Sleep light flashes 5 times - no beeps. What does it mean?

I have a white 2008 Macbook 2.4 Ghz. I recently installed 10.6 from scratch via Retail DVD and the Macbook worked fine. I updated via Software Update and installed all the updates that appeared. There was also a Firmware update to install, which I did after the update to 10.6.8.
But since then, the Macbook has serious video problems.
It boots okay, but the sequence is now:
- front sleep light flashes 5 times; there are no error beeps
- I hear the startup chime
- the Apple logo and spinning wheel appear, and bootup continues
- at the point where the screen goes blue, and would normally boot to the desktop, the screen now goes black and the Macbook appears to go to sleep
If I wait for a couple of minutes, when I press a key to wake the Macbook from sleep: the DVD spins up, the sleep light flashes 5 times, and I now see the desktop. But then the screen goes black after about 10 seconds.
Before the screen goes black, I can see that the boot seems to have completed okay. I have a Wifi connection and the date and time are correct.
If I go really fast, I can move the arrow to the Apple icon in the top bar and choose Shut down or Restart.
I can boot from the internal HD, an external FW HD and an Install DVD.
I can hold down the Option key and I get all the bootable volumes to boot from. I can choose any of them, then start the boot process, but at the same point - the blue screen - the screen goes black and the Macbook goes to sleep.
The Macbook works perfectly fine when connected to an external monitor. In the Display preferences, only the external monitor is available. The Macbook monitor is not listed. As well, iSight and Photo Booth report that no camera is connected.
I've found some info on the Apple site re. the 5 sleep light flashes, but it only refers to the Macbook Air, and indicates a problem with the battery.
Has anyone seen this problem with the Macbook?

From EZ Jim's link, there was another link to this info at the Apple site, re. Power on Self-Tests:
The power on self-test resides in the ROM of the computer. This test runs whenever the computer is turned on after being fully shut down (the power-on self-test does not run if the computer is only restarted).
If a fault is detected during the test, you will not hear a normal startup chime. Instead, the system will beep as explained below. If you experience one of these beeps, you may call your Apple Authorized Service Provider for additional troubleshooting assistance.
1 beep = no RAM installed
2 beeps = incompatible RAM types
3 beeps = no good banks
4 beeps = no good boot images in the boot ROM (and/or bad sys config block)
5 beeps = processor is not usable
In addition to the beeps, on some computers the power LED will flash a corresponding number of times plus one. The LED will repeat the sequence after approximately a 5-second pause. The tones are only played once.
As I wrote, I don't get the Error Beeps. I've had these on other Macs, so I know what they are. Here, I only get the LED flashes.
What is interesting above is that they say that the Power LED will flash a corresponding number of times (as the beeps) PLUS ONE. In my case, then, if I got 5 flashes, then might it mean NO GOOD BOOT IMAGES IN THE BOOT ROM?
Anyway, it doesn't seem to have the flashing LED problem any more. No idea where to go from here.

Similar Messages

  • Flashing file folder on boot, what does it mean?

    flashing file folder on boot, what does it mean?

    That folder with the question mark icon means that the MacBook can't find the boot directory. That can either mean it can't find the hard drive or the Operating System data on the hard drive is somehow corrupted.
    Put your install DVD into the optical drive (CD/DVD drive) and reboot. Be sure to either use the disc that came with your Mac, or, if you installed a later Mac OS X version from disc, use the newer disc. As soon as you hear the boot chime, hold down the "c" key on your keyboard (or the Option Key until the Install Disk shows up) until the apple shows up. That will force your MacBook to boot from the install DVD in the optical drive.
    Or if you are running 10.7 Lion, boot from the recovery partition (Command +R on boot) and use Disk Utility to repair your OS 10.7 partition.
    When it does start up, you'll see a panel asking you to choose your language. Choose your language and press the Return key on your keyboard once. It will then present you with an Installation window. Completely ignore this window and click on Utilities in the top menu and scroll down to Disk Utility and click it. When it comes up is your Hard Drive in the list on the left?
    If it is, then click on the Mac OS partition of your hard drive in the left hand list. Then select the First Aid Tab and run Repair Disk. The Repair Disk button won't be available until you've clicked on the Mac OS partition on your hard drive. If that repairs any problems run it again until the green OK appears and then run Repair Permissions. After repairing use Startup Disk from the same menu to choose your hard drive for restarting from your hard drive.
    If your hard drive isn’t recognized in Disk Utility then your hard drive is probably dead.

