Single beep at startup

My macbook will sometimes emit one long beep when I push the power button to turn it on. I would say this happens about 50% of the time. Three or four seconds after i push power, it beeps, then the screen comes on and starts up normally after that. I know that three beeps signifies a memory problem, but Apple's website has no explanataion for a single beep. Does anybody know what it means?
MacBook Pro 2.0GHz/2GB Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Hi bfibandit,
but Apple's website has no explanataion for a single beep.
Really?
Here you go:
Power On Self-Test Beep Definition - Part 2
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58442
RD
EDIT: Beaten by tribe's quick typing skills... story of my life

Similar Messages

Single Beep on Startup

Hello,
I got a Macbook Pro today and while restarting after updating the firmware I heard a loud and single beep. Then after, the Apple logo came up along with a status bar and after the bar was filled the computer restarted and I was able to use it normally again. Is this a major issue? What is the problem? Should I take it in for service?

Erick:
A single beep indicates a RAM issue. See Power On Self-Test Beep Definition - Part 2.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
cornelius
Message was edited by: cornelius

Long single beep noise on startup.

When I started up my MacBook Pro after a software update (EFI and Thunderbolt software), it made a long single beep noise, then showed the Apple logo with a progress bar below it, then flashed the screen, and went to the regular startup with the Apple logo.
I have a MacBook Pro 17", that was purchased 2 months ago, and running Mac OS X 10.7.1 (Lion).
Is this long beep a problem? If yes, what could be the problem?
Thanks,
Satyarth.

No problem, your firmware was updated.
A long tone will be heard, then a gray screen with an Apple logo appears. There is a progress bar under the logo. As the progress bar moves, your firmware is being updated.
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1557
If it occurs again, call the free Apple support number, you have 3 months from date of purchase for support, one year warranty and up to three years for both if you purchased AppleCare.
If you have a question about anything, please feel free to stop by again.
Thank you for visiting the user to user Apple Support Community.

Dx2300, beep on startup

I bought a DX2300 microtower used. It worked beautifully at the sellers house. We removed the wires/cables and I took it home. When I reassembled everything I got no action on the monitors(dual), no lghts on the wireless keyboard nor mouse. The CPU makes a single, long beeping on startup. The only thing I did to it was clean out the dust from the front vents and fan units. I believe the seller had a 1T byte external harddrive, but other than that, II believe it's all the same. Any suggestions?
This question was solved.
View Solution.

I went inside and unplugged and reset each cable I could. It started up smooth and other than the black screen telling me it hadn't been shup down correctly - all works fine. I was able to get my wireless internet set up. All is well in my world. Thank you very much for the help.

Tx 2000 Single beep then shutdown

When I startup I here a single beep then shutdown, if it starts After several attempts the screen stays blank...

Hi,
Normally one short beep means "DRAM refresh failure- The programmable interrupt timer or programmable interrupt controller has probably failed". Please refer to this to fix:
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/beep/amiB1-c.html
Good luck,
BH
**Click the KUDOS thumb up on the left to say 'Thanks'**
Make it easier for other people to find solutions by marking a Reply 'Accept as Solution' if it solves your problem.

One beep on startup means RAM or HDD problem?

Hi, hope someone can help with this.
When I press the power on button I get a single beep. This only happens when my macbook has been switched off for quite some time e.g. overnight or after getting back from work I power up and get a beep but if I shut it down and power up again it doesn't happen. The beep is not continuous and doesn't occur when using OSX.
Recently I installed a new HDD - 500GB western digital. I checked it with disk utility and onyx and they both say it's working fine. I also re-seated the RAM (2GB) and they both show up in system profiler.
Now everything points to the new HDD as being the cause as I never had this problem before so is this beep a sign its dying already? I did notice on disk utility it's SATA 2. Could this be the cause?
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks

Perhaps having the RAM show up in the System Profiler vs the POST is not exactly the same info...one beep should indicate..(no RAM)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1547
I installed RAM on a friends MacBook...it just beeped..took more force to seat it correctly..I am not sure if your mention of reseating the RAM was a trouble shooting step ?

Single Beep, Display cuts out, then comes back

I've had my macbook for a little over a year. Recently the hard drive died. I replaced it, and figured I'd put new memory in it while I was at it (2GB, Samsung). For a while I ran 10.4 (I was on vacation and didn't have access to my external), and everything seemed to work fine. When I finally got back to my apartment and restored my system with Time Machine, things started off well, but then some weird things started happening. First, when I installed new updates, my computer restarted itself a couple times during the installation (after the initial restart), but then stopped, and installation was successful. I figured things had resolved themselves, but then I started getting these weird problems.
When I close my macbook, it goes into standby, but will sometimes start up randomly while still closed. Also, when I go to open it, it will sometimes load, only to cut out again, make a single loud beep, and then come back and boot up fine.
I've read that a single beep usually means a RAM issue, but I'm curious if the problem is maybe with my system, and I should reformat, since it seemed to run fine with 10.4.
Hopefully I've been detailed enough, but let me know if you need more info. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Not resolved!

My MB Air makes a single beep-sound!

My MB Air (mid 2012) keeps making a single beep-sound every 2 or 3 minutes, even when I shuted it down. I don't know why. Can anyone help?

1 tone, a 5-second pause, repeat = No RAM installed
Bad RAM on logic, its permanent and cannot be replaced, the logic would have to be changed.
SMC reset and re verify
SMC reset
Shut down the computer.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.
Note: The LED on the MagSafe power adapter may change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.

