Powering on MacBook without opening lid

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Level 1

5 points

Powering on MacBook without opening lid

So if I'm using my MacBook with an external monitor, keyboard and mouse, is there no way to turn it on without opening the lid? If not, seems like poor decide. Excuse me if this is a topic that's already been debated to death, but it's a new problem to me.

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Sep 4, 2006 9:17 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 4, 2006 9:35 PM in response to rmaxey

I believe there's an option in the Displays prefpanel to wake or sleep the computer from the Apple DVI display button. I tried it and it doesn't work though.

I have a USB keyboard, and that works well. Uven if you have a Bluetooth keyboard you can wake it up that way.

Anothrt possibility is to unplug it which forces it to sleep no matter what. Plugging it back in wakes it up. Unfortunately, this means you are running on batter in order to sleep.

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Answer 2

Sep 4, 2006 9:47 PM in response to rmaxey

Post deleted.

Message was edited by: Gnarlodious

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Answer 3

Sep 4, 2006 10:57 PM in response to rmaxey

Make sure you have power, it won't work unless you do (not sure why, that's just the way it is).

Try unplugging a keyboard or mouse and then plug it in again.

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Answer 4

Mr Lizard

Level 2

256 points

Sep 5, 2006 5:16 AM in response to Gnarlodious

I believe there's an option in the Displays prefpanel
to wake or sleep the computer from the Apple DVI
display button. I tried it and it doesn't work
though.

I have a USB keyboard, and that works well. Uven if
you have a Bluetooth keyboard you can wake it up that
way.

Anothrt possibility is to unplug it which forces it
to sleep no matter what. Plugging it back in wakes it
up. Unfortunately, this means you are running on
batter in order to sleep.

I beleive the OP is trying to power on his notebook, not wake it from sleep

I have the same setup, a MacBook with an external keyboard and monitor.

If this is the case, then I am not aware of any other way of powering on, since the power button is concealed by the lid when closed.

If only there was a power button on the external keyboard

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Answer 5

rmaxey Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 5, 2006 5:29 AM in response to Mr Lizard

You're correct, Mr. Lizard. (And it's not often I get to address someone as "Mr. Lizard"!)

That was the point of my original post -- is there a way to turn the MacBook on (not wake it from sleep) without raising the lid. I gather the answer is no, based on the replies I've received.

If that's the case, my next question would be: Is it OK to leave it running all the time and just let it go into sleep mode after, say, 30 minutes of inactivity? Any issues with overheating or anything like that? I leave my desktop computer running all the time but have never done so with a laptop.

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Answer 6

msuper69

Level 6

8,705 points

Sep 5, 2006 6:30 AM in response to rmaxey

I have always left my Macs powered on. I let them sleep when not using them. I've been doing this since 1998 when I bought the original iMac.

Never had a problem.

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Answer 7

Sep 5, 2006 9:03 AM in response to rmaxey

No, there are no such problems with letting it sleep all the time. In fact, depreciation on your hard disk will probably be less if you sleep it rather than rebooting. Energy usage is negligible while sleeping.

But this touches on a question I have had for a while. The prefpanel settings allow you to tell your Mac to "Restart automatically after a power failure", however this does not work on a portable. Anyone know how to get around that? I want to plug it in and have it start up.

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Answer 8

msuper69

Level 6

8,705 points

Sep 5, 2006 9:26 AM in response to Gnarlodious

It can't work on a portable because the battery serves as a built-in emergency power supply. Perhaps if you yanked the battery out while running it might but I wouldn't recommend that.

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Answer 9

Sep 5, 2006 4:38 PM in response to msuper69

Tried that, it doesn't work.
Forcing it to recognize the power failure option, that is.

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