MacBook won't boot up -- Loud Beep Noise

I just started encountering this problem today. My MacBook worked just fine yesterday, and then when I went to turn it on today, it refuses to boot up. I get the startup sound, and then after that just a loud noise that goes "BEEP, BEEP, BEEP......BEEP, BEEP, BEEP..." on and on. Does anyone know what could be causing this, and how to fix it? Thanks in advance.

I thought I would give an update to my situation now that it's been resolved. Initially, the computer would get stuck on the gray screen and give the three beeps randomly. Sometimes it would boot up like normal, and other times it wouldn't. It seemed like more often than not, it would boot up fine when it was plugged into the wall instead of just running on battery power. This problem cropped up out of nowhere, because the computer had not been dropped or banged or jolted at all.
I took it to my local Apple store, where it failed to demonstrate my error for the Genius (of course lol). He did confirm that the symptoms I was describing indicated problems with the RAM or RAM slots, but since the error wasn't occuring, he really couldn't help me. He did re-seat the RAM cards for me just to be sure, and sent me on my way telling me to download all the latest software updates, and to bring it back if the error occurred again.
As soon as I get home, the error happens! I made an appointment to go back to the Apple store the next day, where it did actually demonstrate the error for the Genius. She said that I would need to check it in to be repaired and she disappeared to the back to quote me a repair time. When she came back, she instead offered to exchange the computer for me, and since I had no important data on the computer, and I backed up what I did have, I accepted. Everything has been working fine ever since.

Similar Messages

Macbook Won't Boot, Makes Quiet Beeps

My friend's Macbook 2.0ghz will only go to the gray screen with the apple, and occasionally make long beeping noises. One thing I noticed is that the optical drive doesn't make its normal startup sound. I booted with an external hard drive and it worked fine. However, the main HD also shows up, so it means that it's not dead?
I've ran TechTool Deluxe on it and it has failed the Directory Scan and the Volume Structure test. Furthermore, TTD can't repair it. Do you guys think it's a dead hard drive? Thanks!

Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Boot from the OS X Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger or Leopard.)
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (only required for Intel Macs) then click on the OK button. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
If the SMART status is not "Verified" then the drive needs replacing. If the above procedure does not work then the drive needs replacing.

Oh, shoot! My MacBook won't boot! Silver screen is all I see!

Oh, shoot! My MacBook won't boot! Silver screen is all I see

Try a PRAM reset:
Shut down your Mac.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.
Any unusual noises coming from it?

Mdworker deny mach-lookup. But macbook won't boot in safe mode

I have a common problem, I get theese messages every now and then in console:
2/8/13 6:38:24.000 PM kernel[0]: Sandbox: sandboxd(793) deny mach-lookup com.apple.coresymbolicationd
2/8/13 6:38:24.534 PM sandboxd[793]: ([791]) mdworker(791) deny mach-lookup com.apple.ls.boxd
2/8/13 6:38:24.556 PM sandboxd[793]: ([792]) mdworker(792) deny mach-lookup com.apple.ls.boxd
There is a solution, which should resolve it, like here https://discussions.apple.com/message/19750564?searchText=mach-lookup%20com.appl e.ls.boxd#19750564
I have just boot in safe mode. (holding Shift during boot)
but my macbook won't boot in Safe mode. It just freeses with a grey screen for hours and wont boot.
I tried to leave it overnight to boot, but it didn't.
Please help me make my macbook to boot in SafeMode.
my configuration is the following:
MacBookPro8,1
OSX 10.8.2

There is a bug in fsck_hfs that is affecting a bunch of people. Basically as your comptuer starts in safe mode, it runs a file system check (fsck) against your hard drive, it gets to a certain point and... just sits there. No one knows why outside of apple.
Lots of info here, including a way to get around it by tricking the system to think fsck had been run, though the fsck will not be complete so it is not a good solution.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/21389737?ac_cid=tw123456#21389737

MacBook won't boot when iPod is connected

I have the same problem as described here :
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=4112865
My MacBook won't boot if my iPod 5G is connected to the USB port.
If I unplug it, it will boot normally.
Does anyone know what could cause that ?

