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Model A1369, 1.6, 1.7, or 1.8 GHz Processor, 64, 128 or 256GB Flash Storage

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Looping chime on booting

Hi guys,

I have a macbook air to repair. The problem is the same as here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSpikNzb0...

Looping chime. It even dont show logo of Mac OS. There just is a grey screen and looping chime until you place a finger on the button of power for 6 seconds.

I tried to reset PRAM, SCM - nothing. It got even worse. Before I reset PRAM it loaded to Windows but keyboard or mouse did not response. When i tried to load MacOS so 'Alt' key worked, it proposed me to select OS to load, but cursor of keyboard nor touchpad worked... Then i reset PRAM and from then chime is looping and it dont load OS at all... Even dont propose me to select OS. Even from external HDD.

Does anyone know a problem?

Thanks.

Update

The problem was in Flash Memory that corrupted. I changed it. installed New Flash Memory removed serial number but computer began to start normally. Thanks to all.

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Eugene, where did you get a new Flash Memory? I had a working Macbook until I reset the SMC. Now I need to replace the Flash Memory but it's unclear what this would be or where I would get it. Thanks!

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

@Phil - The best answer here is bringing your system into an Apple Store. Apple has the needed tools to reborn your systems firmware. I'm not sure if they will do it for free on yours, they did three of our newer systems a few weeks ago.

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

Buy a new logic board and swap it. Most flash memory is soldered directly into the logic board.

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

I was experiencing the same issue with the same symptoms (green light on, webcam didn’t work) and basically my Macbook Air was a paperweight for the last few years until I came upon this post and disconnected the iSight camera and boom it booted up fine… Not quite sure what happened but I did replace the lcd screen maybe something of the webcam broke during that repair.

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I was experiencing a similar problem. The MacBook would go no further than white screen and would continuously restart with a chime. It was a hardware issue and was resolved, as follows:

The way I went about it was to first remove SSD from the logic board, however, I had to put it back because it did not solve the problem,

Likewise, I removed the Bluetooth / airport board and put it back because it too did not solve the problem,

I then removed the I/O cable connection between the logic board and I/O board. This resolved the issue and MacBook booted normally!

I reconnected I/O cable back to logic board so as to narrow down and identify the exact fault.

It turned out that, the I/O cable, I/O board and logic board all were fine. It was the camera cable connected on I/O board which was at fault. I then put a shrinkable sleeve the camera cable to cover up its contacts and left it without connecting it to the I/O board.

The MacBook now boots up normally and works perfectly fine!

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I think it could be a top case or power switch issue. If you want be sure, remove the bottom panel, disconnect the top case ribbon cable from the logic board then start the machine directlement from the two power pads that should be located near the top case ribbon cable socket. If the machine start and run without the issue then you know the top case is faulty.

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Hi,

Thank you for your recommendations.

I tried to do it. But it did not help.

The photo about what I disconnected here: http://d.pr/i/TSpr

is it correct?

if it is power switch, could you direct me where to look?

Thanks.

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

Don't know the internal cabling of the macbook air I mostly work on MBP which is a completely different model. Maybe someone could chime in and identify the top case connector and the power pads ?

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Turn it off completely. Then press and hold the power button till you hear the chime sound.

Turn off completely again.

This time press the power button nd right after you press it, press me hold the "command+option+p+r" keys. You should hear it chime then reboot and chime again. Hopefully this fixes it. Last option you can do is do a SMc reset.

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Hello,

Press Shift key when your Mac starts and see if the Mac starts up...

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Hi,

thank you for your comment. But it did not help... :(

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Hi Eugene, Can you explain in more details what you did to make it work. What do you mean by removed serial number for example ? My 11 inch, mid-2011 MBA just crapped out one day, I lost keyboard and mouse inside OSX (10.8), this was less than 1h after I had cloned my SSD with an image of Mountain Lion from my iMac (I regret this move to this day, was lazy redoing the install), and then after the crash I had to turn off the machine holding the power button. Since then I see the Apple logo but all I get is a loop chime sound (it barely finishes and I hear a little cracle and the chime sound starts again in a fast loop). I can't select an OS (external), did SMC + PRAM but nothing works. Plugging some usb flash drive on left USB will make it that only one chime then stop, but nothing else. I can't put up the OS selection menu :(.

I wonder if I deleted something on the SSD that makes it that the Mac won't boot and gets stuck on a reboot loop, is that even possible I'm unsure (where is the EFI located ? is it on the SSD or is it like a PC Bios inside flash memory on the logic board ?). I still find it extremely suspect that the MBA died right after I superdupered ML from another machine (iMac 27 late 09) :(.

I did order a replacement SSD from iFixit but it didn't do the trick, I even restored Lion that was originally on the SSD on it but still no go.

