also @ TechSpot: EU, US approve Google's $12.5 billion buyout of Motorola Mobility
Welcome to the TechSpot OpenBoards. Please read the FAQ if you have any questions. Sign up or Login to participate.

Go Back   TechSpot OpenBoards > Software > The Alternative OS

Begin your free trial now Pay-as-you-go options starting at $10/user/month

3 short beep sound and a black screen on Mac computer

Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old 06-10-2009
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Jun 2009, 24 posts
3 short beep sound and a black screen on Mac computer

Hi. Can anyone help me with this problem. When i start my Mac Destop computer i get a blank screen and i get 3 short beep. What do you think is the problem? Pls anyone.
  #2  
Old 06-10-2009
Tedster's Avatar
Techspot old timer.....
 
Location: Petersburg, VA
Member since: Feb 2005, 10,005 posts
System specs
try the bios beep guide in the guides forum if it has an intel based motherboard.
  #3  
Old 06-10-2009
SNGX1275's Avatar
TechSpot Forces Special
 
Location: Rolla, Missouri, USA
Member since: Feb 2002, 10,812 posts
System specs
What model? Maybe the Intel Mac Pros will beep, but I didn't think any of them did.
  #4  
Old 06-10-2009
jobeard's Avatar
TechSpot Ambassador
 
Location: Southern Calif.
Member since: Apr 2005, 10,831 posts
class Mac tones historically have been a Major chord for ok vs a Minor chord arpeggio for failures
  #5  
Old 06-11-2009
captaincranky's Avatar
TechSpot Evangelist
 
Member since: Oct 2006, 7,584 posts
3 short beeps is "Intel-ese" for a memory fault.

Don't know if that applies here, but on the other hand, bad memory will give you a nasty old black screen.
  #6  
Old 06-11-2009
SNGX1275's Avatar
TechSpot Forces Special
 
Location: Rolla, Missouri, USA
Member since: Feb 2002, 10,812 posts
System specs
If I had to guess, I would say that they (any Mac) will not throw a 3 beep error. Thats too PC like for Apple to allow, so I'm interested in what machine this occurred on. Of course the dude has to come back to answer that...
  #7  
Old 06-13-2009
TechSpot Enthusiast
 
Location: Cambridge UK
Member since: Jul 2006, 284 posts
System specs
Three beeps on a PPC based Mac means it couldn't find any good memory.
I think it's the same on an Intel based Mac as well.
  #8  
Old 06-17-2009
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Jun 2009, 24 posts
Hey thanks for all the tips but it was the memory that went bad in the computer
  #9  
Old 06-17-2009
captaincranky's Avatar
TechSpot Evangelist
 
Member since: Oct 2006, 7,584 posts
WOW, No S*** Really...!

Quote:
Originally Posted by techalpha69 View Post
Hey thanks for all the tips but it was the memory that went bad in the computer
I'm pretty sure we've been telling you that...! Now, I suppose you you figured it out, right?

Quote:
Originally Posted by captaincranky View Post
3 short beeps is "Intel-ese" for a memory fault.

Don't know if that applies here, but on the other hand, bad memory will give you a nasty old black screen.
Quote:
Originally Posted by seanc View Post
Three beeps on a PPC based Mac means it couldn't find any good memory.
I think it's the same on an Intel based Mac as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tedster View Post
try the bios beep guide in the guides forum if it has an intel based motherboard.
Closed Thread

Similar Topics
Topic Replies Forum
1 long and 2 short beep 7 Processors and Motherboards
No post beep and no bios just a black screen 8 Processors and Motherboards
No post beep, black screen on first boot 2 Processors and Motherboards
1 long beep 2 short? (award bios) 7 Processors and Motherboards
long beep, short deadline :-( 12 Processors and Motherboards

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:01 AM.