<When iPod is plugged in at startup, the MacBook does not startup; unplugging iPod lets it startup.
yes, it seems that the kernel is not loading
<After resetting the iPod and BEFORE synching it, there is no problem. Any type of synching seems <to make this problem recur.
only syncing music make the problem occur.
the other syncing works ok
<Even if iPod is connected directly to Mac and it is the only USB device connected, the problem still <occurs.
yes
<The iPod and MacBook work fine if iPod is connected after startup.
Yes
<If the iPod is set to NOT mount to the desktop, the problem with startup does not occur.
Yes, but there are some problems in the boot/halt process.
something like "killing all" fails and unmounting /home fails (45) blabla...
and the stopping process takes very very long, about 2 minutes.
thx robert

My Macbook won't boot up because there isn't enough free space for my start up disk. It's now stuck on a blue screen. How am I meant to delete files to free up space if I can't access the computer?

My Macbook won't boot up because there sin't enough free space to run the startup disk. My Macbook now won't go past the blue screen so exactly how am I meant to be able to delete files if I can't access the computer?

Do you have a bootable backup?
What operating system are you running? If OS X 10.6 or lower, boot from your original OS X DVD or a retail OS X DVD and then delete files as needed. Your goal should be to get to 10% of your disk capacity free.
If you have OS X 10.7 Lion or 10.8 Mountain Lion, you don't have many choices in recovery mode (boot holding the command and r keys down).
If you have a FireWire or Thunderbolt connection, you can try target disk mode with another mac.
If none of those work, perhaps your local Apple store can help with a bootable external drive.

Macbook won't boot up - grey screen only

Hi,
I have a core duo MacBook from summer 2007.
All of a sudden the MacBook won't boot up. The battery is fully charged and AC adapter plugged in (same symptoms if not plugged in). The following occurs upon pressing the power button:
1) Start-up chime sounds
2) Can hear hard drive and fans start up
3) Screen turns grey
4) Nothing happens (screen still grey)
Thoughts? I tried resetting PRAM and PMU with no changes.

I have the same problem, just the grey screen and tried
- resetting PRAM (second chime, so this should be OK)
- Safe Mode (just the same)
and pressing Option (or C) to choose the Mac OS X Install Disc gives me the wonderful cursor which can be moved by moving the mouse. No harddisk and even no Install DVD are displayed on the screen.
Also The Apple Hardware Test (by pressing D) doesn't get further than the, now familiar, grey screen.
I pressed the keys with different keyboards, with the original white keyboard and with the aluminium keyboard.
As I've tried everything, I think there's something seriously wrong. Does anybody have some last tips that I can try?

Macbook won't boot up anymore after trying to reformat

So my White Macbook won't boot up anymore after trying to reformat. While trying to install a fresh copy of Snow Leopard, the Macbook just froze and I had to reset. Now, while trying to boot it up, it hangs at a white screen with a folder with a question mark.
My install disk is still in there, so when I try to boot up while holding C, nothing happens. It either goes to the folder with a question mark or the screen stays white. So after that I tried holding option to go to the drives nothing happens. I just see a white screen and a cursor.
I tried resetting PRAM and tried booting in safe mode and everything but to no avail. Everything results in just a white screen or just a folder with a question mark.
Can I do anything before I have to bring it to the Apple Store? The optical drive should work because before I reformatted it, I could see that the disk was in the drive because the icon was in the upper right.

it hangs at a white screen with a folder with a question mark
Startup your Mac while holding down the Option key. That should prompt the Startup Manager window where you can select the startup disk.
A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

MacBook won't boot up power light on

My MacBook won't boot up without the system disk, has Lion with 4 Gb Ram all updates, has a DVD stuck n the drive any suggestions

Have you tried booting into Lion recovery mode? Boot holding the command and R keys down.

MacBook Won't Boot just on AC.

