chencho787
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Q: My Macbook late 2008 (Model: A1278) makes the S.O.S sound while booting.

The Screen remains black, no matter if press any of the shortcuts while booting. Tried resseting PRAM, reallocating Ram, Booting from linux, tried to install EFI Restoration CD with no success. Only the S.O.S beeps... Any help? I have a spare windows pc in case needed.

MacBook, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on May 6, 2015 12:09 PM

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chencho787

Q: My Macbook late 2008 (Model: A1278) makes the S.O.S sound while booting.

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  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 6, 2015 12:11 PM in response to chencho787
    Level 9 (50,439 points)
    Desktops
    May 6, 2015 12:11 PM in response to chencho787

    How many beeps,

  • by chencho787,

    chencho787 chencho787 May 6, 2015 12:15 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 6, 2015 12:15 PM in response to Csound1

    9 beeps (3 slow, 3 fast, 3 slow) // The only thing that changes something, is pressing the power button for 5 seconds, which makes the led light to blink fast, but only lasts about 3 seconds before the S.O.S beeps starts again.

  • by Csound1,Helpful

    Csound1 Csound1 May 6, 2015 12:22 PM in response to chencho787
    Level 9 (50,439 points)
    Desktops
    May 6, 2015 12:22 PM in response to chencho787

    Sorry ROM error.

    Mac computers: About startup tones

    Learn about the different sounds your computer makes when it starts up and what they mean.

    Mac computers can produce several sounds when starting up. Your Mac should produce the familiar single tone on start up. If you hear another tone it can indicate problems with your computer.

    • 1 tone, repeating every 5 seconds: This indicates no RAM is installed.
    • 3 successive tones, a 5 second pause (repeating): This indicates RAM does not pass a data integrity check.
    • 1 long tone while holding down the power button: Indicates an EFI ROM update is in progress on a computer manufactured before 2012.
    • 3 long tones, 3 short tones, 3 long tones: Indicates EFI ROM corruption is detected and the computer is in EFI ROM recovery mode.

    Should you need to restore the EFI ROM on certain Mac computers produced before 2008, you'll need to use a recovery CD to restore the EFI ROM. Newer computers automatically recover from a corrupted ROM; when this occurs a progress bar appears on a grey background. Do not disturb the machine while the ROM recovery is taking place. It will restart back into OS X when it restarts. For more information on EFI ROMs, see EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Macs.

  • by chencho787,

    chencho787 chencho787 May 6, 2015 12:33 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 6, 2015 12:33 PM in response to Csound1

    As mentioned above, i tried to install the EFI restore CD with no success. I have the file as .dmg // Should I convert the .dmg file to .iso for the burning process and then what procedure should i do to install the image cd on my mac, having no grey screen or EFI to boot from?

     

     

     

    Thanks in advance for the info.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 6, 2015 12:38 PM in response to chencho787
    Level 9 (50,439 points)
    Desktops
    May 6, 2015 12:38 PM in response to chencho787

    Did you read this page?

     

    EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Macs - Apple Support

  • by chencho787,

    chencho787 chencho787 May 6, 2015 12:49 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 6, 2015 12:49 PM in response to Csound1

    Why yes, indeed. But the page doesn't gives much information for users with macs that doesn't boots. Instructions requires the user to boot and then install the update from within the OS.