Powerbook randomly falls asleep

Ever since installing 10.4.7, my 17", 1.67 GHz G4 randomly falls asleep. I red somewhere that in order to fix this i need to replace the case as it has something to do with a sensing bug in the hinge region of the case that senses whether the lid is closed or not. Anyone have any more information concerning this? Basically, I'm expecting to have to send it in for a hardware repair.

Daniel, you might want to check this website I have put up. A lot of 15" PB owners have a nighmare problem with random sleep caused by a faulty trackpad temperature sensor. Let me know if your symptoms match ours...
... ie computer will sleep without warning and wont wake up without drastic measures... ie take out battery, remove power supply and wait for the catch light to die... replace battery, restart and then shut down again. Take out battery and hold down the power button for 10 sec. Replace battery, restart. This wipes the PMU memory and we can restart and reset our date etc etc.
If you install the free s/ware Temperature Monitor, you can see if your trackpad is showing false high temperatures... if you check your system log you will see 'emergency overtemp signal causes system sleep" messages after a sleep event (refresh the log)
Good luck and join up to my mail group if you have not found a cure by now.
http://web.mac.com/rickcameron/iWeb/Electric%20Lamb/N.A.P./N.A.P..html

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T530 randomly falls asleep

I recently had an overheating problem and had the motherboard replaced in my T530. Now my computer randomly falls asleep. Most of the time this happens when I am on battery power or the computer is in my lap. To prevent more overheating I now have a flat board that the computer sits on when on my lap, but it still randomly falls asleep. The fan is working because I hear and feel it turn on and off from time to time.

In that case I would suggest contacting Tech Support, especially if the laptop is still under warranty.
ThinkPad: T530 / X1 Gen 2 / Helix - Yoga: Tablet 2 Pro (Win) / Yoga 3 Pro
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SpywareHammer

My iMac G5 randomly falls asleep during use.

A few weeks ago I was using my iMac and suddenly lost control of the cursor, cursor became invisible and computer went to "sleep" (ie; screen went black, "woke up" a few seconds later after moving the mouse). This problem has persisted in all sorts of conditions and uses. Usually the intial episode is followed by another shortly after. The problem happens a lot while streaming video on the internet. However, the computer also falls asleep when using photoshop.
The problem began when the hardrive was nearly full (15 GB left on drive). I cleared out many of the larger files (lossless music files) to gain 87 GB or so. Problem persists. I mostly use this computer for typical web stuff (email, facebook, videos on youtube and the like) and graphic design (Illustrator and Photoshop). Hard drive had never been defragged. I usually restart the computer when problem gets really bad.
I've searched various forums for a solution. Many argue about defragging, some mention OS reinstall, no real clear consensus seems to exist about why the problem occurs or what to do about it. Any ideas?
Specs: Mac OS X, 10.4.11, 2.1 GHz G5, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM

Your problem sounds more like a heat problem. Try resetting the SMU:
   1. Shut down the computer.
   2. Unplug the computer's power cord.
   3. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
   4. Release the power button.
   5. Attach the computers power cable.
   6. Press the power button to turn on the computer.
If that doesn't clear things up defragging won't do anything much, the best would be to try an
Archive and Install http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1710
which will give you s shiny new OS, but keep your prefs and settings. Make sure you select that option when reinstalling.

G5 Randomly Falling Asleep

Seems my 2.7ghz dual PPC G5 tower running 10.5.8 sometimes falls asleep on it's own while I'm using it... I have to press the power button to wake it up - Bluetooth mouse and keyboard lose connection when this happens. I have set the Energy system prefs to 'never' fall asleep and it still does it.
I'm wondering if this is some kind of safeguard or something? Maybe I'm overheating? It's definitely not a case of staying idle too long. Seems to do it most when I'm using processor intensive software.
Can anybody tell me why this is happening?

Get freeware Temperature Monitor.
http://www.bresink.com/osx/0TemperatureMonitor/download.htm
What's going on when this happens? Are you doing something highly CPU intensive? I see you answered this.
Seems to do it most when I'm using processor intensive software.
Then that could be temp related.
Not sure about the G5 Tower, but just to get an idea, an iMac G5 CPU has to get up to 85C before it starts sleeping or shutting down.
Message was edited by: WZZZ

Macbook Randomly Falls Asleep?

Hi there,
I have a new aluminum macbook. I have it plugged in to an external display. Recently, a new problem has popped up. I'll be doing something (watching a video, typing, anything), and it will suddenly fall asleep. After it falls asleep, keyboard or mouse inputs don't do anything. I have to close the lid, wait a while, then open it back up for it to wake up. Any ideas on how to fix this?
Thanks!

