To shut down or to sleep

Hi, recently I just bought a macbook (finally switching from pc to mac) and i heard people saying that it will be better if just put the macbook to sleep everyday instead of shutting it down.
Is that true?

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
This is among the oldest debates of computing. And in fact there is a third alternative. Use the Screen Saver in Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Desktop and Screen Saver, and disable Energy Saver in Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Energy Saver for both display and hard drive.
On the side of sleep:
1. It conserves energy while running the computer.
2. It can be used to prolong the times between recharging without closing down applications.
Against sleep but for shutting down or using screen saver:
Energy Saver has a bug that some peripherals don't understand the low power mode it puts the peripheral ports into. This primarily affects third party peripherals, but marginal cables that come from fraying can affect Apple peripherals too, and problems with the power management unit or clock battery (after the machine ages 4 years or more) can affect the ability of those ports to get the proper voltage to help some peripherals.
Against sleep but for shutting down:
Your hard drive will likely last longer if you transport the machine a lot, and you shut down instead of using sleep.
Against shutting down a lot:
The surge that goes through the power manager, or the power button's circuitry when you start up can shorten the life of the power manager and/or the power button. Not that you'd see any significant depreciation for many years, but it is there nontheless.
Against sleep or shutting down:
The operating system performs a daily, weekly, and monthly cleanup of log files which can be done from the Terminal application with Anacron or Macjanitor if you really do need to avoid using it in the middle of the night for an extended period of time. It will only do these in the wee hours of the morning.
Regardless, it is strongly recommended you religiously backup your data*:
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

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Mac wont shut down, restart or sleep - corrupted software update?

My Mac Pro (2007 - OSX 10.6.7) will no longer shut down, restart or sleep. When I try to shut down, it logs me out of my user account, shows the light blue screen, momentarily shows the Leopard space background screen, before showing the blue screen again, and finally returning to the login screen prompting for my user/password.
The only way to poweroff from this point is to hold down the power switch until it forces a power down. This issue has been present for the last two weeks or so ever since I did a Software Update containing a security update. Initially it just failed to perform that update, although after a few days it did do the update, seemingly by fluke. After that, the problem persisted and now there is a new update (Fonts) which again fails to update.
I have tried all of the following:
Power off Mac, unplug power and leave for a few seconds
Power on Mac holding down Ctr + Opt + R + P (resetting PRAM etc)
Boot up from install CD and perform Disk repair (it did find problems with the disk and repaired them)
Check and repair permissions
Delete Software Update related plists & caches from ~/Library and /Library
Still the problem persists. Examining the logs shows me this:
04/05/2011 00:24:50          com.apple.WindowServer[11503]          Wed May 4 00:24:50 macpro.local WindowServer[11503] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.
04/05/2011 00:25:00          com.apple.launchd[1]          ([0x0-0x226226].com.apple.SoftwareUpdate[11517]) Job appears to have crashed: Segmentation fault
04/05/2011 00:25:00          com.apple.ScreenSharing.server[11508]          Wed May 4 00:25:00 macpro.local AppleVNCServer[11508] <Warning>: CGSShutdownServerConnections: Detaching application from window server
04/05/2011 00:25:00          com.apple.ScreenSharing.server[11508]          Wed May 4 00:25:00 macpro.local AppleVNCServer[11508] <Warning>: CGSDisplayServerShutdown: Detaching display subsystem from window server
04/05/2011 00:25:00          com.apple.UserEventAgent-LoginWindow[11507]          Wed May 4 00:25:00 macpro.local UserEventAgent[11507] <Warning>: CGSShutdownServerConnections: Detaching application from window server
04/05/2011 00:25:00          com.apple.UserEventAgent-LoginWindow[11507]          Wed May 4 00:25:00 macpro.local UserEventAgent[11507] <Warning>: CGSDisplayServerShutdown: Detaching display subsystem from window server
04/05/2011 00:25:00          com.apple.ReportCrash.Root[11518]          2011-05-04 00:25:00.895 ReportCrash[11518:2703] Saved crash report for Software Update[11517] version ??? (???) to /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Software Update_2011-05-04-002500_localhost.crash
04/05/2011 00:25:02          com.apple.WindowServer[11520]          Wed May 4 00:25:02 macpro.local WindowServer[11520] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.
I can paste the crash report referred to in the logs if that would be helpful but for now will leave it out as it's huge and largely full of gobledygook.
I'm at my wits end now. I've always been very proud that in ~4 years of Mac ownership I've never had to reinstall OSX - something I used to do on an anual basis with Windows. My next step probably is a full reinstall, but I really do consider it a drastic step and a last resort.
Here's hoping that the Mac Support Community can help me out
Thanks in advance.

