Three eeee eeee eeee sounds before chime on iMac G4

[Jessica Lares]

I don't know how to look up something like that, I know it's an error code thing... Does it three times, chimes, then boots and works normally.

What is it?

[MisterKeeks]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

I don't know how to look up something like that, I know it's an error code thing... Does it three times, chimes, then boots and works normally.

What is it?

3 tones indicates a RAM issue. Have you changed the RAM lately? Could be a failing stick.

[DJLC]

Reseat RAM, run MemtestOSX if that doesn't resolve it.

[Jessica Lares]

Hmm, I can't hear it anymore. This has been going on for awhile now. Oh well, thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into it sometime later. It has original everything from the day it was made. Never has been opened.

[Starfighter]

If you encounter more kinds of beeps, this can make for future reference:

1 beep = No RAM installed/detected
2 beeps = Incompatible RAM type installed (for example, EDO)
3 beeps = No RAM banks passed memory testing
4 beeps = Bad checksum for the remainder of the boot ROM
5 beeps = Bad checksum for the ROM boot block

("Products Affected: Power Mac, PowerBook G3, iMac")
Source

[Jessica Lares]

Someone just booted it up just a few minutes ago and it made this HUGE

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Sound. I think it's on its last legs. Still works otherwise though...

[Lil Chillbil]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

Someone just booted it up just a few minutes ago and it made this HUGE

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Sound. I think it's on its last legs. Still works otherwise though...

I think your problem is that its a pc

[MultiFinder17]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

Someone just booted it up just a few minutes ago and it made this HUGE

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Sound. I think it's on its last legs. Still works otherwise though...

A single long tone indicates that it cannot find any installed RAM. Honestly, I'd go ahead and check on the RAM in there before giving up on a beautiful machine like an iMac G4. In my experience, PowerPC Macs tend to be fairly picky about what RAM you put in them; when I was upgrading the RAM in my own iMac G4, it decided that some sticks were fine, while it would give the tones with others. All were known to work fine. Play around with it for a bit and see what you can get it doing!

[Jessica Lares]

Originally Posted by MultiFinder17

A single long tone indicates that it cannot find any installed RAM. Honestly, I'd go ahead and check on the RAM in there before giving up on a beautiful machine like an iMac G4. In my experience, PowerPC Macs tend to be fairly picky about what RAM you put in them; when I was upgrading the RAM in my own iMac G4, it decided that some sticks were fine, while it would give the tones with others. All were known to work fine. Play around with it for a bit and see what you can get it doing!

But why would it do that and boot normally afterwards and work perfectly fine? It doesn't make sense. Sometimes it makes noises, sometimes it doesn't.

I really don't want to buy RAM and have it not work or fix the issue, that's my only issue. I don't think my dad has the patience to help me take it apart and test it over and over.

Is the hardware test on the Tiger disk?

[jruschme]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

But why would it do that and boot normally afterwards and work perfectly fine? It doesn't make sense. Sometimes it makes noises, sometimes it doesn't.

Are we sure it's a "tone" and not some other kind of noise, like one of the fans squeaking?

[MultiFinder17]

Originally Posted by jruschme

Are we sure it's a "tone" and not some other kind of noise, like one of the fans squeaking?

Fair point.

OP, do the sounds that it makes sound like this, minus the fans roaring?

[blesscheese]

Originally Posted by jruschme

Are we sure it's a "tone" and not some other kind of noise, like one of the fans squeaking?

Yeah, or a hard drive starting to seize?