steady beeping on iMac

[itsmesunny]

Early 2009 iMac OSX El Capitan 10.11.6
4 GB RAM - Two 2 GB RAM sticks.

Just recently my iMac started beeping - a steady beep.
I am aware of the beep patterns.

One of the icons on the desktop stays highlighted in blue.
When I open up a browser, the beeping stops. The highlight goes from blue to white.
When I click on any of the 4 other icons, only the icon highlighted in blue responds.
It will not stay asleep.

I tried the Apple Hardware Test. ( power up, immediately hit D and hold ) and it went to the desktop.
Not to the test.

It does not happen all the time.
Right now it's fine.

I UNinstalled all the apps. All that is left that is not Apple is Firefox.
And Etrecheck.
I used that a few times and got rid of what was in RED and now it looks fine.

Any ideas. - Reseat the RAM perhaps?

 

[dtravis7]

This is a shot in the dark but the Icon made me think of it. You could have a key on your keyboard that is sticking and highlighting things. Is your keyboard USB or Bluetooth? Either way unplug it of shut it off. see if the issue goes away.

I swear I had that happen way on a PC.

 

[itsmesunny]

Yeah, it's a shot in the dark, methinks, because it only happens when it beeps.

The beeping comes and goes and so does the highlight - together.

When it beeps it highlights, when it highlights it beeps.
Every time.

It's USB and I will unplug it but I just did that the other day when we had high winds etc.


UPDATE: I unplugged and plugged it into another USB port cuz the other seemed loose. This one is tight. Hmmm ...

 

[ferrarr]

To get to the Apple Hardware Test, try holding either; option, cmd, or ctrl along with the D key. You can also try an SMC reset, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295.

 

[harryb2448]

D key works only with late 2013 models and later, and this is an early 2009 iMac. If you have the model correct, model number 9.1 for both the 20" and 24", go to the link and download the appropriate version of AHT, burn to a thumb drive and boot from that.


https://github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest

 

[itsmesunny]

I did that and it did not work. And I know why because of the post below.

Thx anyway.

 

[itsmesunny]

Thanks Harry, I will try that.

 

[itsmesunny]

Another thing - PLEASE.

A couple of people suggested that I take out the RAM sticks and then put them back to reseat them.
To me that sounds crazy because if they were not in correctly wouldn't they NOT work?

Anyway, I thought I would give it a shot.

Taking out the RAM seems delicate. They are in pretty tight.
After watching a few videos on it, I guess what I do is tug gently on the black tabs to get them out.

Because they are in there so tight I am apprehensive to pull on the black tabs.

Should I be?

I learned that 3 beeps and a pause mean bad RAM. At least that is what it said on the Apple support page.
It does not seem to be doing that pattern. It is a steady beep.

 

[chscag]

A steady beep could indicate a problem with the graphics or logic board. However, you should try first to remove and reseat the memory modules. And yes, if they have been in there for awhile they may be difficult to remove and put back in. The modules in an iMac can be especially difficult to remove and replace so be careful not break them or damage the insert.

 

[itsmesunny]

D key works only with late 2013 models and later, and this is an early 2009 iMac. If you have the model correct, model number 9.1 for both the 20" and 24", go to the link and download the appropriate version of AHT, burn to a thumb drive and boot from that.

https://github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest

Early 2009 9.1 24" running El Capitan.

There are 3 AHT's that fit my Mac and I don't know which one.
iMac9,1 Mac-F2218EA9
iMac9,1 Mac-F2218EC8
iMac9,1 Mac-F2218FC8

This info must be in the system profiler but where?

Harry, where are you. I want to try it.
I have a Flash Drive.
How do I burn one of those links to a Flash Drive and boot from it?

 

[itsmesunny]

A steady beep could indicate a problem with the graphics or logic board. However, you should try first to remove and reseat the memory modules. And yes, if they have been in there for awhile they may be difficult to remove and put back in. The modules in an iMac can be especially difficult to remove and replace so be careful not break them or damage the insert.

Thanks for the reply.

As I said, if the beep is steady, which it is, then according to the Apple Support Page, that is not a RAM problem. And in the System Profiler under Memory is says that the RAM is OK.

When I started it up this AM it did not beep, then it did for a couple of minutes and then stopped.

Also, when it is beeping and I click on any item in the Menu it stops. I need to hold down the mouse cuz if I attempt to scroll down it just pops back up to the top.
Only if I hold down the mouse and choose OPEN does it work.

It used to not beep when I opened the browser, and started beeping again when I closed it. Now it keeps beeping, unless it is not beeping at all.
And now it does.

