T500 Beeping on Startup

One week ago, my computer (Lenovo ThinkPad T500) has started beeping upon startup (one long, two short) and will not allow the system to start. I have to shut down and restart a considerable amount of times before the display finally shows up. The odd thing is that it has informed me that this indicates a video problem, and yet I have run diagnostics and the such, and there is nothing wrong. Furthermore, my computer runs perfectly, if not even better than before the beeps started.
This problem is starting to get annoying and I'm afraid that I might irreversibly damage my computer if I keep trying to start it up when it is beeping. How can I fix this?
Thanks for all of your help!
Solved!
Go to Solution.

katrimc, welcome to the forum
according to the Hardware Maintainance Manual, (pdf p. 52), the beep code means that you possibly have a problem with either your System Board, Display or Memory. I suggest removing and reseating your memory, (pdf p. 78 or look here), and if the problem persists to run memtest86 to check your memory. Let it make at least 3 full passes.
If your memory passes and the symptoms still persist you should call support.
Let the forum know how you get on.
Andy ______________________________________
Please remember to come back and mark the post that you feel solved your question as the solution, it earns the member + points
Did you find a post helpfull? You can thank the member by clicking on the star to the left awarding them Kudos Please add your type, model number and OS to your signature, it helps to help you. Forum Search Option T430 2347-G7U W8 x64, Yoga 10 HD+, Tablet 1838-2BG, T61p 6460-67G W7 x64, T43p 2668-G2G XP, T23 2647-9LG XP, plus a few more. FYI Unsolicited Personal Messages will be ignored.
Deutsche Community Comunidad en Español English Community Русскоязычное Сообщество
PepperonI blog

Similar Messages

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.

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?

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

New Macbook Pro beeping on startup + showing progress bar

Hi;
Yesterday I bought my new 13inch MacBook Pro. When I came to turn it on this morning, it first made a beep sound; then it showed the Apple logo with a progress bar under it. The bar made no progress, suddenly it rebooted again but without making any sound, and the Apple logo re-showed again with the bar. This happeded 3 times before the Mac booted.
Any ideas?
Please help, I am new to Mac, and I'm Lovin' It.
Thank you.
Elias.

eliasfromnewyork wrote:
It is true; the past day I had updated my software and I turned it off. This all started happening the next day. I understand that it might be updating the EFI firmware, I remember I did install it; but the problem is that it happened twice in a row (I shut down the computer and re-turned it on again) and the same things happened. But it never happened again. I just wanted to know that my new MB is OK. (I am new to Mac and not familiar with MB beeping at startup, is it normal?).
Thank you.
If the issue got fixed that means that the MacBook was updating its EFI. The "bong" sound is normal at start up, however the "beep" sound will be heard only when the EFI is update or has a problem.

Mid 2010 MacBook pro gray screen beeps no startup

Hello,
My mid 2010 MacBook pro will not startup. What I get is the startup chimes with white or gray screen. Then some beeping and clicking starts. Will not boot remotely from FireWire drive.
I'm thinking it might be ram based on what I have read so far as opposed to a hard drive crash.
Any ideas?

The number of beeps should tell you what the problem is.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1547

2011 Macbook pro upgrade to 16gb RAM -- 3 beeps on startup

My macbook pro is a 15" 2.2ghz quad i7 model purchased June of 2011. I read and researched everywhere and found that this model could support 16gb of RAM so I ordered this, Corsair 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 SODIMM. When I installed the ram and attempted startup I just got a black screen and 3 consecutive beeps and then learned this is a problem directly related to the ram installed. I installed the old ram (4gb) and that is how I'm typing this. Why would this happend if it proved so successful for so many others, according to amazon. Do I need to revert back to snow leopard? Any advice will help thanks.

it is actually that simple since i ran into the same problem when i went 16GB on my mbp.
heard it click but on both banks, turn the computer on and nothing 3 beeps.
took the ram out, put it back in straight, looked at both notches and make sure it's aligned then click again.
turned it on, and i'm back in business.
quick question, what speed did you get?

