MBP won't sleep, HDD constantly running (clicking), even with no programs open

When I close the lid on my Mac at night it doesn't sleep, and I can hear the HDD quietly chattering away. Even when I'm using it during the day I can similarly hear the HDD going, even if I'm just using MS Word, Safari and Itunes - I'm a student, so my day-to-day needs don't really push my Mac that hard!
The only thing I'm worried about is if it's going to knacker the HDD if it's running 24 hours a day. Am I just being paranoid, or is it something I should chase?
It only really started happening after I bought an external HDD to use as a time capsule. I never really have it connected though, except when I back up once a week. It's a Samsung 1TB Seagate. Any Ideas?

Try a PRAM reset:
Shut down your Mac.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.
Excerpt from: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

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MBP won't sleep

I came across this before, fixed it, and couldn't remember what I did to fix it. Now, my MBP won't sleep.
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After several some time, I finally found several near-fixes and one fix that worked for me.
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I have a PC running Windows XP (yes an antique) with CS3 Photoshop and InDesign and lightroom 2 (yes all antiques). I have acquired a PC running Windows 7 with no programs. I also have a MacBook pro with full CS5 suite. The programs were already loaded w

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MBP Won't sleep when the screen/lid closes...

I have had my MBP for almost a year now and my AppleCare is about to expire...
Recently when I close the screen the computer will continue to run and operate as if it was never closed and will not sleep. I took it to the Apple store and they did an SMC reset which sorta helped for about 5 hours. Now it goes to sleep but will take almost a minute at times or won't sleep at all. I was told I would have to send my computer out for a couple weeks but I can't do without a computer. Please help me fix this or help me convince Apple to give me a new computer.

Run /Utilities/Console and click 'All Messages' top left then close the lid and try and put it to sleep.
If no dice open the lid and look at the Console messages - in particular look for lines including "sleepimage" and see what it says ?
I suspect there's not enough space left on your hard drive, or it badly fragmented, and the RAM sleep image can't be created or stored properly ...

My MBP won't sleep HD, and I have tried every solution already posted.

This is a persistent problem that began over 1 year ago, so information about how this unit might have been configured when it began is no longer available, but I have scoured this and google in general, using all search terms I can think of and still I can not pin point a reason my HD will not sleep. I have been advised that there is a "process" keeping my unit awake, but I don't understand how that is possible when it won't even sleep when it is on the startup screen. So here are some particulars.....maybe you have some new thoughts?
I drive a MBP with a 2.4 Core Duo processor running OS 10.9.1, 5gb of mem, 750gb of storage with 500+ free.
1) I made a clean install of system software and a clean upgrade to Mavericks (as a way to try to solve the problem which began when I was using Mtn Lion). There is no third part software loaded onto the machine, yet.
2) I have yet to launch iTunes, or iPhoto, or a Browser, no printer has been added.
3) The result is the same regardless of user or preferences. It does it in "safe mode". The Terminal doesn't give any reason for aborting sleep using "pmset -g" command. It just has a "10". Bluetooth is turned off, notifications are turned off, sharing is turned off, airport is turned off...it's not even connected to the internet. The only software on the computer is the system. There are no peripherals.
4) It won't sleep even on the start-up screen. It won't sleep if I go through the menu or close the lid. It will power off the monitor, and begin to wind down the HD, but just as it reaches the end of the sequence BING and the screen comes on again. If the lid is closed, it will stay that way until the battery runs out, unless it's plugged in. SMC and VMRAM resets not effective.
5) I have no files on this computer so I don't care about losing them.
6) This computer did not have this problem using Snow Leopard, and even worked for a time using Mtn Lion and changing to Mavericks has not affected the problem which leads me to think it's not OS related. It acts like a firmware issue, but as far as I can find there is no firmware upgrade for my unit.