I'm not really sure if this answer will help you but I downloaded an app called caffeine which stops my macbook from sleeping. Maybe it will help you?
http://mac.softpedia.com/get/System-Utilities/Caffeine.shtml

PowerBook G4 1.5GHz randomly falling asleep

Hello all.. In just the last 10 minutes, my PowerBook G4 1.5GHz has fallen asleep three times without warning, twice while watching videos on YouTube and once while navigating my way here. The computer was plugged in and receiving power. The first two times it "awoke" quickly with a press of the spacebar. The third time, it did not respond to the spacebar for 15-20 seconds.
This has never happened, and a a perusal of the active topics failed to find similar problems--wondering if anyone might know what's going on...

Here's a follow-up to my posting about my narcoleptic PowerBook G4. Got my PowerBook G4 back today (9/10), by 9:30am... I dropped it off at the local Genius Bar on 9/6 in the afternoon. Pretty snappy turn-around!
Parts listed as replaced:
658-0267 KEYBOARD,BACKLIT,PWRBK
620-3349 TOP CASE MOD ASSY,Q16B
No mention of replacing the main logic board (which the Genius had thought was the culprit of my random sleep woes). So far, in about two hours of use, no sleep problems.
Moreover, they really overhauled the rest of the machine. Here's a list of replaced/repaired items (none of which I had requested):
• Replaced the feet on the bottom (two had broken off)
• Replaced the rubber pads around the top latch on the screen (both had long since popped off)
• Replaced the PC card eject button (this broke off some time ago)
• Extensive cleaning of the PowerBook. Not that I had let it get too grimy, but the outer case definitely the regular scratches of use. Many of the scratches are no longer visible, and the few that are left are much less noticeable than before. The screen is outstandingly clean.
• The casing around the keyboard had long since had peeling paint, and since they replaced the TOP CASE MOD ASSY, all of this is new and perfect. In addition, this fixed the rather crunchy trackpad button the unit had shipped with initially (that I did not feel was bad enough to have repaired)
• The replaced backlit keyboard is of much higher quality than the original keyboard—especially in terms of the backlighting. It is much, much brighter than before. Perhaps even too bright! The key response is also much better, in particular the space bar (pressing the left side of the original spacebar would often not register, this is no longer an issue
• The unit was fully charged out of the box.
Cost of repair: $310
I am thoroughly impressed with the care and attention to detail Apple gave this computer. With these repairs, I fully believe I will be happy with this notebook for many, many more years. I don't want to buy a new Mac until it ships with Mac OS X 10.6 (Ocelot or Lion or whatever they choose to call it).
There's a reason I choose to continue giving Apple, Inc. my business.

Display randomly falling asleep

My PowerBook has begun to randomly go into sleep mode while I am in the process of using it. The screen simply goes dark, the sleep light indicator on the front of the computer begins to slowly flash, but it is only half as bright as full sleep mode. If I close the lid, the sleep light indicator will immediately begin flashing at normal brightness. When I open the lid, everything is back to normal.
I have checked on my energy settings in System Preferences. This has happened about five times today. Does anybody have any suggestions as to what might be causing the problem as well as possible solutions?

My five and a half year-old 17" G4—which until now has worked almost flawlessly—just started displaying this behavior on Thursday. Brief flickers to a black screen (usually twice in quick succession) followed by immediately going to sleep. I can always wake it up from sleep mode (for now), but it's annoying and makes it difficult to concentrate. If I close the lid and the computer goes to sleep for more than a few minutes, when it wakes up the screen is almost (but not entirely) dimmed out, and the only way to resume normal brightness is execute a forced shutdown, after which it's fine.
I've read everything here and on the other online forums, which suggest that the problem is tied to either the temperature sensor or the ambient light sensors. And I've come across two solutions (possibly related) that seem to work for me. First go to System Preferences and disable the trackpad when a mouse is plugged in (I almost always use a mouse). Since I've done that, there have been no random sleep episodes. Second, when shutting down for the night (or anytime), tell the computer to go to sleep (or let it go to sleep on its own, as dictated by System Preferences) but don't shut the case. This allows it to wake up normally with normal screen brightness.
A very helpful "genius" at my local Apple Store (whom I saw before hitting on the interim fixes above) said the problem could also be a failure of the mechanical switch that helps put the computer to sleep. The only permanent solution is to replace the entire top case (the piece covering the trackpad and keyboard), to which these sensors and the switch are attached. If your laptop is more than five years old, you will need to get the repair done by an authorized third-party company, as Apple no longer stocks the necessary parts.

