Intel Macbook Pro - freezing and 3 beeps

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Level 1

24 points

Intel Macbook Pro - freezing and 3 beeps

Hi,

I've had some issues this week where my laptop freezes and emits 3 beeps. I noticed my laptop didn't sleep properly on my commute into work (unlike myself!) and when I took it out of the bag, the fans were running and it was pretty hot. The problems seemed to have started after that (perhaps not the same day, maybe the day after).

Having search I can see others have had this problem. I'm aware of this thread:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1547

So I have no good banks (like most of the UK...)?

Well, I replaced the RAM yesterday with compatible Crucial memory and the problem hasn't gone away. In fact, today it's got worse. I've had to force restart my laptop about 12 times today because of the beeps. So Apple's beeps says the problem is RAM related. But it can't be that if I've replaced it, surely?

I've tried resetting PRAM, running diskutility to repair permissions etc. All the usual things you'd want to rule out.

With Apple's upcoming 'event' I can't yet book a genius appointment. It's out of warranty now anyway, but I guess this is my only option?

Any thoughts/suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks,

Posted on Sep 6, 2013 9:46 AM

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Answer 1

SteveHarvey Author

Level 1

24 points

Sep 6, 2013 10:12 AM in response to SteveHarvey

Just to add to this, looking at Console, it appears there is some kind of Kernel issue going on. Every time it's crashed, I'm seeing this. I've managed to track this to the time during the day it's happened (multiple times) - matches every time:

06/09/2013 17:30:46.000 kernel[0]: com.apple.message.domain: com.apple.kernel.external_

modification
com.apple.message.signature: FinderLoadBundle(1D9130A5-07F4-87C1-4134-B93DE4B9065B)
com.apple.message.signature2: Finder(5AF2416D-6AF0-386F-86D5-A276C74780E6)
com.apple.message.result: noop

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Answer 2

bestofall

Level 2

181 points

Sep 6, 2013 10:15 AM in response to SteveHarvey

No good banks mean the actual slots that you put the RAM into not the RAM itself. Try isolating to see if it is only one of the slots. Plug just one stick of RAM (that you know is good) into a slot, if the same issue occurs, try plugging the same RAM into the next slot. Be sure they are seated correctly as this can cause the same issue. I am thinking that one of the slots is fried but the other is still usable.

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Answer 3

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Sep 6, 2013 10:22 AM in response to SteveHarvey

Did you try a SMC reset?

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964

If no success, run an Apple Hardware Test:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1509

You may need to start it with the OPTION and D keys.

Ciao.

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Answer 4

SteveHarvey Author

Level 1

24 points

Sep 6, 2013 12:49 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

I've done an SMC reset and just ran an (extended) Apple Hardware Test. It reports 'No trouble found'.

Bestofall: thanks for your suggestion too - it sounds like it's worth trying that to see if I can isolate the issue that way.

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Answer 5

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Sep 6, 2013 1:02 PM in response to SteveHarvey

What model MBP do you have and what are the EXACT RAM specifications you have installed in the MBP?

Ciao.

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Answer 6

SteveHarvey Author

Level 1

24 points

Sep 6, 2013 1:05 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

2.2 GHz Intel Core i7. March 2011.

It came with two banks of 4. Thinking my RAM was dead, I decided to upgrade to two banks of 8gb - it's DDDR3L 1333 - Crucial's website said it was compatible.

To clarify, the problem started before I changed the RAM (it was shipped with this RAM).

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Answer 7

rtabor44

Level 1

50 points

Sep 6, 2013 1:21 PM in response to SteveHarvey

To clarrify you got DDR3L or DDR3 1333? There is a difference. your laptop is not recommends to have the ddr3L in it seeing that it is low voltage. 2012 and up can support not later than that.

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Answer 8

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Sep 6, 2013 1:30 PM in response to SteveHarvey

Try the swaps suggested by bestofall. If no success, this is a guess on my par,t but I would get out the install disks and reinstall the OS.

Ciao.

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Answer 9

SteveHarvey Author

Level 1

24 points

Sep 6, 2013 1:37 PM in response to rtabor44

This is what I ordred. Using the compatability tool with this site, it says this is compatible with Early 2011 versions of the MBP. But it definitely says DDR3L-1333 on the packet:

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=CC58F504A5CA7304

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Answer 10

SteveHarvey Author

Level 1

24 points

Sep 6, 2013 1:38 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Thanks Ogelthorpe. I'm currently running now with just one of the RAM banks being used. I guess it's just a trial and error now. Slightly concerned though with what I'm being told about the new RAM I have and it not being compatible...

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Answer 11

rtabor44

Level 1

50 points

Sep 6, 2013 1:40 PM in response to SteveHarvey

Which ram is working within your system?

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Answer 12

bestofall

Level 2

181 points

Sep 6, 2013 1:42 PM in response to rtabor44

"To clarrify you got DDR3L or DDR3 1333? There is a difference. your laptop is not recommends to have the ddr3L in it seeing that it is low voltage. 2012 and up can support not later than that."

Point is moot as his issue started before he ever changed RAM.

I would say do the testing with original RAM first. It could be incompatiable but your issue is its not even working with any RAM. Rule out the slots with the original RAM then move on trying the new RAM.

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Answer 13

SteveHarvey Author

Level 1

24 points

Sep 6, 2013 1:44 PM in response to rtabor44

I'm currently running with the new RAM I bought (in the link I just mentioned) but with just one bank of 8GB installed. If I get the same problem occur, I plan to swap to the other bank to see if that helps.

EDIT: will revert to the original RAM, that makes good sense.

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Answer 14

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Sep 6, 2013 1:53 PM in response to SteveHarvey

The prior discussions on this forum regarding voltage differences indicate that low voltage RAM may result in marginally superior battery life but the performance will be the same.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5233962?answerId=22712998022#22712998022

If you had the Crucial scanner select the RAM or that you are certain that you selected the correct RAM from their web site, I should think that RAM is not the issue (though very rare, new RAM can be faulty). You may have a hardware problem which can only be rectified by an Apple store genius bar or AASP.

One item I neglected to mention was trying a Safe Boot which should dismiss the possibility that any third party software is the problem. Little chance that this will help, but certainly will not hurt to try:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455

Ciao.

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Answer 15

rtabor44

Level 1

50 points

Sep 6, 2013 1:54 PM in response to SteveHarvey

"To clarrify you got DDR3L or DDR3 1333? There is a difference. your laptop is not recommends to have the ddr3L in it seeing that it is low voltage. 2012 and up can support not later than that."

Yes you are right bestofall. How ever if the system was not working when he initally put both in i was trying to narrow it down to the percise problem.

Does either of the 2gb of ram work in the slots. If so one or both dimm slots with one stick in the sytem?

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