IMac Sleep Disorder

My wife's iMac (fully updated and running 10.7.4) has two problems that just started yesterday..
1.  After going to sleep, normally I would simply press any key on the keyboard to get to the login screen, but now pressing keyboard keys, moving the mouse, does nothing.  The computer stays sleeping and the screen fully black, though you can tell it's still running by the heat coming out of the top of the monitor.  At this point all I can do is hold down the power button until it restarts.
2.  The second problem, also started happening at the very same time and is probably related.  When the computer is running if I select Apple | Sleep from the menu bar the screen goes about 90% black and the mouse pointer is still visible.  After about a minute the mouse pointer disappears and the screen goes completely black as it should.  But then I'm back to problem number (1.) above. 
I've repaired permissions on the computer (there were quite a few that needed repairing) but that's all I've tried.  This didn't fix the problems.  She's using a wireless keyboard and wireless Magic mouse, both with brand new batteries.  Also, no changes at all have been made to her computer in months.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The update may have changed the Bluetooth preferences.
see > Wireless input devices: Bluetooth frequently asked questions
Then if that doesn't fix it,
Reset the SMC > Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
1. Shut down the computer.
2. Unplug the computer's power cord.
3. Wait fifteen seconds.
4. Attach the computer's power cord.
5. Wait five seconds, then press the power button to turn on the computer.
and then perhaps even reset the PRAM > Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
1. Shut down the computer.
2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
6. Release the keys.

Similar Messages

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    I tried in the hardware section about this, maybe I can get some help here:
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    Hi, Wet Baloney.
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    Dr. Smoke
    Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
    Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:
    I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

  • Odd iMac sleep issues

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    Can be very hard to impossible to track down auto sleep issues. Just get PleaseSleep.
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  • IMac - sleeping problem

    Hi Guys,
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    Have you tried "fsck -fy" repairs under single-user mode?
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1492
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  • IMac sleeping automatically more and more frequently with hudge fan noise

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    You are dong the right thing by backing up, it sounds as if your power supply is going bad. What did TechTool report?
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  • HT3728 every time my iMac sleeps or restarts it loses the connection to airport express and i must reset and connect with router via ethernet cable.

    Every time my imac sleeps or restarts it loses the wireless connection with my airport express (used for streaming music). I then have to disconnect the airport express from my stereo, bring it to my router, connect it to my router with ethernet cable and reset the wireless connection. Even with my airport express  in the same room as my router Airport Utility cannot find it until i plug in an ethernet cable, so i do not think this is an issue with my wireless network. Router is a newer netgear.

    Hi there frustrated newbie 2014,
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    Wi-Fi: How to troubleshoot Wi-Fi connectivity
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4628
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  • IMac sleeps too soon since Mountain Lion

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    Hi Stepppy,
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  • Firewire issue--Backup drive not found w/Time Machine after imac sleeps

    I've had a lot of problems with Time Machine on my G4 imac since starting to use it a month ago. I think I have isolated the problem:
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    Message was edited by: imaginary_forest

    fzgy wrote:
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