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Level 1

8 points

2010 unibody 15" Macbook Pro 3 beeps after reformat

I bought a 2010 Unibody 15" Macbook Pro from an office that was closing. They had not removed their software from the Macbook and did not provide the username and password. I tried to reboot from a purchased copy of Mountain Lion and I just get to the gray apple with the spinning wheel and a repeating 3 beeps. So I booted it as a taget drive and hooked it up to my 2008 17" Macbook Pro and used Disk Utility to erase the hard drive. Then I used a purchased copy of Snow Leopard to reformat the drive. In the Target mode, it showed the installation was successful. But upon unmounting and restarting, the 15" Macbook Pro returns to the gray apple and spinning wheel and 3 beeps. Undaunted, I again started it in Target mode and hooked it back up to the 17" Macbook Pro. Again I used Disk Utility to Erase the 15" hard drive. Then I unmounted the 15" and put the Mountain Lion disk in and tried to boot the 15" from the CD. No joy! Again the gray apple, spinning wheel and the repating set of 3 beeps.

When I first got the 15 Macbook Pro, it would boot to the Username and Password screen so it looked like it had been used on a regular basis before it was sold.

Any ideas?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.0.x)

Posted on Jan 4, 2013 6:48 AM

Best reply

sanjampet

Level 5

7,982 points

Posted on Jan 4, 2013 6:55 AM

The 3 beeps is usually a RAM issuse, wrong ram, bad ram, chips not seated correctly...

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39 replies

Wander65 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 15, 2013 1:30 PM in response to pyraxiate

I'll have to try that tonight. Figured it might be something really simple because the MBP was basically working before I erased the hard drive and I've even reinstalled new RAM. Hopefully that fixes the issue and I can proceed.

Feb 15, 2013 1:38 PM in response to Wander65

Dont forget to drop in and let us know if it helps 🙂 Ive got my fingers crossed for you!

Wander65 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 15, 2013 5:46 PM in response to pyraxiate

Well, I removed the pogo connector altogether and electrical taped over the connector points and it made absolutely no difference. Worth a try though. Thanks!

Feb 15, 2013 5:50 PM in response to Wander65

Did you cover all of the spots where ALL the pogo pins touch the bottom case? The long thing was only part of what I did. I also covered all of the spots that made contact with the case. There are about 10 pins alltogether. Im thinking for me it was the 2 on either side of the dimm banks. Try yours with the case off and see if it still beeps?

Wander65 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 15, 2013 5:54 PM in response to pyraxiate

I didn't tape over the spots along the very edge of the case but i did hit the 4 around the DIMM slots. I did also remove the case and it made no difference. Screen gets past the grey apple and then starts the 3 beeps over and over. Kind of mystified.

esben72

Level 1

39 points

Mar 23, 2013 7:03 PM in response to Wander65

The beeps is because a 10.6.0 install. If you update it to 10.6.8 it will boot fine. You can do that in target mode on your 2008 17"

Wander65 Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 24, 2013 4:23 PM in response to esben72

Really? I'll give it a try. What an odd warning for something that has nothing to do with the problem.

esben72

Level 1

39 points

Mar 24, 2013 9:03 PM in response to Wander65

well I did have that problem (trying to install SL on a newer Macbook Pro, getting 3 beeps) a couple times now.

First time it took quite while before realizing the 10.6.6 issue. Today I stumbled over your post because I forgot which version was needed.

Anyway it is a well documented process - Just google "macbook 3 beeps installing Snow leopard" without the marks it will be in the three top hits

1. Install SL on it in Target Mode on the 2008 17"

2. Restart the 17" with "ALT" key pressed to start up from the 2010 Macbook's HDD

3. Run Software Update to get 10.6.8

Wander65 Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 25, 2013 12:28 AM in response to esben72

Well I'll be....

esben72's solution solved my problem. I used a slightly different method

1. Install 10.6.3 in Target Mode from Retail SL disk via the 2008 17" MBP

2. Download all updates to 10.6.8 and install each on the 2010 Unibody MBP in Target Mode

3. Shut down the 2010 Unibody MBP and disconnect firewire cable

4. Restart 2010 Unibody MBP

5. Select Software Update from Apple Menu to bring the 10.6.8 up to current version

Works like a dream now, without a trip to the Apple Store! Huge thanks to everyone who gave suggestions and helped narrow this down!

Mark

2010 unibody 15" Macbook Pro 3 beeps after reformat