Hello Bobz,
Thank you for responding. You require that I modify #2, above. I have now gone on internet, opened Safari. I downloaded etrecheck, restarted, waited for computer to cycle through sleep cycle (1 min). After failure, I ran etrecheck. Here are the results:
Hardware Information:
          MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2008)
          MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro4,1
          1 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2 cores
          5 GB RAM
Video Information:
          GeForce 8600M GT     - VRAM: 256 MB
System Software:
          OS X 10.9.1 (13B42) - Uptime: 0 days 0:29:13
Disk Information:
          ST9750420AS disk0 : (750.16 GB)
                    EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
                    inni (disk0s2) /: 749.3 GB (353.92 GB free)
                    Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB
USB Information:
          Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
          Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
                    Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
          Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
          Apple, Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
FireWire Information:
Thunderbolt Information:
Kernel Extensions:
Problem System Launch Daemons:
Problem System Launch Agents:
Launch Daemons:
Launch Agents:
User Launch Agents:
User Login Items:
          None
Internet Plug-ins:
          Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9
          QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
Audio Plug-ins:
          BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.9
          AirPlay: Version: 1.9 - SDK 10.9
          AppleAVBAudio: Version: 2.0.0 - SDK 10.9
          iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.9
3rd Party Preference Panes:
          None
Bad Fonts:
          None
Old Applications:
          None
Time Machine:
          Time Machine not configured!
Top Processes by CPU:
               5%          WindowServer
               2%          EtreCheck
               0%          mds_stores
               0%          mds
               0%          imagent
Top Processes by Memory:
          61 MB          Finder
          51 MB          mds_stores
          46 MB          WindowServer
          31 MB          mds
          31 MB          Dock
Virtual Memory Information:
          3.75 GB          Free RAM
          617 MB          Active RAM
          130 MB          Inactive RAM
          530 MB          Wired RAM
          218 MB          Page-ins
          0 B          Page-outs

MBP won't sleep since Lion upgrade

Late 2008 MacBook pro, since upgrading to lion will not go to sleep. Screen goes dark, but fan continues to run, and power light stays solid without flashing. I've tries sleeping the computer with the keyboard shortcut, with the apple remote, and with the apple menu. Sleep mode works normally when the magsafe plug is disconnected, but not when it's connected. I've tried resetting PRAM and SMC, and quitting processes in the activity monitor.

I've been having a similar problem. I haven't found a permanent solution but I have found a work around. If you have TextExpander or Alfred this will work much faster.
I was able to use the 'pmset -g log' terminal command to find out that mDNSResponder was the reason my MBP wouldn't fall alseep. So it has something to do with Bonjour.
I then found a pair of command codes to shut off and turn on Bonjour. After using them, my MBP goes to sleep without issue.
Turn Off Bonjour: sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.mDNSResponder.plist
Turn On Bonjour: sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.mDNSResponder.plist
You'll notice that when you turn off Bonjour that you won't be able to use the Internet. That is the only down side to this work-around.
Using Textexpander you can use 'ssleep' and 'wwake' for the two command codes and alfred can give you quick access to the terminal.
I hope that helps somewhat.

MBP won't sleep when charging

My 15" i5 MacBook Pro won't sleep when charging; a reset of the SMC solves the problem temporarily, but it always recurs. Interestingly, the sleep indicator light pulses as if the machine is sleeping, but I can clearly hear hard drive activity; the drive sounds like it keeps spinning up every 10 seconds or so. This is not an issue when trying to sleep when running on the battery only. Any advice?

I would just buy a wall charger for the touch and leave your MBP alone. If you really only wanted to charge it from the MBP, just make sure it doesn't sleep when plugged into the power adapter.

MBP Won't Sleep automatically. Sleep light on. Not pulsing. Drive spinning.

I can get my new MBP SR to sleep when I tell it to but it won't sleep when it's supposed to according to my Energy Saver preferences.
Instead of sleeping, the screen goes dark and the sleep light stays on at medium - no pulsing. I can hear the hard drive still spinning. I tried changing my screen saver to one of the original Apple settings (Computer Name) but that didn't help. I'm going to try throwing away my Energy Saver prefs.
Any suggestions?
BTW - I took a closer look and I was a bit surprised at how many posts there are for the MacBook Pro on the Apple.com discussions. The most posts per day of any model by far. I know its a very popular Mac but this model seems to have more problems than we are able to solve. That worries me. Anybody else noticing this?
-Todd

I had exactly the same issue and needed three hours to find out the reason. It was the Bluetooth Mighty Mouse. I had to disselect the *third option* in the *bluetooth preferences*. I have a German-language OS X so I don't know the exactly expression but it affects the ability for bluetooth devices to weak up the system.
If you have EyeTV 2: This application must not be running. If you have scheduled recordings that doesn't matter it will record anyway: It will wake up the Mac - record the thing - go to sleep again.
I have several devices connected to the MBP: Three external enclosures with harddisk drives (2xFW800, 1xUSB without sleep function), EyeTV 610, speakers - all those things did not prevent the system for going to sleep. All those devices can be left attached - up and running. The FW harddisks will go to sleep the USB not.

