Comments on: The elusive power button http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/ Insanely Simple Tutorials for the First Time Macintosh User Fri, 16 May 2008 10:00:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-3130 Scott Haneda Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:01:02 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-3130 @akc, there are two schools of thought on this one. I generally leave my machine on all the time, and just let it sleep. OS X has a few maintenance routines that run on a schedule. If you always shut your machine down, those may not get a chance to run. On the other hand, sometimes, a clean restart will make your computer work better, as over time it can have applications clog up memory and do other bad things. In general, it is up to you, you are not going to hurt anything by leaving it running, or shutting it down. @akc, there are two schools of thought on this one. I generally leave my machine on all the time, and just let it sleep.

OS X has a few maintenance routines that run on a schedule. If you always shut your machine down, those may not get a chance to run.

On the other hand, sometimes, a clean restart will make your computer work better, as over time it can have applications clog up memory and do other bad things.

In general, it is up to you, you are not going to hurt anything by leaving it running, or shutting it down.

]]> By: akc http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-3115 akc Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:31:06 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-3115 I've been wondering whether I should be turning my iMac (desktop) off when I'm done with it or putting it to sleep? The manual says to leave it in sleep if using it every few days (which I use almost daily since it wakes up so quickly) but I'm just wondering if that's ok for the machine? I’ve been wondering whether I should be turning my iMac (desktop) off when I’m done with it or putting it to sleep? The manual says to leave it in sleep if using it every few days (which I use almost daily since it wakes up so quickly) but I’m just wondering if that’s ok for the machine?

]]> By: Morgan http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-972 Morgan Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:50:12 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-972 Mike: I've noticed on my eMac (3rd Rev.) that if I have the volume all the way down in the OS, then reboot, I won't have a startup "bong" but if I have the volume at any setting above zero I will have the startup sound. I'm not sure if this applies in your situation but I just thought it was worth mentioning. Mike:

I’ve noticed on my eMac (3rd Rev.) that if I have the volume all the way down in the OS, then reboot, I won’t have a startup “bong” but if I have the volume at any setting above zero I will have the startup sound. I’m not sure if this applies in your situation but I just thought it was worth mentioning.

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-414 Scott Haneda Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:11:55 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-414 @JimB, power management is very strange on every Apple product out there. I have a laptop, and a desktop, and both behave different in how they sleep and what can wake them up. I personally have not had Time Machine wake a machine up, and had to take steps to keep the machine awake at times to get a full backup. I would suggest you try telling your machine to "Put the hard drive to sleep when possible" in the Energy Saver prefs. Generally, a spun down drive is pretty hard to have spun back up again unless you wake the machine up. Rather than shutting off time machine, which you may forget to turn back on, you could unmount your second backup drive, that would make time machine ignore it as well. @JimB, power management is very strange on every Apple product out there. I have a laptop, and a desktop, and both behave different in how they sleep and what can wake them up.

I personally have not had Time Machine wake a machine up, and had to take steps to keep the machine awake at times to get a full backup.

I would suggest you try telling your machine to “Put the hard drive to sleep when possible” in the Energy Saver prefs. Generally, a spun down drive is pretty hard to have spun back up again unless you wake the machine up.

Rather than shutting off time machine, which you may forget to turn back on, you could unmount your second backup drive, that would make time machine ignore it as well.

]]> By: JimB http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-379 JimB Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:30:53 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-379 One annoying thing with leopard I've found is that if you are running time machine and put it in "sleep" that time machine will wake up mac...is there a fix for this~I've not found any options other than shutting off time machine before sleep mode...then remembering to turn it back on. One annoying thing with leopard I’ve found is that if you are running time machine and put it in “sleep” that time machine will wake up mac…is there a fix for this~I’ve not found any options other than shutting off time machine before sleep mode…then remembering to turn it back on.

]]> By: colin http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-325 colin Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:31:53 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-325 @Scott, @Josh: Command-Control-Eject works across the board as a shortcut to restart. Control-Eject will bring up the Shut Down menu, and Control-Option-Command-Eject will Shut Down. If your keyboard doesn't have Eject, F12 will work. @Scott, @Josh:
Command-Control-Eject works across the board as a shortcut to restart. Control-Eject will bring up the Shut Down menu, and Control-Option-Command-Eject will Shut Down. If your keyboard doesn’t have Eject, F12 will work.

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-236 Scott Haneda Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:30:48 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-236 @Josh I have tried your method on 2 Macs that I have access to now. All it does for me is put the machine to sleep. I have found that some of these methods only work on specific hardware. This is why we try to keep the tutorials focused on things that work across the board. There was a time many years ago where you could use your keyboard to start up your computer, and you could hit a 4 key combo and force an immediate reboot. Those days are gone with USB taking over. Thanks for posting your comment, it could be handy for those who have the correct hardware combination. @Josh
I have tried your method on 2 Macs that I have access to now. All it does for me is put the machine to sleep. I have found that some of these methods only work on specific hardware. This is why we try to keep the tutorials focused on things that work across the board.

There was a time many years ago where you could use your keyboard to start up your computer, and you could hit a 4 key combo and force an immediate reboot.