I'm thinking my logic board must have a defect (and all this isn't related to my superduper cloning but the timing is too coincidental IMHO) , but I don't know what to do and shelved already 250$ on the SSD, for pretty much nothing. If anyone has an idea it would be appreciated.

Thx

Chris

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Chris - the systems BIOS (EFI) is an EE-PROM device that is soldered onto the logic board. It's possible it has become corrupted or is bad. In either case I would recommened you bring the system into an Apple Store as I'm sure will replace the logic board under warranty.

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Hi Chris,

sorry for my english, it is not my native language.

In my case i had a problem with a flash memory that storied all information about computer and that also storied information about serial number and etc.

When I mention flash memory it is not SSD hard disk. It is something like BIOS in the windows computers. So I needed to restore flash memory. I got it from the same computer and restore information. that is all. But it is not possible if you dont have special programmer. I am absolutely sure your problem dont have any to SSD. you need to check flash bios where stored Serial number. it is on a logic board. I think it is because from time to time power had jump, i think it is electrical problem. Though I can be wrong.

Hope it is helpful to you, I am ready to answer any question.

Eugene.

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Hi Eugene,

No problem on English, ain't my native language either.

Ok thanks. How did you get the flash info ? You read it from another computer, also with special equipement or can it be extracted from within OS X ? I have a 11" mid 2011 model.

Thanks in advance

All the best,

Chris

PS : Dan, I would if it's still was under warranty :(

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I bet Apple has an extended warranty program on this. I would start with that before trying to re-burn the EE-PROM.

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As to how to fix this: You will need to pull the chip or have a special clip to make contact to the leads of the chip, then using a burner jig access the chip's programing, altering it using machine code to alter the bad setting or re-burn a known good image back to the chip. This is quite advanced for most to do and you often need to replace the chip if the burn goes bad or if the chip is defective. Just so you know some programs depend on the serial number to either use as a seed for encryption or licensing ID.

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Thx

Update

Hi Dan.

Are you able to show picture of the EE-PROM chip on the logicboard?

Thx

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Atmel AT45DB021D chip

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Hi,

Actually i am unable to locate this Atmel AT45DB021D chip (which according to Dan is EE-PROM) on my Macbook which is facing the same issue.

Machine: Macbook Air 13 Mid 2011.

Problem: Looping chime on booting.

Fault location: EE-PROM corrupted.

Solution: Re burn EE-PROM or replace it.

Can anyone please suggest?

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Hi, I have a similair problem..

strange thing is that it happend after I replaced the wifi-antenna. After assembling the MBA it started malfunctioning as described at the first post.

I took the MBA apart and connected part for part while testing it.

It only works normally when I do not connect the "I/O Board Cable".

When I connect the "I/O Board Cable" it starts malfunctioning again. So I tried with a working "I/O Board Cable" from another MBA and the problem starts all over again..

So could this also be a flash problem?

Or does anyone think it might be something else?

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I think you need to do some more diagnostics here. The SSD flash drive is not connected to the I/O board so I don't see how that would be the issue here.

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I had a related issue with chime boot loop in my Macbook Air 11" 2011, similar to Eugene mac's problem. But mine was due to FaceTime failure (built-in iSight camera) instead flash EFI chip. Just posting as reference that could help someone in the future. See full report here: MacBook Air 11 stuck on chime boot loop, gray screen w/ NO apple logo

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I was experiencing the same issue with the same symptoms (green light on, webcam didn’t work) and basically my Macbook Air was a paperweight for the last few years until I came upon this post and disconnected the iSight camera and boom it booted up fine… Not quite sure what happened but I did replace the lcd screen maybe something of the webcam broke during that repair.

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Hi,

Same problem with my brother's MBA. I disconnected the camera connector (step 12 of this guide)

It then started seamlessly. I cleaned the camera connector with iso-propanol, and I reconnected the camera connector.

It started successfully too.

I then performed a SMC + PRAM reset and it seems working for now.

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The best method if it keep booting with chime in sound and with or without apple logo, it keep on repeating and sometimes it sits there without loading. Then best method is to open MacBook Pro case and unplug the battery pack flex ribbon from the board. Then plug the charger and turn it on. Walaaa it works! And walaaa need buy new macbook pro battery. And you will notice your battery pack is a bit fat/bulky.

This is for MacBook Pro with flash memory/RAM solder on the board. 2015-2020

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i try to buy new bateries for my macbook pro early 2015 and try to replace its but its still only chimes and not boot. the problem didnt changes still the same and show notification that the macbook have problem and need to restart. and its only chimes and restart every times. any answer guys?

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MacbookAir i5 same problem after clicking efi boot option in bootable usb, it was perfectly fine!

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Eugene crwdns2934231:0crwdne2934231:0
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