As a followup, upon the advice from someone else I created another user account (non admin) and logged in as that user. From that account I could successfully power down.
I'm still convinced the issue is related to Software Update as examining the logs showed none of the Software Update related entries as above:
04/05/2011 09:56:40          com.apple.WindowServer[760]          Wed May 4 09:56:40 macpro.local WindowServer[760] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.
04/05/2011 09:56:44          com.apple.coreservicesd[87]          ThrottleProcessIO: throttling disk i/o
04/05/2011 09:56:50          com.apple.loginwindow[759]          2011-05-04 09:56:50.297 migCacheCleanup[781:903] Flushing Cache Locations...
04/05/2011 09:57:12          com.apple.WindowServer[840]          Wed May 4 09:57:12 macpro.local WindowServer[840] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.

After installing Mac OS 10.5.8 my 2005 iMac G5 shuts down instead of sleeping

After install of OS 10.5.8 my iMac G5 - 2005 model, no Intel processor - whenever I choose sleep from the Apple menu or the time-out goes to sleep mode the computer shuts down instead of sleeping. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks.

Try using Disk Utility t repair your disk
   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.
Then reboot and repair permissions from your internal drive.
Miriam

Why is my computer shutting down instead of sleeping?

My comptuer is shutting down instead of sleeping. I have looked at my preferences a million times and nothing has changed regarding my sleep time or any other options.
I looked at another forum answer and tried resetting the SMU by unplugging the cord and holding the power button. That did not solve my problem. What should my next steps be? Should I reset PRAM? Should I suck it up and deal and bring it into a store? I am covered until October.
Please help. Thanks!

Check System Preferences > Energy Saver > Schedule

MacBook pro shuts down instead of sleeping while connected to power adapter

Hi there,
I am currently facing a rather strange issue. My old MacBook pro (about 2 years old) shuts down instead of sleeping but only when it is connected to the power adapter. I mean it goes to sleep mode perfectly well when it works only with the battery. Is it a know issue ? I'm running 10.5.6 and this problem is quite new to me (happened the first time some weeks ago).
Thank you in advance for your answer.

You might try resetting the SMC and see if this helps:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411?viewlocale=en_US
Good luck!

Shuts down instead of sleep

I have tried everything! I have even restored to factory settings and the problem still exists. Instead of going to sleep my computer shuts down. I have checked power options and they look fine however when I change anything in the options it still shuts down instead of sleeps. I am thinking this must be a windows update issue but don't know which one. I have tried everything on every forum I found but no luck. Please help!
TIA

Not sure what to look for with USB software, I haven't really installed
anything that I know of is there a list of this USB online somewhere? The
laptop was new in August 2014, I got the Windows 8.1 update like the other
person did and it took forever. I think he counted 120 software updates. I
did not count them but it sure took a long time. That was about 3 months
later in November. Ever since then I've had the same problem and have tried
different things to circumvent it. It certainly appears to me that the
Lenovo has a severe bug in wakening from hibernate in 8.1 that was not
there in 8.0. And they should fix it. I'm about ready to throw the darn
thing out. Most of the time it doesn't come back from hibernate, you can
hear the fan run when you open the lid but it does not come up. other times
it does nothing until you press and hold down power. I thought HP was bad.
Makes me scream Apple!

How do you prevent the computer from shutting down when in sleep mode?

How do you prevent the computer from shutting down when in sleep mode and plugged in?

Thanks tjk.
Those are great suggestions and got me looking in places I had not considered before. Unfortunately, the problem remains. The System Preferences did not have the shut down option activated and there are no parental controls active on the computer.
Any other suggestions are welcome.
Brian

IdeaPad U400 shuts down when in sleep mode

My IdeaPad U400 shuts down when sleeping. All programs terminate.
I reviewed another poster's complaint about a similar problem several months. The response instructed the user to update the computer's drivers.
I have updated my drivers. My computer still shuts down regularly while sleeping. Please help!