Those days are gone with USB taking over. Thanks for posting your comment, it could be handy for those who have the correct hardware combination.

]]> By: Josh http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-233 Josh Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:17:04 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-233 You might mention that holding Command-Ctrl-and hitting the power button will perform the same function as Ctrl-Alt-Del on a PC. You might mention that holding Command-Ctrl-and hitting the power button will perform the same function as Ctrl-Alt-Del on a PC.

]]> By: Donna http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-229 Donna Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:06:07 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-229 Ah, this is good to know!!! As a Windows switcher I have pulled the plug out from behind my iMac when it froze. I had no clue what to do since the Ctrl-Alt-Del doesn't work on Mac. So I unplugged it. (It's using the Second Life software that freezes it. I will most likely be uninstalling it.) A light press of the power button puts it to sleep. I like that feature. Now I know to hold it longer to shut it down. Also, I was using Word from MacOffice2004 and it froze in the middle of selecting a font. I waited and waited to no avail. So I experimented and held down the ESC key to see what would happen. It terminated Word. I'm hoping that was the correct thing to do. I opened Word back up and everything went smoothly after that. Ah, this is good to know!!! As a Windows switcher I have pulled the plug out from behind my iMac when it froze. I had no clue what to do since the Ctrl-Alt-Del doesn’t work on Mac. So I unplugged it. (It’s using the Second Life software that freezes it. I will most likely be uninstalling it.)

A light press of the power button puts it to sleep. I like that feature. Now I know to hold it longer to shut it down.

Also, I was using Word from MacOffice2004 and it froze in the middle of selecting a font. I waited and waited to no avail. So I experimented and held down the ESC key to see what would happen. It terminated Word. I’m hoping that was the correct thing to do. I opened Word back up and everything went smoothly after that.

]]> By: Milton Shermet http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-187 Milton Shermet Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:38:26 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-187 Nice and simple text. keep it up. Milton Nice and simple text. keep it up.
Milton

]]> By: Scott Haneda (Admin) http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-137 Scott Haneda (Admin) Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:17:29 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-137 @ Seth Thanks for the comment, we appreciate the feedback, you suggestion is a good one, and we will make a small editing change. @ Seth
Thanks for the comment, we appreciate the feedback, you suggestion is a good one, and we will make a small editing change.

]]> By: Seth http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-128 Seth Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:10:55 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-128 May I suggest a clarification. When you "... move your mouse to the upper left corner..." you should be aiming for the Apple logo. If I was a new user, I might interpret the instructions to mean anywhere in the vicinity of the upper left corner. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the OS X Help, and learning a few tips. Hope you don't mind the occasional suggestion. Thank for putting this together. If I've posted this in the wrong area, please let me know. Seth May I suggest a clarification. When you “… move your mouse to the upper left corner…” you should be aiming for the Apple logo. If I was a new user, I might interpret the instructions to mean anywhere in the vicinity of the upper left corner. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the OS X Help, and learning a few tips. Hope you don’t mind the occasional suggestion.

Thank for putting this together. If I’ve posted this in the wrong area, please let me know.

Seth

]]> By: Mike http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-23 Mike Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:27:12 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-23 Sorry, but the other people with this problem (IDs only) were on another help forum several months ago, so I really have no way to direct you to those; I wish I could. /Mike Sorry, but the other people with this problem (IDs only) were on another help forum several months ago, so I really have no way to direct you to those; I wish I could. /Mike

]]> By: hexley http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-22 hexley Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:16:00 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-22 If you have a spare moment, I would love a link to some data on others having this issue so I can research it further. If you have a spare moment, I would love a link to some data on others having this issue so I can research it further.

]]> By: Mike http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-21 Mike Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:27:12 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-21 Nope, everything else works fine and there is no 3rd-party stuff involved. This is a known Mac problem (others have it and posted numerous suggestions on other help sites, but none of the proposed fixes worked for me. I'm just amazed that Apple is simply ignoring this problem!! One good thing, however, is that it does not appear to have any adverse effect on anything else. Mike Nope, everything else works fine and there is no 3rd-party stuff involved. This is a known Mac problem (others have it and posted numerous suggestions on other help sites, but none of the proposed fixes worked for me. I’m just amazed that Apple is simply ignoring this problem!! One good thing, however, is that it does not appear to have any adverse effect on anything else. Mike

]]> By: hexley http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-20 hexley Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:58:25 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-20 @Mike Interesting, If you have external speakers, try unplugging those. I would like to rule out it being an issue with your computer, or your speakers. I assume your computer can make other sounds? You did not happen to install some 3rd party tool to change the start up tone volume level? @Mike
Interesting, If you have external speakers, try unplugging those. I would like to rule out it being an issue with your computer, or your speakers.

I assume your computer can make other sounds?

You did not happen to install some 3rd party tool to change the start up tone volume level?

]]> By: Mike http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-19 Mike Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:50:58 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/the-elusive-power-button/#comment-19 I've lost my Mac start-up tone and zapping the PRAM doesn't work. Suggestions? I’ve lost my Mac start-up tone and zapping the PRAM doesn’t work. Suggestions?

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