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No Chime But No Beeps On Startup

Recently upgraded my MacBook Unibody running 0S X 10.8.4 w/ the following, all from Crucial:

-4GB 1067 MHz DDR3

-SSD

The computer operates extremely well with two exceptions: it periodically freezes completely (4-5 times in eight weeks), and does not chime on startup (but also doesn't beep).

I've cleared the SMC and have tried to clear the NVRAM/PRAM but I'm pretty confident the latter isn't completing. When I power my computer on and press OPTION COMMAND P R simultaneously, a light grey screen appears briefly, then turns "off", then repeats. This will go on and on but no chime or no successful startup occurs.

I'm assuming the POST is identifying something that's wrong and therefore will not proceed with a proper startup but from there I'm kind of lost as to how to proceed.

I removed my optical drive so cannot attempt an AHT, as far as I know.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

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Hmmm something sounds wrong... usually by the second or at least the third restart all the previous volume settings should be gone and you should be hear something.

Of course your speakers work normally after booting. There are mute apps and commands that can be run so that there are no startup bongs at all handy if you have to work early/late in a house with light sleepers...

It could be that you are pushing that 5 year old computer pretty hard... running 10.8 - also SSDs do have a tendency to exhibit write problems. Your SATA speed is 3GB/s not something like a 6GB/s connector - because, again, trying to run a "new" drive on the older bus is know to cause hanging/freezing issues.

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Sounds like either an incompatible/flaky RAM problem, or a bad RAM slot problem. First, I would put the old RAM back in, and see if the problems go away. If they do, the new RAM has some kind of an issue, and I'd try another brand (although you'd think Crucial would be fine...)

If that has no effect, it's likely a bad slot. Take one module out and see if the problems continue, and then try it with the other empty. You'll likely notice that you experience the problems when one of the slots is populated, but not the other. The freezing, and failure to chime are both symptoms of a RAM slot that is in the process of going bad. Once it's gone bad completely, you'll get a sleep light and a black screen when the slot is populated.

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