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User profile for user: ccpickre
ccpickre Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

3 Beep on Powermac G5

So last night, I was watching a video stream, and my Mac just froze while the sound skipped like a record player stuck on the same groove.

Anyway, I shut it down, and went to bed. I woke up this morning getting ready to study for finals and went to boot up my computer, and next thing I know I get 3 beeps and the fans sound like a jet engine.

I searched the discussion forums, but didn't find anyone thing I could try for mine because most other topics werelaptops. This is the SECOND time my Mac has gone to crap since I bought it this past Feb. The first time it was defective out of the box.

I believe I still have the 1 year warranty, but I don't have Apple Care (never could afford it). And if I have to send it back? I'm probably going to just ask for a refund and go back to a PC, because I've never had this much bad luck with a PC (and I have seen at least 50 pcs in my house growing up).

Can anyone offer some help? Or am I pretty much screwed?

Pmac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.5), I love it

Posted on Dec 11, 2006 4:49 AM

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User profile for user: maclover
maclover
User level: Level 4
3,850 points

Posted on Dec 11, 2006 5:10 AM

The beeps may be explained at the bottom of the page here

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302527

You could try re-seating the RAM in the slots or swopping it around, in pairs, to different slots.

If you have added any RAM, you could probably start with removing it and seeing if the G5 will start up. The instructions are here

http://www.info.apple.com/usen/cip/pdf/g5/memory_c.pdf

Note static precautions:

"Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Precautions
To avoid ESD damage to your computer, you must safely discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any parts or install components. Be sure to carefully follow the instructions below and perform the discharge procedure as instructed."
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User profile for user: maclover
maclover
User level: Level 4
3,850 points

Dec 11, 2006 5:10 AM in response to ccpickre

The beeps may be explained at the bottom of the page here

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302527

You could try re-seating the RAM in the slots or swopping it around, in pairs, to different slots.

If you have added any RAM, you could probably start with removing it and seeing if the G5 will start up. The instructions are here

http://www.info.apple.com/usen/cip/pdf/g5/memory_c.pdf

Note static precautions:

"Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Precautions
To avoid ESD damage to your computer, you must safely discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any parts or install components. Be sure to carefully follow the instructions below and perform the discharge procedure as instructed."
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User profile for user: Robert Edison
Robert Edison
User level: Level 3
572 points

Dec 11, 2006 5:26 AM in response to ccpickre

Hi ccpickre:

Sounds to me like a hardware problem. See:

http://www.apple.com/support/powermac/

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302527

Also,

I would run the Apple Hardware Test, (on disc 2 of your system discs)

Try booting without anything plugged in to your USB / Firewire ports - keyboard/mouse exempted of course.

Try Unplugging the powercord, wait 5-10 min, then plug it back in & restart.

Have you added any RAM recently? If so remove it and restart with just the original RAM.

-Robert
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3 Beep on Powermac G5

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