MBP won't sleep and battery drains quickly since 10.6.3 update, help!

My 15" MBP refuses to sleep when I close the lid, it's very frustrating cause now I cant just close the lid when I'm done using it cause the battery runs down and it gets very hot. This is only since the 10.6.3 update, I've tried repairing the permissions but no luck, even when I choose 'Sleep' from the Apple pref menu it still doesn't sleep.
Any idea's?
Along with this and the screen flickering issue plus a few other bugs I'm really starting to wonder how I justified paying £2k+ for this machine

Nope, reset the SMC.
When I try put it to sleep it wakes up 15seconds on the button every time. When I close the lid to put it to sleep the apple logo on the lid lights up every 15 seconds aswell.

IBk G4 won't sleep automatically while running on power adapter

I have suddenly developed this odd issue. My iBook sleeps fine when I shut the lid, both when running on adapter and on battery. And when I go up to the menu & tell it to sleep it will sleep (for both) as well. It just won't go to sleep on it's own while running off the adapter (I've tested it, and it does sleep on it's own when running on battery). I've repaired permissions & restarted, repairing again but this doesn't seem to help. I saw someone mention looking in the activity manager area for printer mentions but I don't think this would be the problem since it is fine off the battery? Not a big deal really, but wondering what would cause this! Thx for any ideas!

I have repaired permissions & restarted a few times, without any change.
I just looked at my activity monitor. There are many things listed ... this is not something I'm familiar with looking at! Some of the list I know right away what things are, and some I have no idea! But, if it sleeps correctly when running on battery but not AC, would it have to do what is listed on Activity Monitor? My guess is perhaps not? Maybe I need to zap the RRAM? But like the poster above me said about his, it's an old iBook and not really a big deal, I can tell it to sleep!

MBP won't sleep, but a clean Lion install does sleep

Since the install of Lion my old MBP, the MBP won't go to sleep.
I did a clean install of Lion on an external HD and it sleeps just fine. Therefore it must be something I migraded from my old SL.
Before I rebuild my MBP is there a plist file that I can delete that might help fix this no-sleep problem?
If not, then I'll start moving forward with rebulding my external HD and then tranfer it to my internal HD.
Thanks in advance for any help!!!

Thanks, I'll take a look. I killed all the pgms that my logon starts.
I also need to try to come in single user and see if that helps.
Comparing will be difficult since it looks like 10 pages printing out, but it's a good idea.
I was hoping just deleting a plist would fix it..I haven't rebuilt the system for many years, so I am also thinking about that as an alternative. I'll check the sleep function after every few apps that I add.

MBP won't sleep when closing lid

Since I did the 10.6.2 update, when I close the lid on my MBP and that the power is connected it won't go to sleep, my "apple" is still bright with the lid closed.

HI,
Try resetting the SMC.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411
If that doesn't help, try resetting the PRAM / NVRAM.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
Carolyn

MBP won't sleep automatically.

