime, get a Apple logo and it just sits there. Did that twice.

Inserted the original SL install disk and installed the OS, BUT got hung up on the welcome screen. Twice! PRAM reset, allowed the conclusion of the installation. OPTION key startup gives two bootable volumes.

Partitioned the new partition and inserted the retail SL disk to install on the now third partition and again the chime and the Apple logo (without the gear which showed up with the original install disk) and nothing else. I let it sit for 45 minutes in the naive hope that it would complete the process. Did not.

My conclusion is that there is something faulty with the retail disk. I may try a last Don Quixote attempt tomorrow and swap in a different HDD in the 2010 MBP and se if that makes any difference. I have doubts.

With all my efforts with the retail SL disk, I did get the same result, a partial file transfer. This was both via Target disk or a direct attempt. This suggests that Target disk might be a valid method, but not definitive in my eyes.

Have you tried swapping and switching the RAM chips among the two 2010 MBPs. Even one chip, if it is good should allow for operation. You said that one of the MBPs was running the Apple Hardware test. Any results?

Maybe the simplest option is to take the two MBPs to the Apple store on have the Genius bar technicians plug in their analytic tools and get a definitive diagnosis of the faults.

Ciao.

Here is some more RAM/error code information for your reading pleasure:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2341

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2674

Buying the retail Snow Leopard disk makes sense. It saves having to get the original Installation disks. Hold off on that until you get the diagnosis of the issues from the Apple store technicians.

I swapped HDDs in the 2010 MBP, partitioned it (no problems today) and installed the SL retail disk. Like yesterday, I heard the chime and then gray Apple screen with no gear. Conclusion, the disk must be faulty. Therefore I cannot recreate your scenario at the moment.

Unless one is in the Amazon, there comes a point where even a long trip to an Apple store is cost effective. I would make the appointment if I were in your situation.

Keep me posted as to what the technicians find.

Ciao.

Well, I have an early 2011 macbook pro that has had the exact same thing occur. I was getting 3 beeps upon moving my macbook pro ever so slightly ( i7 2635qm / 16gb ddr3 / Ati 256mb ddr5 graphics). I tested the macbook pro with my bottom cover off gently pressing on my dimm slots, memory, hard drive connectors... .everything. The laptop stayed running with zero issues ( Yes I was electrostatically shielded while testing via rubber gloves and a grounding strap to my wrist ).

As soon as I put the case back on, it immediatly started beeping. I then remembered seeing those HORRIBLE pogo pin grounding connectors around the ram slots. I decided to take some black electrical tape and cover over the spots on the bottom plate wher the pogo pins make contact not only around the memory, but all over the bottom plate including the grounding rod seen in this post here :

http://6ixpassions.com/post/1095520847/fix-the-ticking-clicking-sound-in-your-ma cbook-pro

Guess what? I can now pick up my macbook pro, move it around, tap on the bottom, shake it, toss it on my bed, stuff it in a case and carry it around in my backpack.... and I have had ZERO issues since 😀

I hope this helps some of you guys having this annoying 3 beep issue. It may not be the MASTER fix for the issue, but it sure did resolve my problems. The only thing I can immagine is that there were are either faulty pogo pins causing grounding shorts ( Which is very common if you research the pogo pin connector type ), or a magical Genie flew into my macbook pro and stopped the issue LOL.