24" iMac, two beeps at startup. Anything to check besides RAM?

One of our 24" iMacs has done the "two beep gray screen" twice in its 3 week long use. The first time was during one of the reboots on the first day, the second time was today (a few weeks apart).
The day it arrived I put in a stick of 1G ram, and I know it's the correct speed/type. I was also grounded during the install so that's not the issue (I hope). I've run the startup diagnostics and it didn't show anything wrong with the memory.
I may try and re-seat the RAM, but the iMac doesn't do the beeps often, just those two times. The machine has also been VERY stable and fast.
Is there anything else I should try before returning the memory or calling AppleCare?
Thanks!
-Sean

That's exactly what I was planning on doing. Thanks Dave! Hopefully it's that easy to diagnose/fix.
All of the issues people have been having with various components of the 24" iMacs has me very nervous. Thankfully we have a 3 year AppleCare warranty, though that doesn't shorten the machine downtime.
*fingers crossed* I hope it's just the ram.
Anyone else have any thoughts?

Mac Pro 8 Core 10.6.4 - 12 fast beeps at startup

Yes you read that right.
My Mac Pro 8 core is exhibiting some strange behavior (probably some kind of failure).
At Bootup the mac does its normal startup chime, then my attached speakers make a crackling noise, followed by 12 ( yes twelve) rapid tones, the speakers then crackle again and is followed by another 10 beeps. My MacPro then boots normally. All RAM is accounted for, RAM test in OS X and hardware test report no errors.
I have checked my RAM, re-seated it, did a four finger salute (PRAM) - Still beeping -
I have heard of the MacBoo Pro beeping 9 times, but it sounds nothing like this nor have I been able to find any other posts about it.
Trying to diagnose before I drag this 65Pound beast in for service.
I know what's wrong with 1, 2 ,3 ,4, or 5 beeps at startup

Run Apple Hardware Test

Mac Pro early 2008 power off suddenly alone and gives a long beep on startup

Hello everyone! Can you resolve the problem reported? I have 6 equipaments identical to those with the same problem, some worse than others, and only two barely functioning, others are stopped. They power normally and suddenly alone they power off , and after that I only can power on again , after hours waiting or only the next day , and when it's power on , on startup , they give me a long beep , before the chime , then I can work for a time (minutes or long time , it's not secure)
I talked with Apple Computer (from USA) and they do not assume that the problem exists and that many users have the same problem, worldwide.
If you're not satisfied with the result of Apple, we will have to press them to assume the defect and promote a recall on these equipments. We have many users with the same issue (MacPro off alone)

All places where I have my equipments (they are in 4 different places, but I have tested them in all four locations), are electrically grounded, the electrical networkstabilized, reviewed annually and I use UPS minimum of 1.5 KVA (I have two UPS of 3.75 KVA) . I tested with the original HDD , with all the applications that I use installed , only with the system installed and the same procedure on a new HDD and got the same result . So , it is not eletrical problem . I have iMacs , MacBooks , G5 and MacPro early 2009 working in the same places with no problems . I tested all the sites with three different electricians and all
approved my Electric networks . As I know, all Apple equipment have
surge protection, precisely to prevent thecomponents from being damaged
by electrical problems. Again , it is not eletrical problem .

Something beeping on startup

Ok this is a bit concerning
I went to start up my G5 today & while it was booting up something was making a beeping noise
it was a kind of counting beep 3 low beeps then one high pitched beep it did this 4 or 5 times then after it got past the screen with the logo & the spinning icon below it then went to a bright blue screen the beeping stopped
On first startup it froze on the blue screen i then shut down & restarted again the beeps till i got the blue screen this time is stuck on the blue screen for around 30 seconds then started up as normal
Any Ideas guys
Thanks

Hi kenny,
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
In your case it may be the RAM slots solder problem, and heating it a little makes contact.

T500 Beeping on Startup

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for