Macintosh POST Beeps Defined – Part 2

by WebDevRobert | Jun 4, 2009 | Apple Administrator

What do the beeps during the Power-On Self-Test (POST) mean?

This test runs whenever the computer is powered on after being fully shut down (the power-on self-test does not run if the computer is only restarted).

When a fault is detected during the Power-On Self-Test, you will not hear the normal startup chime. Instead, the system will beep as explained below. Macintosh Computers introduced after October, 1999 use a revised set of power on self-test beeps during startup.

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.

The information in this article was found here!

About the Author:

WebDevRobert

Innovative Technology Professional, working on IT/OT Convergence & Security, in the foundry industry.

Website Designer/Developer since the mid 1990’s.

Apple, Linux and Network Administrator since the late 1990’s.

Background includes several years of IT/OT and IIoT Administration, Communications Infrastructure Design and Project Management.

Currently the VP of Technology for Oil City Iron Works, Inc., in Corsicana, TX.

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