IMac Error Beep Fix!!!

Question

Hi all, I just wanted to post some success I just had with a mid 2007 20" Aluminimum iMac having a strange error where on bootup had "3 short, 3 long, 3 short" beeps.
Now after ringing Apple Support and my local Apple repairer and being told that the logic board had failed and needed replacing, I just could not accept that. I opened my mac and discovered (using the 4 LED lights on the logic board) found that the logic board was fine, just the firmware had somehow got corrupted and the computer was freaking out.
What I did to remedy this was to download the correct firmware restoration CD off the Apple Support Website and restore the firmware.
5 mins later VOILA!!!!! Machine was booting again and chugging along nicely.
I URGE ALL USERS TO TRY THIS BEFORE CONTACTING SUPPORT FOR A LOGIC BOARD REPLACEMENT.
I just saved myself $1000 by trying this first. Im amazed that I was told by Apple themselves that my logic board needed replacing and they didnt even suggest that I should try a firmware recovery first.

Answer 1

Hi there, it seems that you may have a faulty RAM slot by the sounds of it. If you have another iMac somewhere maybe try to borrow the RAM out of it temporaily to do some testing. It would be unlikely that two sticks are faulty but I have come across it before.
I was lucky with mine, I would say that software update had a failed attempt at doing a firmware update and it crashed my logic board. How I got to recovery wa by following these stpes:
1. Find a spare Apple laptop or desktop and head over to the apple support website and download the correct firmware for your iMac. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO GRAB THE CORRECT SOFTWARE AS IF YOU GET THE WRONG ONE YOUR IMAC MAY BE DAMAGED. Once you have done this follow the instuctions on the website to burn the firmware to a cd
2. Unlpug all cables including power cable from your iMac and hold the power button down.
3. Keep holding the power button down and reconnect the power cable. Once connected release and press and hold the power button until you hear one long beep
4. Do not let go until you hear this very long beep as this indicates you are in firmware recovery mode
5. Once you have heard the long beep let the power button go and then insert the cd that you have just burnt
6. Let the iMac read the disk and it will show a grey screen with a status bar indicating that it is installing the firmware.
7. Wait for the process to finish and let the iMac reboot.
If all has gone well that should revive your imac and you should be right to go. As I mentioned before if you can try another stick of RAM first you may just have two faulty ones. If you have tried or cant get another stick and its still playing up, then I would say that your logic board definately needs replacing.
Let me know how you go