My Macbook Pro won't go to sleep and it's driving me crazy.
I have been watching my processes closely and haven't seen anything that would keep it awake. The screen goes off like usual but it won't actually go to sleep on its own.
I can make it sleep by closing the lid or pressing sleep under the apple logo.
I deleted com.bjango.istatlocal in my Library> launchagents folder
here are my computers processes
(com.bjango.istatlocal[193]) posix_spawn("/Library/Application Support/iStat local/iStatLocal", ...): No such file or directory
9/22/09 4:55:59 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[80] (com.bjango.istatlocal[193]) Exited with exit code: 1
9/22/09 4:55:59 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[80] (com.bjango.istatlocal) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds
9/22/09 4:56:09 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[80] (com.bjango.istatlocal[194]) posix_spawn("/Library/Application Support/iStat local/iStatLocal", ...): No such file or directory
9/22/09 4:56:09 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[80] (com.bjango.istatlocal[194]) Exited with exit code: 1
9/22/09 4:56:09 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[80] (com.bjango.istatlocal) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds
9/22/09 4:56:19 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[80] (com.bjango.istatlocal[198]) posix_spawn("/Library/Application Support/iStat local/iStatLocal", ...): No such file or directory
9/22/09 4:56:19 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[80] (com.bjango.istatlocal[198]) Exited with exit code: 1
9/22/09 4:56:19 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[80] (com.bjango.istatlocal) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds
9/22/09 4:56:23 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[80] ([0x0-0x12012].com.apple.Console[124]) Exited: Killed
9/22/09 4:56:43 PM com.apple.launchd[1] * launchd[1] has started up. *
9/22/09 4:57:13 PM com.wacom.wacomtablet[72] TabletDriver[72]: Env RUNWITHLAUNCHD is set to 1
9/22/09 4:57:14 PM com.apple.WindowServer[54] Tue Sep 22 16:57:14 chad-muellers-macbook-pro.local WindowServer[54] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.
9/22/09 4:57:28 PM com.wacom.wacomtablet[81] TabletDriver[81]: Env RUNWITHLAUNCHD is set to 1
9/22/09 4:57:28 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[82] (com.apple.ReportCrash) Falling back to default Mach exception handler. Could not find: com.apple.ReportCrash.Self
9/22/09 4:57:28 PM com.wacom.wacomtablet[81] TabletDriver[81]: RunApplication called while eStopping
9/22/09 4:57:28 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.wacom.wacomtablet[81]) Exited with exit code: 255
9/22/09 4:57:30 PM com.wacom.wacomtablet[107] TabletDriver[107]: Env RUNWITHLAUNCHD is set to 1
9/22/09 4:57:30 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[82] (com.apple.Kerberos.renew.plist[104]) Exited with exit code: 1
9/22/09 4:57:31 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[82] ([email protected][109]) Exited with exit code: 1
9/22/09 5:07:44 PM [0x0-0x1a01a].org.mozilla.firefox[165] Debugger() was called!
9/22/09 5:08:28 PM iChatAgent[160] [Warning] [AIM] Could not change my visibility to 0
9/22/09 5:08:31 PM iChatAgent[160] [Warning] AIMBuddyList::OnDownloadError: user=oxygensk8z, error=(code=3, subcode=0, category=7, url="", message="")
9/22/09 5:08:31 PM iChatAgent[160] [Warning] AIMBuddyList::OnDownloadError: user=unfknstpbl666, error=(code=3, subcode=0, category=7, url="", message="")
9/22/09 5:08:31 PM iChatAgent[160] [Warning] AIMBuddyList::OnDownloadError: user=drboboh, error=(code=3, subcode=0, category=7, url="", message="")
9/22/09 5:08:31 PM iChatAgent[160] [Warning] AIMBuddyList::OnDownloadError: user=m3alpine97, error=(code=3, subcode=0, category=7, url="", message="")
9/22/09 5:08:31 PM iChatAgent[160] [Warning] AIMBuddyList::OnDownloadError: user=shahab323is, error=(code=3, subcode=0, category=7, url="", message="")
9/22/09 5:08:31 PM iChatAgent[160] [Warning] AIMBuddyList::OnDownloadError: user=myiprelay, error=(code=3, subcode=0, category=7, url="", message="")
9/22/09 5:08:31 PM iChatAgent[160] [Warning] AIMBuddyList::OnDownloadError: user=santaclaus, error=(code=3, subcode=0, category=7, url="", message="")
9/22/09 5:08:31 PM iChatAgent[160] [Warning] AIMBuddyList::OnDownloadError: user=santaclaus, error=(code=3, subcode=0, category=7, url="", message="")
9/22/09 5:08:31 PM iChatAgent[160] [Warning] AIMBuddyList::OnDownloadError: user=woobiee101, error=(code=3, subcode=0, category=7, url="", message="")
9/22/09 5:18:18 PM [0x0-0x1a01a].org.mozilla.firefox[165] Debugger() was called!
9/22/09 5:20:49 PM com.apple.launchd[1] * launchd[1] has started up. *
9/22/09 5:21:18 PM com.wacom.wacomtablet[69] TabletDriver[69]: Env RUNWITHLAUNCHD is set to 1
9/22/09 5:21:18 PM com.apple.WindowServer[50] Tue Sep 22 17:21:18 chad-muellers-macbook-pro.local WindowServer[50] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.
9/22/09 5:23:52 PM com.wacom.wacomtablet[93] TabletDriver[93]: Env RUNWITHLAUNCHD is set to 1
9/22/09 5:23:52 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[95] (com.apple.ReportCrash) Falling back to default Mach exception handler. Could not find: com.apple.ReportCrash.Self
9/22/09 5:23:52 PM com.wacom.wacomtablet[93] TabletDriver[93]: #### GetFrontProcess failed to get front process (-600)
9/22/09 5:23:52 PM com.wacom.wacomtablet[93] TabletDriver[93]: RunApplication called while eStopping
9/22/09 5:23:52 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.wacom.wacomtablet[93]) Exited with exit code: 255
9/22/09 5:23:58 PM com.wacom.wacomtablet[117] TabletDriver[117]: Env RUNWITHLAUNCHD is set to 1
9/22/09 5:23:59 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[95] (com.apple.Kerberos.renew.plist[114]) Exited with exit code: 1
9/22/09 5:24:00 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[95] ([email protected][119]) Exited with exit code: 1
9/22/09 5:26:59 PM [0x0-0x17017].backupd-helper[162] Not starting Time Machine backup after wake - failed to resolve alias to backup volume
PLEASE HELPP!!!!!
Message was edited by: Slvre39