Powerbook G4 Falls asleep by itself

My Powerbook G4 is falling a sleep while I am using the computer and I cannot wake it up. I have to restart. Anyone know why this would be happening?
Pat M

Hi, could be many things, even overheating on Books, but we should start with this...
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc that came with your computer, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
*Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
5. Select your Mac OS X volume.
6. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes, or test for the Sleep issue in Safe Mode.
The usual reason why updates fail or mess things up, is if Permissions are not fixed before & after every update, with a reboot... you may get a partial update when the installer finds it doesn't have Permissions to change one obscure little part of the OS, leaving you with a mix of OS versions.
Some people get away without Repairing Permissions for years, some for only days.
If Permissions are wrong before applying an update, you could get mixed OS versions, if Directory is the slightest messed up, who knows!
If many Permission are repaired, or any Directory errors are found, you may need to re-apply some the latest/biggest updates.
May even need to do an Archive and Install if you have room on the HD, but saves all your files and gives a new OS...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120

Computer unexpectedly falling asleep

My almost brand new G5 iMac (using 10.4.6) has been randomly falling asleep every few minutes in a row. Of course, I have completely disablsed the sleep function and have no hot corners enabled and have restarted the computer every few minutes. This has happend about ten times in a row in a twenty minute period. Odd. Has anyone experienced this? Any solution?
Thank you!

A number of sleep-related issues can appear after incremental Mac OSX updates, including the inability to properly go to sleep, problems waking from sleep, and having your display go to sleep without your Mac going to sleep. The most common culprit is Bluetooth. Try these tips to fix your sleep problems.
WAKE UP
In System Preferences>Bluetooth, uncheck Allow Bluetooth Devices To Wake This Computer. If you are using a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, you'll have to wake your Mac by pressing the power button.
FILE CORRUPTION
Your Bluetooth preference file may be corrupt-you'll need to delete it. Turn Bluetooth off, then go to the /Users/user name/Library/Preferences folder. Look for a file called com.apple.Bluetooth.plist and trash it.The OS will create a new preference file when you enable Bluetooth again.
ENERGY SAVER
If you have issues with a Mac or display that goes to sleep at inappropriate times, you may have a problem with Energy Saver. Delete the following .plist files and restart:
-/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.PowerManagement.plist
-/Users/username/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemuiserver.plist--(username is your name or System Administrators name).
-/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.AutoWake.plist
A restart is very important after deleting these plists. After a reboot your Mac will then generate new ones.
Some, in these forums, have had luck fixing sleep issues downloading the Combo update from this site (yours may be corrupt), not Software Update, disconnect all firewire + USB devices except keyboard + mouse, Repair Permissions, re-install update, Repair Permissions again + try.
Yours would be the 10.4.6 Combo update. Others reading, download the combo update that applies to you!
Cheers!
DALE

Powerbook randomly shuts down whilst asleep

Hi there,
I know there are a million topics on here about such faults but none of them were incredibly similar to similar to mine, so I've started a new one!!
My problem is, just outside of Apple's 14 day no quibble return period my powerbook randomly turns off whilst asleep. There are no patterns to this, nor is it related to any system settings or anything. Sometimes I return back to my powerbook after 5 mins and it will be powered off completley, sometimes it can be upto 2 days. There really is no common factor in each occurance.
My machine is a 15" G4 Powerbook 80GB HDD 512MB RAM and DL SuperDrive. Software update told me to do the battery firmware updater but I did this the day I got the machine, so I have no idea whether it did this before.
I did buy it off the refurb store, so maybe this was the original fault for which it was returned in the first place. But my G5 is also a refurb unit and thats absolutely fine, so I have no issues with refurbed items!
I was just wondering if anyone had a similar problem, or knew what the fault was. I think I'm going to take it to a repair centre and let them have a look at it, as its under warranty and all.
Anyway, be great to hear from anyone who is in the same boat as me!!
Cheers
Powerbook G4 1.67 15" 80GB 512MB DL Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Looking through the forum quite a few people have the same problem with the same machine, 1,67Ghz, no accident, i feel, maybe a design fault or a faulty batch.
I have exactly the same model and exactly the same problem.
Drives me nuts.1 out of 23 times and the computer shuts down completely after I closed the lid.
I got my model already replaced for a new one and have exactly the same problem with the replacement.
It is being examined at the moment at a service centre.
Problem is that the fault only occures every now and then over a period from a day to a week.
Please let me know if anyone has solved this

How do I stop my external HD from falling asleep??? So, so Frustrating!!!!

Hey Apple users
OK, I have a Seagate 500GB external HD formated with MAC OS Extended. This puppy is great, very dependable, only ONE issue...
After not using it for a few minutes, it falls asleep, and when it needs to be used, it takes an annoying 6 seconds to start up. Working with audio and having live samples that are stored on this HD, not having them playback for a few minutes (ext. HD then falls asleep), then playing back the entire project with these files needing immediate use, the software CRASHES because it can't access the data fast.
I have no room on my PowerBook HD for much at all. This also causes problems in iTunes, wanting to play a song after not touching iTunes for a few minutes (when not playing), iTunes freezes for some seconds until it can access the songs on the external HD.
SO SO ANNOYING, the internal HD takes like .01 seconds to access data. And this HD takes like a painful 6 seconds Ugh,
How can I keep my external HD awake ALL THE TIME, unless my entire Mac is asleep??
Thanks!

