Power-on, via USB Apple Keyboard?

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Power-on, via USB Apple Keyboard?

Is there a way to power up the MacBook from the USB Apple Keyboard when the lid is closed (with an external monitor attached)?

G3 DT/SonnetEncoreZIFG4/1GHz/768MB/WingsAV/DVR-106D/psc750xi/graphire4-6x8, Mac OS X (10.4.9), ACARD-RAID-ATA66/120GB Maxtor+Seagate;TangoUSB/FW/Neptune320GB;ATI9200/204B/172N

Posted on Oct 12, 2007 7:40 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 12, 2007 8:17 PM in response to Glen Doggett

No. Apple computers lost the ability to boot from a USB device almost ten years ago.

-Doug

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Answer 2

Glen Doggett Author

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Oct 12, 2007 9:48 PM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

Funny, that's about the last time I bought a Mac, the G3 Desktop in my signature was pre-USB, and powers on via ADB keyboard. Just got a new black MacBook Core2Duo, and its great.

I was wondering how to power up when using one of the vertical docking stations like the ones discussed in this article:

http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/mobile/2007/09/grandstands/index.php

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Answer 3

Oct 12, 2007 10:56 PM in response to Glen Doggett

Interesting docks. The very first G3 iMacs and the Blue and White G3 towers had USB keyboards with power buttons. But, around 2000, when the black Apple "Pro" keyboard and mouse appeared, not only did the power button disappear from the keyboard but so did the ability to startup the Mac from USB. Whether you have a MacBook or a MacBook Pro, you'll need to open it to start it up. But, with that said, is there a reason to shut down your MacBook at all? I'm not sure I've ever shut down my MacBook on purpose. It restarts every few weeks for software updates, but I never just "shut down". The Unix underpinnings of Mac OS X are very happy running 24/7 and sleeping when the Mac isn't being used.

-Doug

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