MacBook Pro occasionally makes strange beep sound (single loud beep)

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Lutetia Author

Level 4

1,872 points

MacBook Pro occasionally makes strange beep sound (single loud beep)

Hello All,

My mid-2009 MacBook Pro has been making strange noises lately.

While I'm using it, it will occasionally make a single, fairly loud, beep sound lasting just 1 second.

It seems to be coming from the right-hand side.

This has happened four times in the last 48 hours (twice in the last 30 minutes) and once last week.

Any idea what could be causing this and what it means?

The computer is otherwise working perfectly fine.

Thanks for any feedback.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6), 15" anti-glare mid-2009

Posted on Jan 20, 2013 10:18 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

clintonfrombirmingham

Level 7

30,100 points

Jan 20, 2013 10:21 PM in response to Lutetia

You might want to run the Apple Hardware Testto see if it reports any hardware failure. If you get no error reports form the AHT, I would take the machine into your local Apple Store for better hardware diagnostics.

Good luck,

Clinton

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Answer 2

Lutetia Author

Level 4

1,872 points

Jan 20, 2013 10:24 PM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

Thank you, I will try that.

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Answer 3

Lutetia Author

Level 4

1,872 points

Jan 21, 2013 7:34 AM in response to Lutetia

The Apple Hardware Test (Extended Version) found no problems.

I'm going to book an appointment with the Genius Bar. I hope they can find the cause.

I did buy a new MagSafe power adapter recently.. The one that came with my computer was a 60W. The rep who sold me the adapter advised me to get the 85W this time. He said the mid-2009 model could use one or the other, but that the 85W would be more "forward compatible."

Now I'm wondering whether any possible defect with the adapter might have anything to do with the noise the computer is making...

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Answer 4

Lutetia Author

Level 4

1,872 points

Jan 27, 2013 9:34 AM in response to Lutetia

The visit to the Genius Bar did not shed any light on this issue.

The rep did not do any hardware testing, since, according to him, if the problem was hardware-related, there would typically be more than a single random beep.

He suggested updating all of my software and keeping an eye on console messages.

I have been doing that, but there are no particular console messages being displayed when the beep occurs.

I have noticed that if I lower the speaker volume, when the beep does occur, it is less audible, i.e. the volume is dependent on the speaker setting.

It's happening 2 or 3 times a day now. Not really a problem, but I would like to know if there's anything that needs fixing inside the machine.

Has anyone else had this happening with their MacBook Pro?

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Answer 5

Jan 27, 2013 9:36 AM in response to Lutetia

My first thought is RAM related. Have you done anything different here lately??

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Answer 6

Lutetia Author

Level 4

1,872 points

Jan 27, 2013 9:49 AM in response to leroydouglas

No, nothing has changed. No new software. No third-party RAM.

The Genius Bar rep said that if RAM was involved, I would be hearing three beeps, not one....

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Answer 7

Jan 27, 2013 10:01 AM in response to Lutetia

Yes 3 beeps in RAM too and more common. As well as one, and two beeps- different RAM problems

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