Actually, this app. I mentioned above... HDriveAwake... is not a good idea,
it has many flaws, but it's decent software, just needs some improvements, main issue: consumes an incredible amount of RAM and Processing PWR while working.... (on my mac.. consumed 60+ %) & this is a bad thing if you use an EXTERNAL HD for stuff like audio/photo/video editing... I'm just going to get a Mac Pro G5 with like 4TB, I need it.... my bank account doesn't, but i do...

Macbook pro 5,2 Falls asleep unexpectedly

My 17" MacBook Pro 5,2 has a problem with staying awake... At random (increasingly so) the screen will flicker and it will put itself to sleep...
After I wake it up again, I'll see growl notifications about magicprefs (wich is standard after awaking my macbook). Does anybody have an answer as to how to keep my macbook pro from falling asleep every 2 minutes? Thanxzzzzzzzz...... Huh?

Apple Portables: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

Airdisk falling asleep and not waking up

what i thought might be a partitioning error/issue might be another thing altogether... let's start from the top. lots of random details follow, but something might be the kicker.
i have an older AEBS (non-dual-band, non-giga-bit, circa 2007) in another room (garage -- with all of the other panels, switches, etc.) that distributes a signal to the whole house -- specifically to two airport express base stations (delivering music, printer sharing, etc.). the AEBS is sending out a G/N signal (for iphones, network cameras, etc.) and one of the expresses is sending out an N-only (for my macbook).
the purpose of the AEBS is three-fold. (1) to provide wireless connectivity (2) to serve as a conduit to a backup airdsk for (a) general computer/home theater backups and (b) a consistent repository for a network (security) camera feed fed through "security spy" via a mac mini (home theater hub) which is hard-wired to the network via whole-house ethernet (belkin hub in the garage ties it all together). the camera itself is wireless (G-speed).
over the past few weeks, i've been getting very poor throughput on the wireless network -- speed bumps back up (from <1bps to >20mbps) when plugged into the ethernet network (as viewed through speakeasy's speedtest).
ok. the issue is that the new 2TB lacie harddrive is going to "sleep" and not waking up. it works fine for about 1/2 hour after hookup or "hard" wake-up (restart AEBS/drive).
previously (as few as 5 weeks ago, i had a smaller lacie drive (1TB) serving the same function flawlessly.
so... is this new airdisk issue due to:
-- the AEBS not liking the 2TB size?
-- the AEBS giving signs of failure (esp. with the network issues noted above)
-- is the new lacie drive either (a) a DOA-failure or (b) doing its job by falling asleep (if so, it'd be a new 1TB>>2TB feature)...
-- user error
-- something completely random...
thanks for any wisdom you can lend...

I have pretty much the same setup with the same model AEBS and I get the same problem with a 2TB Western Digital drive plugged in. I solved this problem a month ago by updating my system to Snow leopard and updating firmware to the base station and rebuilding pretty much the whole network. But it came back this weekend. Is driving me crazy!
(Side note: I also use that drive as a wireless Time Machine backup but can only get it to work reliably with my wife's Macbook not my own- which actually worked for a weekend but then decided that was enough.)

HT1657 I rented a movie on Itunes last night and I watched half of it before falling asleep. Today I tried to open the movie and watch the last half but I cannot find it. It has been less than 24 hours since I rented it. Where can I find the movie?

I rented a movie on Itunes last night and I watched half of it before falling asleep. Today I tried to open the movie and watch the last half but I cannot find it. It has been less than 24 hours since I rented it. Where can I find the movie?

I found my answer in another Thread and it worked... so for anyone who needs it, here it is:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/19134562#19134562
Had the same problem and spoke with Apple Support. They had me reset the System Management Controller:
Shut down the computer. With the computer off, on the left hand side of the keyboard press shift+control+option along with the power button simultaneously and release. Wait 5-10 seconds and restart the computer.
This solved my problem and I was immediately able to purchase, download, and play an HD movie from iTunes w/o any error message.

Keyboard falls asleep after update to OS X 10.8.2 Help!

After update to OSX10.8.2 my MacBook Pro Keyboard and trackpad falls asleep after 10-20 seconds.
Then it takes 4-5 sec to awake. Usually the first keystrokes are lost.
The mouse works perfectly.
Anyone else having this problem or has a solution?

I don't know if it is any help but I forced quit (shutdown) and restarted and it seems to have solved the problem.

Powerbook randomly falls asleep

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