iMac - Novel way of selecting boot device on iMac

hugtheslug · hugtheslug #1 (**permalink**)

07-01-2008, 08:30 AM

Just thought I'd share this as it took me a while to work out what was happening - iMac 17" would sometimes boot fine and other times it would come up with the boot device selection screen.

Eventually I worked out that this only happens when I have the light turned on.
It's an energy saving bulb and i think somehow it's intefering with the Mac. Also the wireless network will take longer to come up.
Changed the bulb back to an ordinary one and booting is normal.

So, if i want to start the iMac normally i have the light off, if i want to choose my boot device I turn the light on first

Cheers

Hugh

cwa107 · cwa107 #2 (**permalink**)

07-01-2008, 08:51 AM

I'll bet it has something to do with the ballast in the bulb. We often see them emitting electromagnetic interference and causing issues with tube-based monitors here at work. That's funny though, thanks for sharing!

cwa107 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2006 Location: Middletown, Pennsylvania Posts: 25,916 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, Core i7/2GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB Crucial M4 SSD	07-01-2008, 08:51 AM I'll bet it has something to do with the ballast in the bulb. We often see them emitting electromagnetic interference and causing issues with tube-based monitors here at work. That's funny though, thanks for sharing! Liquid and computers don't mix. It might seem simple, but we see an incredible amount of people post here about spills. Keep drinks and other liquids away from your expensive electronics!
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hugtheslug #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 19, 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 456 Mac Specs: MacBook 2.13ghz 13" / iPad Mini / iPhone 4S / iMac G5 1.9ghz iSight / iBook G4 1.33ghz / Pismo !!	07-01-2008, 08:30 AM Just thought I'd share this as it took me a while to work out what was happening - iMac 17" would sometimes boot fine and other times it would come up with the boot device selection screen. Eventually I worked out that this only happens when I have the light turned on. It's an energy saving bulb and i think somehow it's intefering with the Mac. Also the wireless network will take longer to come up. Changed the bulb back to an ordinary one and booting is normal. So, if i want to start the iMac normally i have the light off, if i want to choose my boot device I turn the light on first Cheers Hugh
	QUOTE Thanks

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