3 beeps at startup

What does three beeps at startup mean???

It usually means the machine can't detect any RAM. Try reseating the RAM modules (directions are in the users guide that came with the machine).
Power On Self-Test Beep Definition - Part 2

G4 beeps on startup

I got a new HD and new 512MB stick of ram put into my G4. It seemed fine after the HD was installed but a few days later when I bought some second hand ram and slapped it in I got a faint beep on startup. I tried every combination of the ram, but couldn't get rid of the beep untill I unplugged the new HD. So I took it in to the Mac store where I got the HD installed and we couldn't hear the beep!! Took it home and it beeps again, but only when the new HD is plugged in. One strange thing is that the total ram only shows up as 1.19 when it should add up to 1216 MBs; that is two 512's, one 128, and one 64mb stick.
Any ideas?

Hi, Mike -
Welcome to Apple's Discussions.
One strange thing is that the total ram only shows up as 1.19 when it should add up to 1216 MBs; that is two 512's, one 128, and one 64mb stick.
1216MB is correct, and 1.19GB is correct. RAM math is a bit odd because it is base2. One GB = 1024MB, not 1000MB. So, 1216MB divided by 1024MB/GB yields 1.19GB.
Is it possible the drive itself is beeping? Some few have been known to do that, but when that happens it usually presages a drive failure - not something expected with a new drive.
Is the drive jumpered correctly? If your Mac is older than a G4 (MDD) model, you should not use Cable Select jumper settings.
There are some beeps at startup which can indicate RAM issues -
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58442
However, those will replace the normal startup chime. That is, if you hear the normal startup chime and then the beeps, it's not a RAM issue.
At least one person posted a similar issue a few years ago. Careful listening finally traced it to the user's UPS - it was alerting that it was running on battery.

My Emac just beeps at startup

My niece was using my Emac the other day and she said that all of a sudden it just shut down. When we tried to reboot it, all it does is beep at startup (about 20 times) and then it has the little folder on the screen that alternates between the question mark and a face. When I tried to boot off of the install disk it does boot up, but wont let me re-install the osX. It wont give me the hard drive as a option to install to. I went to the system profiler and it does show that the hard drive is there, but obviously something is wrong. Not really sure what to do and any help would be appreciated.

Welcome to Apple Discussions, bleachfix.
When you boot up from the OS X install disc, select Disk Utility from the utilities menu. What does it have to say about your hard drive?

Late-2005 Mini; Continual Single Beep after Chime

Late 2005 mini has a steady single beep after chime.
It will not boot from CD and won't eject the CD.
Open Firmware command "eject cd" gives an EJECT error after a long wait.
(I took it apart to remove the CD).
From what I've found so far, a single beep every and no chime indicates a memory error but I couldn't find any mention of continual beeping. The power LED remains does not blink. My Mini sounds like a heart monitor!
Any help is greatly appreciated.

Try other RAM...
Can you count the beeps or flashes?
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.

3 short beeps on Startup

I had to do a System Recovery and ever since then, I get 3 short beeps on startup. It does it 4 times... Any ideas?

Hi,
Could be BIOS related..
The link below will tell you what the Beep codes indicate..Follow the instructions as per the the beep codes
Beep and LED code descriptions
BIOS Beep Codes
Note:
If you have HP Support Assistant installed on the computer(The Blue Question Mark) then open it ==> Complete all pending Updates & Tuneups==> Restart and Check. It may solve your problem
Although I am an HP employee, I am speaking for myself and not for HP.
**Click on “Kudos” Star if you think this reply helped** Or Mark it as "Solved" if issue got fixed.

Three loud beeps on startup

I have been experiencing three loud beeps on startup with my Macbook Pro.
Aftter the beeps, the computer stays on a blank screen until I force a shutdown and restart, sometimes taking 3 tries to get past the beeps. Otherwise, It runs great, never crashes or locks up.
I tried reseating the RAM (2-1 gig dimms) after someone told me they thought that the distinctive 3-beep warning was a "bad ram" message. That did not make a difference.
Does anyone know what this may mean?
Thanks,
Dave Kowalski
[email protected]

2nd that - first check the ram is firmly seated - sometimes it's not all the way in the slots..
Take a look here;
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58442
Best of luck.

KN8 Diamond plus 3 beeps at startup problem

When I connect a Lide 500f scanner I get an extra beep at startup connect a skype phone and I get another extra beep so alltogether PC now beeps 3 times at startup, there are Know problems running PC. Is this a known problem that a new bios ( using 1.20 now) might sort and could it cause a problem long term.

Gigabyte Triton case Gz-xx1ca-sns
LG DVD writer GSA 4167B
LG DVD writer GSA 4163B
2 GB crucial memory DDR PC3200 (2 sticks)
AMD 3500+ (2.2) socket 939 CPU with heat sink / fan
XFX PCI Express Geforce 6600GT 256 VGA card
Zalman VGA cooler ZM80D-HP
MSI K8N Diamond Plus motherboard
Maxtor Sata 250GB Hard drive
Maxtor Ide 160GB Hard drive
Tagan TG480 –U22 power supply
beeps are the ami bios beep codes and come from case speaker 3 beeps should indicate a memory problem as thats not the case I would guess at a bios update curing the problem just find it strange problem is uknown. Bios has been cleared and is 1.20

Single beep at startup

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for