My recent issues are power related.
Won't boot. Reason: Dead battery at 0 mAh.
Won't boot with dead battery even on charge...
When I take out the battery, it won't boot anyways.
I got lucky since I plugged it in when I left it off charge for the night, and went away about 10 minutes, and it boots. Now that won't boot it up... I take out the battery and tried to boot it since I know it's dead. Nothing.
I have 2 MagSafe adapters (One is OEM and is spliced (Charges and fine), and another is not OEM (stupid eBay lied) ) and when I remove the battery to boot just on AC power, nothing. Tried both chargers, both plugs, 2 tips and extension cable, Nothing.
I noticed the light is a dim green when I plug in my OEM charger to my MacBook.
So how can I get it to boot on just AC power? Noone I know has any type of Mac...

If your MacBook won't boot on just the AC adapter, and you are certain the AC adapter is not damaged, then there is a hardware issue with your computer that needs to be repaired.
~Lyssa

Black screen, loud beeping noises

Posted: Jan 21, 2008 11:57 AM
Reply
I have a month old iMac 20". In the midst of working today the screen went black, loud beeping noises every 10 seconds. Will not turn on. i am panicked, please help.I have never had this problem with any other Apple computer. Help!!!

Hello and Welcome to Apple Discussions.
And in the words of the late famous Mac user Douglas Adams: "Don't Panic".
It's clear this is not normal and I've not come across it before. You should book the fault to AppleCare right away:
http://www.apple.com/support/contact/phone_contacts.html
Do let us know how you get on.
mrtotes

Macbook won't boot properly.

Macbook won't boot. When turned on, it starts clicking; after a while, I get a gray screen with a blinking folder in the middle that has a question mark on it. After a minute or two, it shuts off.

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.

Macbook won't boot, black screen, no chime

My macbook won't boot at all. It is a white non unibody one. When you press the power button the screen breifly blinks and a clicking sound is heard but no other sounds or chime or anything. I'm suspecting the worst but thought i'd submit it on here first. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks for the reply but it isn't a hard drive issue. I have tested the hard drive in an external enclosure and it's working fine. I even put in another hard drive i have and it wont boot that either. I'm thinking its a logic board issue. Any one know best place to get logic board replacement near london for cheap

Macbook won't boot or start, constant disk drive noise

I purchased a Macbook Pro and been using it constantly for over 2 years now but never seen a problem like this.
I partitioned my HD to run Windows a while back but recently decided to remove it. I partitioned the HD back into its original state. While verifying the drive in Disk Utility, the drive said it had an error, don't remember what, but was able to repair it using the installation cd.
Soon after i thought everything was normal but my computer started to slow down and freeze, I had to manually turn off my Mac by holding now the power button. This went on for a bit and soon afterwards the computer wont start at all. I also heard a beeping noise when i turned on my mac but that was only once.
I dont hear a boot chime and the screen doesnt turn on. All i hear is the disk drive making its noise that it usually makes when you turn on the Mac but in this case it just keep making the noise.
Has anyone encountered a problem like this before? Any help would be great. My data has been backed up but i would rather that i didnt has to reset my Mac. I'm guess is that the HD might be failing, if thats the case then i got no choice.

Have you tried starting from the installation dvd? If it won't start from this it's likely to be a hardware problem.
You could also try starting in target disk mode by holding the t key until you see the screen with the target on. Even if you don't see the screen light up still try the following. If you have access to a second Mac and a firewire cable try connecting the 2 with the cable after the attempted target mode startup and see whether the hd shows on the second machine. If it does then you probably have a failure of the graphics processor. I was able to do this earlier this year when my screen didn't light up.
My next Q: Do you have the Applecare extended warranty? If you do then take it to your nearest authorised service centre for diagnosis.
Neville
Message was edited by: Neville Mayfield

My macbook beeps three times when turned on and won't boot up continues beeping. any ideas?

when i power up my macbook it begins loudly beeping 3 times. it wont boot and the screen is white and blank.
Any suggestions?It never stops beeping 3 times.

You have some bad RAM in there. Just replace it and it should take care of it.
17" 2.2GHz i7 Quad-Core MacBook Pro  8G RAM  750G HD + OCZ Vertex 3 SSD Boot HD 

MacBook won't boot up -- Loud Beep Noise

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for