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Fluorescent Lights Magically Activates iMac?

Posted by Cliff on from the weird-goings-on-here dept.

bats asks: "In my computer room at home, I have several machines -- and a fluorescent desk lamp. Among my various boxen is an iMac DV (slot loading) circa 1999. Its configured to go into power saving mode, but respond to wake-on-lan packets. The weird thing is this: If I flip on the fluorescent desk lamp, the sleeping iMac will suddenly wake up! This happens with 100% consistency. The desk lamp is plugged into a power strip and into the wall. The iMac is plugged into a UPS and then into the wall. The network switch for the room is near the desk lamp (1-2 feet) but the iMac is some distance away (8-10 feet). My question is: WTF?! How the heck does the iMac know when the light comes on? It seems like it must be some power spike in the AC or noise on the network interface. However, the power strip and the UPS should block an AC spike and the chance of electrical noise in the cat-5 looking like a wake-on-lan packet seem more than miniscule. So again I ask you, dear AskSlashdot reader, WTF?! I await conspiracy theories, pseudo-science, wild rantings, and hopefully, the right answer."

6 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm. by NoMoreNicksLeft · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, since this is a somewhat useful behavior, I believe I am correct when I say that this rules out hidden M$ software completely.

  2. i had this problem once... by jnana · · Score: 5, Funny

    it turns that some of my body thetans had gotten trapped at the electrical outlet, and any kind of a disruption to the old AC current would cause them to send out signals that would wake my laptop. I couldn't figure out what was going on, so I called my counselor at the Church of Scientology. He sent over some of their scientists, and they turned my place upside down with a special device, like an e-meter, that detects escaped body thetans. I'd recommend you give them a call. It'll only cost you about US $15,000.

  3. Easy fix by lightspawn · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just pop in Celine Dion's "copycally-challenged" CD before you turn off the iMac.

  4. does it by fferreres · · Score: 5, Funny

    come with a compact flash reader? Oh...

    --
    unfinished: (adj.)
  5. Its just being friendly! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It seems that your older iMac is mistaking the desklamp for one of the new generation iMac's
    (afterall, they look like desklamps anyway)
    (from visual_bob@hotmail)

  6. PEBKAC by KFury · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is a new iMac, right?

    Okay, look in your office, and put your hand on the lamp. Is your hand resting on the thing with a rounded base, a stalk, and a flourescent emitter at the end? That's your computer. Don't worry, a lot of people make that mistake.

    --

    Kevin Fox