Hi RuthAnne,
Welcome to Lenovo Community Forums!
I’m sorry to hear that the issue still persists even after re-installing the drivers as suggested in the previous posts, I also assume that you have updated the Video Driver(Win 7 or Win 8) & Chipset Driver (Win 7 or Win 8)specifically and checked if this resolves the issue.
If the issue is same even after installing the above mentioned drivers, please backup the Data in the computer to any external hard drive and perform OSRI (Operating System Re-Install) to check and confirm the issue is with the
OS (Operating System).
NOTE: If the computer is shipped with pre-installed operating System OSRI can be performed using the instructions in U400 User Guide click here, check the steps to perform OKR(One Key Recovery) on page 23.
Hope this helps!!!
Best Regards
Shiva Kumar
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Macbook shuts down instead of sleeps

I have a 2ghz core duo macbook (modle No. A1181 (EMC 2092)) that I recently restored from a time machine backup. It was at 10.5.5 and now its at 10.6.8. So, right now I close the lid of the macbook and immediatly shuts down instead of sleeping. The previous macbook (the one I made the back up from) didn't have this problem and nor did this one before the upgrade. I have already tried resetting the smc and the pram. Anyone have any ideas?

Having never shutdown my laptop, I was guessing on its reaction to closing the lid. So, I shutdown my MBP and closed the lid. It did continue the shutdown, so there seems to be a problem with yours.
Sometimes, sleep and shutdown issues can be solved by resetting the SMC

Since I installed Mountain Lion, my iMac has shut down after 15-20 minutes. I have adjusted screen saver, shut down time, and sleep after. Nothing seems to help, any ideas?

Since I installed Mountain Lion, my iMac has shut down after 15-20 minutes. I have adjusted screen saver, shut down time, and sleep after. Nothing seems to help, any ideas?

As old as your iMac is, have you cleaned out the dust? Dust buildup can lead to over heating issues. Remove any and all things plugged into it including the power cord, Remove the RAM access grille. Vacuum all openings starting with the RAM access area (air intake). Vacuum all ports and plugs, DVD slot and the opening across the top of the rear of the body. Blow compressed air through all your openings and vacuum again to remove any dust you loosend. Reinstall the RAM grille. Plug in the keyboard and mouse if not blue tooth. Insert power cord...
You are now in a perfect position to do a
SMC RESET
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord and ALL peripherals.
Wait 15 seconds.
Attach the computers power cable.
Wait another 5 seconds and press the power button to turn on the computer.
It is the 5 second timing that initiates the reset.
Here is a link to a Widget to monitor your temps and other operations:
http://islayer.com/apps/istatpro/

MBP unib. 17" shut down instead of sleeping (also when plugging magsafe)

Hi All!
I've this problem.
When i get the system message that the battery is running out and i wait for it to discharge sometimes the MPB just shut down without apparently sleep, but when i turn it on the screen shows it went in hibernation.
Other times it goes and still in safe sleep but when i plug the magsafe it shut down immediately and i have to reboot it from hibernation every time.
Is there any way to fix this myself or i have to send it to support?
ty
jw

eww wrote:
Calibrate your battery and see whether that makes a difference:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490
I tried but apparently nothing happened.
the calibration steps are:
_Plug in the power adapter and fully charge your PowerBook's battery until the light ring or LED on the power adapter plug changes to green and the onscreen meter in the menu bar indicates that the battery is fully charged._
_Allow the battery to rest in the fully charged state for at least two hours. You may use your computer during this time as long as the adapter is plugged in._
_Disconnect the power adapter while the computer still on and start running the computer off battery power. You may use your computer during this time. When your battery gets low, the low battery warning dialog appears on the screen._
_At this point, save your work. Continue to use your computer; when the battery gets very low, the computer will automatically go to sleep._
*At this point my macbook saves ram on disk for hibernation and shuts down itself imediatly after. Or in best cases it stays in a "can't wake" sleep for an hour or two and if i plug magsafe while in this state it shuts down...*
*Anyway i also did the last 2 steps:*
_Turn off the computer or allow it to sleep for five hours or more._
_Connect the power adapter and leave it connected until the battery is fully charged again._
And again, when i leave the mac on battery power after the warning dialog the insane behavior occurs every time.
Can't figure out why my battery seems not to handle the 5 hour forced sleep it should.

IPod nano 6th gen shuts down instead of Sleep

I've recently acquired an iPod nano 6th generation and it has an issue that's killing me inside: instead of turning off the screen, like the Sleep function, every one minute or so the iPod shuts down. It's not exactly the same as turning off completely, but everything I'm doing at the time stops, including music. The big deal is that this happens automatically, so it's nearly impossible to listen to anything. I've tried to press the Sleep/Wake button while listening to music, but it happens the same issue, even if the User Guide says it should be quite the opposite...
I don't think it's a battery thing because the battery is full and the iPod works normally as long as I keep touching the screen everytime. I gained it yesterday, so it's brand new. The only different thing I did was to use my own headphone (a Pioneer SE-MJ31) instead of Apple's, because I can't use earbuds. But if the music DOES play (and it does it well) then it's compatible, right? And it also doesn't seem that a headphone could cause this.
Does anyone had this same issue and/or knows what to do?
Thanks in advance

Make sure the headphones are plugged all the way in, meaning no silver from the headphone's plug can still be seen. You should hear a sort of clicking noise when inserted the headphones to signal that they have been fully seated. The white part of the headset should be flush with the body of the Nano.
B-rock

My mac shuts down in prolonged sleep mode "because of a Problem".

