Macbook Pro screen glitches, 3 beeps, NOT THE RAM

Sounds like a different problem to me. When you say "top slot" you mean the one furthest from the keyboard, closest to the bottom panel, right? Because if you're putting it in the top slot as the machine is sitting right side up, that's NOT the "safe" slot.

Yes, top slot is the one you have to take out first befor reaching the second one.

Later last night my laptop had a more serious overheating episode. While I was looking things up and tweaking things around I noticed for the first time my sleep indicator light was basically dead. It doesn't light up during startup nor does it blink when supposedly it's sleeping, which made me question more whether my laptop was actually sleeping (but then again it's dead during startup too and I'm pretty sure it was actually starting up...). So it might be a separate issue? Anyway. I think for now what I can really do is to shut it down every time I'm leaving it.... while initially overheating seems like an issue that only happens when I transport it in my backpack now it even happens when I just let it sit on the table. Thanks so much for helping!

I think your computer has more issues than just this one. Separate issue is definitely my vote. I've heard of folks having to re-install OS and also having to replace the fan.

Overheating is a serious problem, and shutting that computer off when not using it is a must until you get it sorted.

Do a search on the overheating thing, maybe go to an Apple Store genius bar if you can.

It was recommended to me that sleep and overheating problems are notoriously difficult to solve and often require an OS-reinstall, but I'm not certain that's the case.

Since my problems were all solved when I went to only one RAM DIMM, I can't be sure of what yours are. The fact is, now that it's a 5-year old machine, I'm thinking my next big issue with this computer will be the last. I hope not, though. Because this computer has remained useful and awesome longer than any other I've owned. I don't really like the new form factors better, don't need the retina screen BS on a laptop (love it on a tablet though), and it still does everything I want.

Sorry I can't be more help.

An update on my case: I was in the process of backing it up while I tried to restart and do some trick I saw online so the process could go faster. After I shut it down I was never able to startup my laptop again. Every time the progress bar took 15 minutes to load completely and the machine immediately just shut down afterwards. I tried every trick possible (saw some hard drive errors in the process) before deciding to do an emergency backup through saving disk image in recovery mode and then erasing my hard drive as well as reinstalling the OS. I think I was able to eventually turn on my laptop again but it was excruciatingly slow. My friend suggested that it could be a hard drive failure so I bought an SSD (time for an upgrade on that anyway) and a new hard drive cable. I had a slow machine problem last summer and solved it by replacing my hard drive cable. There are slightly different symptoms this time so I didn't immediately suspect that it could be the same problem again but I thought I could just buy it and see what happens. I replaced the cable first and my laptop started up fine (only normally slow and significantly faster than when I was having the issue) so my hard drive's probably fine. I swapped in the SSD afterwards and woah I don't think I've had such a great experience using my laptop since a long long time ago.

So basically, I think I've let both the barcode and overheat issue running for too long that they've started affecting my cable for some reason, and I would suggest a cable replacement for anyone going through similar problems. Now because my laptop actually manages to start up in seconds again, I don't mind just shutting it off when I need to travel to prevent overheat during sleeping. I don't even want to test whether the problem is there anymore because I don't want to take the chance....

I would like to bro hug everyone here..

Have been experiencing the same issue, barcode freeze + restart for few days and just now got my first 3 beeps.

Macbook pro 13" Mid2012 non-retina user here

What I've tried:

- using paper under ram slots mentioned by a dude somewhere in previous page

What I haven't tried and will try:

- use just one RAM on the top slot (probably a piece of 8GB)

- put non-conductive stuffs near RAM to prevent lower cover from banging as well as try using 2 piece of RAMs if this worked

My thought about what caused this:

- Put mac to sleep + move a lot causing a super overheat (mac never frozen like this before the overheat)

I don't really have idea what was damaged but my mac was totally fine before the overheat when sleeping.

I'd suggest:

- Just turn of mac of if you want to travel somewhere else with it

- Get an SSD, turning off wont bug you anymore. Mine just took around 15s to boot and **** yeah it's ready to use right away after booting up.

My mac is still in trouble, will try couple of things tomorrow and get back soon.

I hope everyone managed to save their mac!

Hey guys I am back with good news, my Mac is now working fine.

What I've tried and didn't work:

- using paper under ram slots mentioned by a dude somewhere in previous page

- put non-conductive stuffs near RAM to prevent lower cover from banging as well as try using 2 piece of RAMs if this worked

- using new 8gb RAM + old 2gb RAM, still got the barcode glitch

What I have tried and worked:

- use just one RAM on the top slot (It's been more than a month, 0 glitch!)

Hopefully this helps everyone!

Ps.