This is for a Mac that won't sleep.
Here is Apple's KB article HT1776 with their tips.
Mine follow;
USB devices and hubs often cause Macs to not sleep or wake quickly from sleep (notably HP printers and scanners, HP all in ones, and Cannon scanners). Disconnect all USB except for keyboard and mouse and try. If it sleeps, add one back at a time testing after each one to find the culprit.
If you've set your Mac to receive faxes, it may not be able to sleep. It might also have a damaged preferences file.
If you use your Mac for faxing, open System Preferences. click Print & Fax, click the Faxing tab, and uncheck the Receive Faxes On This Computer box.
If that doesn't work or you've never faxed on your Mac, go to Finder/Hard Drive /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration and delete the com.apple.PowerManagement.plist and com..apple.AutoWake.plist files (if your Mac asks, type your admin. password).
If the latter file isn't present in the folder, go to user name(probably your name)/Library/Preferences, delete the com.apple.systemuiserver.plist file, and reboot your Mac.
Hope this helps!
P.S. One member here reported this (Michael Gleason);
"I have had this problem with my IMac G5. It is surprisingly irritating. LaCie's Silverkeeper backup software was the cause. By default it gave itself permission to wake up the computer to check if a backup was needed. Do you have this or a similar program installed which has scheduled activities including wake-up permissions as an option?"
Dave Hamilton provided this link, xlr8yourmac.com, to a member, which addresses failure of deep sleep with some users that updated and added new FireWire and USB card.
Also, here is Apple KB article TA2469 about PCI cards and sleep.
tomhorvat adds this; After few days of messing around I found out that I had desktop background (wallpaper) set to change every 1 minute.
After unchecking "Change picture..." in system preferences (under Desktop/Screen saver), my powerbook went to sleep all by itself.
Tristan Currier noticed this; "I have a Canon printer(shared) and my imac would not sleep. I opened up printer/fax in system prefs and noticed it said the printer was in use when it was off. Opened up the printer queue and noticed about 7 pending documents. Deleted them all and now it sleeps.
Check the printer queue!"
Allan Jones says "sometimes there is Network activity: launch System Preferences > Energy Saver > "Options" tab and uncheck "Wake for Ethernet network administrator access."
Good Luck!  DALE

MBP won't sleep, HDD constantly running (clicking), even with no programs open

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