If my mac book pro mid 2012 goes to sleep for a prolonged period of time I have to reboot it as hard start and get a message indicating that it shut down because of an problem. How Do I fix this?
I had my mother board tested at a mac shop in Nepal while I was there and it came back as everything being perfect.
It does not always do this though and for short sleeps it never does.
I have had extensive changes done to this mac such as a 16GB Ram upgrade and replacing the hard drive with a 1 T Crucial Hard Drive and removing the DVD Player and adding in a 256 Solid State Drive. So far everything has been working great. Just recently I notice this occuring with the sleep mode so as a result I just shut down the computer fully when I am not near to it or using it. Any advice as to what to look at or try out.

godlovestodance,
your Mid 2012 needs 1600 MHz memory modules. Is your currently installed RAM of this variety?
In your current setup, is it your 1 TB HDD or your 256 GB SSD that is in the optical drive bay?
One thing you can try is this: boot your MacBook Pro into Recovery mode by holding down a Command key and the R key as it starts up. Once the Mac OS X Utilities menu appears, select Disk Utility. On the left-hand side of the Disk Utility window, select your internal disk’s boot partition (typically called “Macintosh HD”). On the right-hand side, press the Verify Disk button if it’s not greyed out; if it is greyed out, or if it reports that errors were found, press the Repair Disk button. Once the verification/repair is completed, exit Disk Utility and select Restart from the Apple menu to restart in normal mode. Does it still crash because of an extended sleep?

Mac shuts down when in sleep

I have a macbook late-2009 and when I am in boot camp and my computer goes to sleep, it shuts down the computer and gives me an error that the hibernate file was corrupted. I am thinking that it might be the main battery or the CMOS battery.

I have a macbook late-2009 and when I am in boot camp and my computer goes to sleep, it shuts down the computer and gives me an error that the hibernate file was corrupted. I am thinking that it might be the main battery or the CMOS battery.

My Macbook Pro will not shut down, restart or sleep, with either Apple Logo at the top or the power button.

Hi, I have a 13" Macbook Pro with Mountain Lion, and I've had it for less than six months.
It has worked perfectly ever since I got it and I have been completely happy with it, until today. My computer's had a variety of problems; The screen has turned black three times now in the middle of me using it (actively typing or using the touch pad). After clicking some keys or swiping the touchpad, it comes back, but I cannot figure out why this is happening. The big problem, however, is that it won't shutdown.
I usually shut my computer down at night, and I was trying to today, but it just didn't work. I have tried shutting down by pressing the power button; no dialogue or question box comes up. I have tried shutting down from the Apple Logo at the top left of the screen; nothing happened. My computer won't sleep, restart or shutdown at all. When I close the screen, it goes darkens and lights up as usual, but it won't shut down! What's more, none of the options in the Apple Logo will work; for this post, I tried to see the About This Mac screen, and nothing happens. At best, the Rainbow Disc of Pain will appear and then just go away. The menu does pop up though when I click on it, my Wi-Fi is fine, the apps work, the keyboard's fine, the touchpad is great, everything works but that.
I have tried Command+Tab to see open applications; I have shut them all down till only Finder is left. I have tried click Force Quit, of course, nothing happened. Nothing at all, not even a dialogue box. I have tried emptying my trash, along with all the 'sketchy' applications. I have plugged my computer in, just in case. Nothing has made any difference and I am very worried!
I love my macbook pro, and have up to this point, but now I am extremely worried about it; all my important files are on it, and I have nothing to back up with.
Please, please, please, please help!
FYI; I have avast! Virus Database. I cannot imagine that that would cause a problem. Please help me!!!

Yay! Solved my own question; just did a hard shutdown, worked like a charm! Funny, didn't before. But who am I to question salvation?

IBook Shut Down instead of Sleep, is that a problem?

Hi,
My ibook used to go to sleep when batt runs out, but recently, it shut down. is that a problem?
Thanks

welcome to the discussions, It sounds like your battery is running all the way down and causing your machine to power clear down instead of sleeping.
Don

To shut down or to sleep

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