iMac won't start at home after power failure, but worked at apple store.

[DatP]

Hi all,

So my iMac stopped working after a power failure at home. Assuming that the power surge fried something (I didn't have a surge protector), I brought it to the apple store and the guys turned it on normally right away. Confused, I brought it back home and it still won't work in any of the plugs in my place.

Obviously I've confirmed that the plugs work with other objects.

I've also tried holding the button for a long time and no effect.

Has anyone ever encountered this? I'm having trouble finding this particular problem in the forums. Could someone help me please?

Thanks

 

[kohlson]

Are you plugging it in at the Apple Store with the same power cord you use at home? If you take your iMac next store to a neighbor, does it work there? If you took it back to the Mac store, does it work there a second time? I only suggest the last one because the first trip there may have jostled something in your unit, or may be noticeably different ambient temperature than your house.

 

[DatP]

Are you plugging it in at the Apple Store with the same power cord you use at home? If you take your iMac next store to a neighbor, does it work there? If you took it back to the Mac store, does it work there a second time? I only suggest the last one because the first trip there may have jostled something in your unit, or may be noticeably different ambient temperature than your house.

Yes I brought my own power cord. Haven't tried my neighbor's place, but all the plugs at my place won't turn it on despite still having enough power to turn other objects on.

Ambient temperature was pretty much the same.

 

[Fishrrman]

The following may have no application to your problems at all, but might be worth investigating:

1. Use a voltmeter to check the voltage in your electrical outlets. Does the measured voltage fall within the specs for the iMac's power supply?

2. Use a tester device (can be bought at hardware stores and home improvement places like Lowe's and Home Depot) to verify that your outlets are properly polarized.

I think that testing the iMac at a neighbor's (which should be on the same utility power source as your own house) would be a good idea.

BTW, it might be a good idea in the future to buy a good multi-outlet surge protector and use that "between" your Mac and the house outlets. I keep all my peripherals connected to it, as well.
And -- every night when I'm done with the Mac, I shut it down and also "power off" the surge protector...

 

[dwig]

...
BTW, it might be a good idea in the future to buy a good multi-outlet surge protector and use that "between" your Mac and the house outlets. I keep all my peripherals connected to it, as well.
And -- every night when I'm done with the Mac, I shut it down and also "power off" the surge protector...

Agreed, although I prefer a UPS to a simple surge protector. Any good UPS will also provide excellent surge protection and will keep the system from crashing and loosing any unsaved data.

 

[old-wiz]

Agreed, although I prefer a UPS to a simple surge protector. Any good UPS will also provide excellent surge protection and will keep the system from crashing and loosing any unsaved data.

I had a lightning strike nearby that zapped my TV, coffee maker, and a few other things and had to replace. However, I had a Mac Mini upstairs on UPS and another one on 1st floor with a 24" iMac and printer and cable interface and they all came out just fine.