  • TS1398 cannot connect to the store : a secure connection could not be established. Please check your date and time settings. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN???

    please help!!
    thank you xxx

    Your date, time and region settings have to be correct to connect to the iTunes store.  This is from Apple:
    From the home screen, tap Settings > General > Date & Time.
    If the option exists, turn off Set Automatically.
    Verify the time zone and time (in the status bar) are correct for where you are currently.
    If not, adjust the incorrect setting accordingly.
    If everything was correct and the option exists, turn on Set Automatically.
    You must also be able to open a secure connection to access the iTunes store.  Launc Safari on your phone and see if you can go to https://appleid.apple.com.  If you can't then see the troubleshooting steps under "Blocked by software firewall: (Mac OS X/Windows)" in this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3297.

  • I have an all white screen with picture of a file with ? on it that is flashing on the screen. What does this mean? I can't get computer off this screen.

    Can someone please tell me what this means and how do I get my computer working again. It is stuck on this screen.  Thanks!

    First try: Shut down Mac forcefully. Press the button to start & hold down OPTION ke once youo see white screen. Boot disk selection window will appear. From here select your drive to boot into Mac.

  • 2011 MacBook Pro-Sleep light blinks 3 times, doesn't start

    Hi there, I was just given a 2011 MacBook Pro 15'-8GB RAM, 2.2Ghz...the medium spec'd model if I am correct.  It worked fine for a little while, but now whenever I plug it into power, it does one of two things.  Either it attempts to come on, hard drive spins up...and then the sleep light flashes 3 times and it powers down.  OR, as soon as it gets plugged in it powers cycles indefinately until I unplug it.  The sleep light comes on for maybe a second, and the hard drive spins up, then it shuts back off and repeats this until I unplug it. 
    Nothing has been changed from it's stock configuration to I am relatively sure that it isn't a simple RAM problem.
    Any help is appreciated. 
    Please note that I have already tried things like clearing the SMC and reseating the RAM.

    Means bad memory.

  • My Macbook pro, (late 2010) sometimes will sleep and won't wake up. then the sleep light flashes.What's the problem?

    My Macbook pro, (late 2010) sometimes will sleep and won't wake up. then the sleep light flashes.What's the problem

    Hi I've been following this thread (along with a different one on the same topic). I've been having the same problem with my ibook. I can add that I have no problem with startup. It's just that the screen "goes to sleep" unexpectedly and may operate normally for a few minutes or a few hours at most. Opening and closing the lid or restarting seems to cause it to awaken but then usually for just a few seconds or minutes. If it is connected to another video display that display continues functioning fine even though the computer screen is blank. In addition the desktop is there and visible faintly or if totally blank can be backlit through the apple logo and can be read. I've had my logic board replaced twice under the extended warranty and assumed it was that but now I'm thinking of the reed switch. Apple refuses to consider any further work under warranty as the last repair was in Jan, 06 and they claim only a 90 parts warranty and the machine is from 03. Any thoughts before I cut the wires? I have reset the pmu, run cocktail and disk utility. Other than the sleep issue the machine works fine. thanks Ronda or anyone else who has any ideas... Dave

  • HT3728 My tall time capsule light is flashing orange. What does that mean? and what do I do?

    HI, my tall time capsule is flashing orange. What does that mean? And how do i correct it to be green?

    Click the Finder icon on the dock at the lower left of your Mac's screen, then open Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
    Click directly on the Time Capsule picture
    If you see an Update button, click it
    Otherwise, click on the small amber icon and a message will appear to tell you why the amber light is flashing

  • HELP: My MacBook was on sleep mood then would not reboot, eventually it did and i has the sleep mood light flashing 3 times and like a siren noise going off .

    Help please
    I used my MacBook yesterday and left it on sleep mode as usual. The battery had drained during the night. So I plugged in the charger and it started up as normal. Then a notice came up saying shut down using the power button as an unexpected error had occurred. I done as it asked then I could not reboot or turn on at all. It felt like a power surge was going through the laptop. I eventually got it turned on and sent the report off to apple. The screen kept flickering so I turned it back off and took the battery out and tried to turn on again. This then proceeded to make the sleep light blink 3 times and then there was a siren sounding noise and a blank screen, I turn it off and now I have managed to reboot and all seem to be working fine. I am really worried as I love my MacBook and cant afford to replace it.
    Thank you for your help in advance

    kerryll wrote:
     It felt like a power surge was going through the laptop.
    You felt electricity zapping you when you touched it?
    Backup everything!!!
    Put in your Install DVD & boot while holding C
    Go to Utilities > Disk Utility > Repair Disk & Repair Permissions
    Also put in your extra Applications Install DVD
    Hold D while booting & run the Apple Hardware Test.
    If no error's, run the Extended Hardware Test.

  • MacBook Pro. When trying to powering up the sleep light blinks five times then there's a pause

    MacBook Pro. When trying to powering up the sleep light blinks five times then there's a pause, then blinks five more times and then shuts down. hard drive spins up for a few seconds in the beginning. I've tried pulling ram from a working MacBook Pro from same generation and it didn't seem to make any changes. battery has been dead for years.  serial number of mac is W8819AWHYJX,
    Thanks for any help you might provide.

    If you don’t hear beeps, but the sleep indicator light flashes five  times when you start it up or wake it from sleep, its battery may need  service. Take the battery to an Apple Authorized Service Provider, such  as an Apple Retail Store.

  • G5 - light flashes 3 times with - but only 1 time without RAM

    Hi,
    recently I bought a broken Power Mac G5 (M9032LL/A) which won't start anymore,
    so now I'm trying to fix it:
    When I turn it on the white LED will flash 1 time every 4 seconds while there is no RAM installed.
    After installing 2x or 4x KHX3200A/1G (Kingston Hyper X, DDR, 1 GB) the light flashes 3 times. (unfortunately I havn't got any original RAM strips...)
    Today I found this:
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2541581&tstart=0
    which says:
    • 2 Flashes: No RAM is installed or detected.
    • 3 Flashes: Incompatible RAM types are installed.
    • 4 Flashes: No RAM banks passed memory testing.
    • 5 Flashes: No good boot images are detected in the boot ROM (and/or there is a bad
    sys config block).
    • 6 Flashes: The processor is not usable.
    I didn't try the hair dryer trick yet
    -> but why is the light flashing once only without any RAM?
    Any suggestions?

    old comm guy wrote:
    "Instead, there is a single tone, and the
    computer’s front LED flashes continuously."
    -> there is no beep or tone at all...
    -> The front LED flashes once every 4 seconds.
    What I forgot to mention:
    One of the end snap-in bracket holders of the upper/inner RAM-slot is broken...
    (was already when I bought it)
    However - the stick still fits in perfectly.

  • My Power Mac G4 booted from an OS 9.1 install CD, and then froze up.  Now I turn the machine on, beeps 3 times, power button blinks 3 times.  What does this mean?

    I tried to install Mac OS 9.1.  I turned the computer on, heard the bong noise (although with some static), and inserted the OS 9.1 installation CD.  It started to boot, but froze up.  I rebooted the machine, and the same thing happened.  One more reboot, and i get 3 beeps and the power button is blinking.  What does this mean?

