Strange delay in startup

[tarsierspectral]

I have MP hex with SSD as a start up disk. From the moment I hear the chime the computer starts really fast. But the from the time I press the power button and when I hear the chime it takes exactly 15 seconds. I find this a bit odd. So I press the power button, I see the monitor light come on but the screen stays black for 15 seconds and then I hear the chime and the grey screen shows up. Is this normal?

Thank you

[Hellhammer]

Try PRAM and MSC reset

[cluthz]

Set the SSD as default start up disk in the pref pane

[tarsierspectral]

Try PRAM and MSC reset
will try, and report back, thanks

[tarsierspectral]

Set the SSD as default start up disk in the pref pane
it is already set.

[tommyknockrs]

it is already set.

Can you also let us know if the SSD is stock from apple or did you install it yourself? Memory configuration? Are there other hard drives in your configuration, how is your monitor connected, and if there any type of unusual USB/Firewire peripherals connected?

[tarsierspectral]

Can you also let us know if the SSD is stock from apple or did you install it yourself? Memory configuration? Are there other hard drives in your configuration, how is your monitor connected, and if there any type of unusual USB/Firewire peripherals connected?
SSD is not stock, I installed it myself. RAM is 10GB, 2x4GB and 2x1GB. Monitor connected via DVI cable directly to the computer. No peripherals connected.

[tarsierspectral]

Try PRAM and MSC reset
Did PRAM reset, made no difference, how do you reset MSC?

[Hellhammer]

Did PRAM reset, made no difference, how do you reset MSC?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964?viewlocale=en_US

[tarsierspectral]

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964?viewlocale=en_US
Did SMC reset and that also didn't make any difference.

[Hellhammer]

Did SMC reset and that also didn't make any difference.

Try repairing permissions with Disk Utility

[tarsierspectral]

Try repairing permissions with Disk Utility
No difference

[dockingbay94]

Same thing happening here. I didn't see it as a problem though. I'm running an SSD in the optical bay and a monitor through DVI. Hit the power button, 15 seconds later I hear a chime and 15 seconds from then I'm at the desktop.

[tarsierspectral]

Same thing happening here. I didn't see it as a problem though. I'm running an SSD in the optical bay and a monitor through DVI. Hit the power button, 15 seconds later I hear a chime and 15 seconds from then I'm at the desktop.
Glad to hear that I am not alone. Yes, exactly the same timings here. I wonder if it has to do with the fact that our SSDs are in the optical drive bay.

[reel2reel]

Glad to hear that I am not alone. Yes, exactly the same timings here. I wonder if it has to do with the fact that our SSDs are in the optical drive bay.

Can you swap it temporarily into one of the HD bays? You can probably just hang it there if you don't have an adapter, just for testing purposes?

[reel2reel]

I'd try trashing the system preferences plist (in your Home folder > Library > Preferences). Just make sure you don't have System Pref's open, trash the com.apple.systempreferences.plist file and then open System Pref's and re-set the SSD as your startup disk.

I don't think there's a specific plist file for startup disk.

[serrada]

it is already set.

Do you mean that you walked through setting it again or that you set it when you installed? If the latter, you should try selecting it and reboot.

[Concorde Rules]

It's really strange the time between pressing the button and the screen coming on.

It's < 5 sec on my MBP yet it can vary between 10 and 30 seconds on my Mac Pro.

What on earth is it doing!?

My MacBook Pro boots from cold to desktop from a HD quicker than my MP does from a SSD! (SSD boot from first grey screen takes ~ 10-15 seconds).

[alphaod]

Mine does the same thing. I've been living with it for ages. If you find a solution, please update.

[tarsierspectral]

Do you mean that you walked through setting it again or that you set it when you installed? If the latter, you should try selecting it and reboot.
selected it again and rebooted. No difference

[tarsierspectral]

I'd try trashing the system preferences plist (in your Home folder > Library > Preferences). Just make sure you don't have System Pref's open, trash the com.apple.systempreferences.plist file and then open System Pref's and re-set the SSD as your startup disk.

I don't think there's a specific plist file for startup disk.
trashed preferences, no difference

[Concorde Rules]

trashed preferences, no difference

It's normal to be honest.

It's something to do with the EFI boot sequence. :confused:

[tarsierspectral]

It's normal to be honest.

It's something to do with the EFI boot sequence. :confused:
My previous Mac didn't do it. It was Mac 1,1

[Concorde Rules]

My previous Mac didn't do it. It was Mac 1,1

But I've used 5 Mac Pro 4,1s and they also all do it.

Not like it's a great issue is it? :p

[tarsierspectral]

But I've used 5 Mac Pro 4,1s and they also all do it.

Not like it's a great issue is it? :p
No, but I wanted to show off ;) and when I called my husband over to see how fast it starts up using SSD all I got from him was: "why is it taking so long to show the screen?"
It's not really a problem :o

[666sheep]

It's normal to be honest.

It's something to do with the EFI boot sequence. :confused:

I can confirm it, it's normal since MP 4.1. All previous versions had much shorter POST time (delay between pushing Power btn and chime).

I'm also guessing that it must be firmware related and no tricks can shorten boot time if you have SSD installed and startup disk is set properly.
Boot time also could be dependent on external drives connected and expansion cards installed in machine. Every additional hardware will add some secs.

[tarsierspectral]

I can confirm it, it's normal since MP 4.1. All previous versions had much shorter POST time (delay between pushing Power btn and chime).

I'm also guessing that it must be firmware related and no tricks can shorten boot time if you have SSD installed and startup disk is set properly.
Boot time also could be dependent on external drives connected and expansion cards installed in machine. Every additional hardware will add some secs.
I guess, that settles it. It's confirmed that is is normal :apple: