Wander65
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: 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

by esben72,Solvedanswer
esben72 esben72
Level 1 (35 points)
A:

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

Posted on Mar 24, 2013 9:03 PM

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Wander65

Q: 2010 unibody 15" Macbook Pro 3 beeps after reformat

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  • by pyraxiate,

    pyraxiate pyraxiate Feb 15, 2013 12:23 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Feb 15, 2013 12:23 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    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 :

     

    Fix-the-metallic-sound-of-MacBookPro-Unibody.jpg

     

    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.

  • by Wander65,

    Wander65 Wander65 Feb 15, 2013 1:30 PM in response to pyraxiate
    Level 1 (0 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.

  • by pyraxiate,

    pyraxiate pyraxiate Feb 15, 2013 1:38 PM in response to Wander65
    Level 1 (10 points)
    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!

  • by Wander65,

    Wander65 Wander65 Feb 15, 2013 5:46 PM in response to pyraxiate
    Level 1 (0 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!

  • by pyraxiate,

    pyraxiate pyraxiate Feb 15, 2013 5:50 PM in response to Wander65
    Level 1 (10 points)
    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?

  • by Wander65,

    Wander65 Wander65 Feb 15, 2013 5:54 PM in response to pyraxiate
    Level 1 (0 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.

  • by esben72,

    esben72 esben72 Mar 23, 2013 7:03 PM in response to Wander65
    Level 1 (35 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"

  • by Wander65,

    Wander65 Wander65 Mar 24, 2013 4:23 PM in response to esben72
    Level 1 (0 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.

  • by esben72,Solvedanswer

    esben72 esben72 Mar 24, 2013 9:03 PM in response to Wander65
    Level 1 (35 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

  • by Wander65,

    Wander65 Wander65 Mar 25, 2013 12:28 AM in response to esben72
    Level 1 (0 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

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