    Hi, it indicates a RAM problem, (or Logic Board around the RAM).
    The power on self-test resides in the ROM of the computer. This test runs whenever the computer is turned on after being fully shut down (the power-on self-test does not run if the computer is only restarted).
    If a fault is detected during the test, you will not hear a normal startup chime. Instead, the system will beep as explained below. If you experience one of these beeps, you may call your Apple Authorized Service Provider for additional troubleshooting assistance.
    1 beep  = no RAM installed
    2 beeps = incompatible RAM types
    3 beeps = no good banks
    4 beeps = no good boot images in the boot ROM (and/or bad sys config block)
    5 beeps = processor is not usable
    In addition to the beeps, on some computers the power LED will flash a corresponding number of times plus one. The LED will repeat the sequence after approximately a 5-second pause. The tones are only played once.
    Note: In this case, a flash is considered to be 1/4 second or 250 ms or greater in length.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1547

  • Dv4-1365dx Caps and scroll lights flash 4 times.

    When I turn on my computer, the hard drive starts but then stops. The lights on the touchbar (next to the power button) come on, but the screen does not. Then, the caps lock and scroll lights flash 4 times in sequence. My warranty expired last year, what do I need to do to fix my problem?
    This question was solved.
    View Solution.

    If the hard reset suggested by Erico does not resolve the problem,
    I think it is a hardware issue with graphics if the leds are blinking 4 times. Refer the following weblink:
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01443366&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en
    I am an HP employee.
    Regards,
    Vidya
    Make it easier for other people to find solutions, by marking my answer “Accept as Solution” if it solves your problem.
    ***Click on "Thumbs up" button to the bottom right side of my post to say thanks!***

  • NX6325 won't power up - battery light flashes 8 times

    I have a 3 year old NX6325 that won't power up any more.
    It makes no difference whether the charger is plugged in or not.
    When I turn it on the battery light flashes 8 times (amber) and that's it. Nothing else happens.
    Does anybody know what this means?
    Regards,
    Julian.

    It is very likely your Northbridge chipset is gone.
    The CPU could not make connection to the Northbridge to initiate the any data transfer from the Southbridge ( connected to all your low level devices such as Hard Drive, USB ports, Optical Driver and etc ) to fetch the BIOS content to start the POST ( Power On Self Test ) sequence.
    It could also mean your CPU could be bad.

  • A family member set up my time capsule, promises that it is set up correctly but the light on the capsule isn't green, it is yellow, what does this mean?

    A family member set up my time capsule and sayy it's workign correcly but the light on it isn't green, it is yellow...what does this mean?

    If the Time Capsule is operating normally, the light will be green.
    If the amber light is blinking, something is not adjusted correctly, or there may be an update available for the Time Capsule.
    Do you have the device that was used to set up and configure the Time Capsule there?  Is this a Mac?  If yes, we need to know what operating sysem it is using.
    If you are not sure, click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen and then click About This Mac. Post back with the OS X Version number that you see there.

  • My time capsule is flashing yellow. what does that mean

    my time capsule is flashing yellow. what does that mean?

    It needs attention. Determine the reason by using AirPort Utility. It's in your Mac's Utilities folder.

Maybe you are looking for

  • Wishy washy

    Hi there We have a CP3505n laserjet printer and we have all HP cartridges in it and I have run diagnostics and troubleshooting tips and it will not print well, the colours are washed out and we need to print photographs and the quality is awful. Does

  • I have 2 Ipods, how do i get Itunes to recognise the difference?

    I have a IPOD video and a Ipod nano, I want sperate songs on each, how do i do this, I dont want to loose my songs on itunes... can i get 2 itunes? Any help would be lovely !!

  • Scope of List - ALV

    Dear Consultants,    We have taken a Z Copy of ME2N to add a few fields. Now we are not able display the report in ALV . But the ALV view is displayed in standard ME2N transaction. Kindly advise. Regards Irfan Ahmed

  • DataGrid: custom ItemRenderer changes Header renderer

    If I assign custom ItemRenderer to a DataGrid, this also affects headers, i.e. headers start looking as the fields in a grid. Not only that, but it seems that render is much worse and it really looks bad. Is this how it's supposed to be, is there a w

  • Regarding RMAN n Logical Backup

    Hi All, Will Select query affect the RMAN n logical Backup????