- Keep in mind don't carry your Mac while it's asleep or even let it asleep with a lot of program running. I think you might get another overheat.

- Get an SSD so that you won't even mind turning it On/Off

Have a great day guys!

MacBook Pro 13" mid 2012 and same problem here.

I went to a Genius Bar and they told me this could be happening because of the RAM holders. As some of you reported before, the only solution offered is the replacement of the motherboard for around 400 €.

Fortunately, I refused to pay it, because now I see this is a common error in 2012 MacBook Pro.

This is a bit upsetting because you expect something else from Apple. I think that it is not acceptable to be forced to replace your computer (and not a cheap one) after 2-5 years because of a bad design. Certainly, I will consider to buy again an Apple product...

When it happened to me, the Genius Bar guy (VERY helpful) really didn't know anything about the fault. Sounds like they might be aware of it now.

I'm glad, however, that you can just use one 8G module in the slot furthest from the keyboard and everything works peachy. Are you doing that?

I agree that I wish it was a free fix like others have been, but I don't think they should be "forced" to do anything as it has only really happened with a few machines, and it seems like those out of warranty.

Thanks for your response.

Yes, I have read the whole messages and it has been very very helpful!. I am planning to try something with teflon to fix the RAM.

Anyway, I am not using my Mac so much lately. I need to rely on my computer as I use it to work (and I have to go abroad). So, nowadays I have borrowed a Toshiba. I just can not afford to take my computer to work and hear the three beeps.

So, I have it on quarantine and I will check how it works over the time. I guess that I will keep using it at home as my personal computer with the one RAM trick.

Certainly they are not forced to do anything as the computers are out of warranty, fair enough. But when you are concerned about brand equity I think you can not afford this kind of design failures (I am not sure that it only affects to a few machines. It seems a trend to me with the 2012 model).

Personally, I expect much more from an Apple product because I do not buy a computer like that just to throw or patch it after 5 years (some of you even in less time).

Using only the one slot completely and totally and utterly ended the three-beep problem for me and others.

It seems to be a completely reliable fix.

Even a company with a reputation like Apple will have an occasional defective computer. In nearly 3 decades, I've had problems with only 2 or 3 machines, all fixable, until one totally died (but in fairness, that was about 8 years after it was made, and it was used and abused heavily.

Personally, I expect much more from an Apple product because I do not buy a computer like that just to throw or patch it after 5 years (some of you even in less time).

Well, personally, I do not expect any computer to last longer than 3 - 5 years. Electronics will fail and so will hardware - some hard drives fail within the first year. Apple will guarantee it for 3 years if you buy the Applecare Plan, so you're covered for 3 years.

Between us, we have three of the 2012 i5 13" MBP's - in fact, I just bought another from the Apple refurb store along with Applecare to have it covered until early 2020 (not bad for a 2012 machine). All of them have been upgraded to 2 x 4 GB RAM and an SSD. NONE of them have had a problem with anything - not the RAM, graphics card or anything else (so far).

Hi everyone,

So I've also been having this same issue. I have a Mid 2012 Macbook Pro that has started to freeze (just like the pictures included in the thread), shut down, and sometimes do the 3 beeps instead of restarting. The freezing typically happens when I move the laptop. Unfortunately, I'm abroad now where the cost for repairs are double the cost of that in the US. I took my macbook to a local repair shop here that is Apple certified, and they came back to me saying that apparently my RAM is okay, but my hard drive is failing.

Does it make sense that my hard drive is the issue, when the computer's symptoms are exactly like what's happening to everyone in this thread? Is it possible that it's a combination of the RAM and the hard drive, but the RAM issues aren't being detected?

I'm not sure what to do, as I need to use the computer while I'm here, but I'm only here for another month and a half. I backed up my laptop at home (the external hard drive is in the US), so I'm not too worried about losing data. Would it be too risky for me to try using one RAM chip until I get back to the US (and pray the hard drive doesn't completely die before then)?

Two possibilities

1. They are just wrong.

2. The hard drive IS failing, but it is unrelated to this problem.

EASY way to check. Just take the RAM out of the slot closest to the keyboard and see if the computer still freezes when you move it. for the record, your symptoms are EXACTLY like mine were, and putting a single 8G RAM DIMM in the slot furthest from the keyboard completely and totally solved it. Completely!

Don't know why Apple says the limit is 8G. Tons of people run 16G in the 2012 MBP 13". Yes, Apple says on their site that the upper limit is 8G, but you can put in more.

A little surprised that they take the same RAM, but I suppose it's possible.

Even more surprised that the Genius Bar folks (who are very well trained and informed) don't seem to know about this problem where I can only use one slot. Perhaps it's very rare.