 

[dtravis7]

It to me still sounds like something like what I said in my other reply to you. Can you record the beep by chance and upload it somewhere and give us a URL? Like say to Dropbox? I would like to hear the beep. Do you have a Phone or other device you can record it on?

 

[itsmesunny]

It to me still sounds like something like what I said in my other reply to you. Can you record the beep by chance and upload it somewhere and give us a URL? Like say to Dropbox? I would like to hear the beep. Do you have a Phone or other device you can record it on?

I have a phone but it is not hooked up to be online. I can record it but don't know how to post it here.
I did spill a liquid on it a while back but that was a while back.
I just punched in every key and they all came up on the screen.

Interesting though on the numbers. 4, 5 and 6 come up as 7, 8 and 9.
And the brightness keys are audio - mute and increase audio.
The audio thing has been going on for a while.
The numbers, I don't know, since I don't use them.

 

[dtravis7]

What phone do you have? If it's an iPhone you can sync it with iTunes after the recording and get the sound file to your computer.

Sometimes it takes liquid a while do cause damage.

Another reason I brought it up was I have cats who love to be where I am and lay on my keyboard and the resulting sound scares them away, closes and opens windows and makes me want to scream! Grin

The reason I said use a phone to record is the way you describe your issue if you try to record on the iMac it might stop the sound before you can record it.

 

[itsmesunny]

What phone do you have? If it's an iPhone you can sync it with iTunes after the recording and get the sound file to your computer.

Sometimes it takes liquid a while do cause damage.

Another reason I brought it up was I have cats who love to be where I am and lay on my keyboard and the resulting sound scares them away, closes and opens windows and makes me want to scream! Grin

The reason I said use a phone to record is the way you describe your issue if you try to record on the iMac it might stop the sound before you can record it.

Travis - you are correct. It WAS/IS the keyboard! And it was because of the spill!

AND I did not need to the audio recording. My oldest son came by and I told him what was going on and what you wrote.
AND he said just unplug the keyboard while it's beeping, which we did and it stopped.

So it WAS/IS the keyboard. I am using an older iMac keyboard right now.

I AM ECSTATIC.

All I need to do is clean it!

 

[MacInWin]

All I need to do is clean it!

I would suggest replace, not clean. You cannot see any internal damage caused by the liquid spill. You are much better off replacing it.

 

[itsmesunny]

I would suggest replace, not clean. You cannot see any internal damage caused by the liquid spill. You are much better off replacing it.

Thanks, and yes, I agree.

From a conversation that I just had with the Apple guy downtown, he even suggested NOT to get another Apple keyboard.
He said that they were basically junk.
The Apple peripherals are junk, is what he said. Overpriced. Many are returned to them.

So, he suggestd that I get another brand and a Logitech mouse, for example.

UPDATE: This guy was NOT employed by Apple. He works at a retail store that sells Macs and PC's. They also do repairs. It was my mistake for writing "Apple guy."

I was not agreeing with the guy, merely stating what he said to me on the phone.

All I have had are Macs. And I really like this iMac. A LOT.
Here is the website, which I believe is OK for me to post here. If not, please let me know.
http://archangelcomputer.com/index

 

[chscag]

I don't know which "Apple Guy" you spoke with but that doesn't sound like someone who works for Apple. Maybe an authorized Apple dealer? Anyway, DO NOT believe what he said! Apple keyboards, and peripherals are top notch. Perhaps they cost more but that's because they're built better and will work better.

I've been using Apple keyboards since 2008 and still have all of my original keyboards and mice - and they all still work well. Of course when you're careless and spill things on your keyboard, it's not going to work right.

Anyway, it's your money. But don't complain about a product when you mistreat it. ;D

 

[dtravis7]

I don't know which "Apple Guy" you spoke with but that doesn't sound like someone who works for Apple. Maybe an authorized Apple dealer? Anyway, DO NOT believe what he said! Apple keyboards, and peripherals are top notch. Perhaps they cost more but that's because they're built better and will work better.

I've been using Apple keyboards since 2008 and still have all of my original keyboards and mice - and they all still work well. Of course when you're careless and spill things on your keyboard, it's not going to work right.

Anyway, it's your money. But don't complain about a product when you mistreat it. ;D

I love their keyboards, Especially the full length one with the number keypad. My only gripe if you can call it that is they are so thin that any water spilling on them destroys them. Simple thing is just to keep drinks and water away from the keyboard. I learned that the HARD way one day!

And I agree, No actual employee of Apple would say that or they would be fired!

 

[itsmesunny]

dtravis,

He was not an Apple employee.
I updated my post above.

And thanks again for posting - twice! - to make sure that I saw it. Because that is what it was.

And yeah, these new ones are really beautiful.