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General discussion

Sleepless iMac G5

Sep 22, 2006 1:20AM PDT

I have been having trouble keeping my Mac asleep.
It won't go into sleep mode by itself. When I manually put it to sleep all seems to go normally (i.e. eventualy the screen goes blank and the power light starts to pulse), but seconds later it wakes up.
I think I have narrowed the problem down to my external LaCie 250GB harddrive. If I disconnect it from the USB port on the back of the computer 8 out of 10 times the computer will sleep. I have tried simply turning the LaCie drives power off, but that doesn't seem to help.
I have the computer set to NOT wake on network activity.

Any ideas?

20" iMac G5 1.8GHz
1GB RAM
External 250GB HD (USB 2.0)
Airport Network
Mac OSX 10.4.8
15MB Verizon FIOS Broadband Connection
Belkin USB Hub
Epson RX700 (connected to hub)
iPod Dock (connected to hub)
Iomega External DVD Burner (connected to hub)

Discussion is locked

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How about troubleshooting a different way...
Sep 22, 2006 9:39AM PDT

Just for grins, is it OK to have NOTHING plugged into the USB port? The let the Mac go to sleep... so if THAT works, then we know it is not the Mac, but something else. Then add one of the USB devices... let the machine go to sleep... wake it up, disconnect that peripheral and add something else... Do this through each item... Then, have two items... then add a third and disconnect it... and so on untill everything is plugged back in.

I know it sounds tedious, but the best way to troubleshoot is to start at one "end" and work slowly to the other end. Starting in the middle can get confusing and lead to false assumptions.

Also, does the LaCie drive ever sleep? If not, its staying awake *might* be keeping the Mac awake... Have you asked La Cie - or checked their support area? I realize you have powered the LaCie off - which leads me to believe it is not that peripheral - or perhaps its interaction with another item on the USB buss.

I *think* the "Not wake on network activity" is associated only with the ethernet port... not USB.

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Problem solved (sort of)
Sep 29, 2006 5:18AM PDT

I narrowed it down to my external USB Iomega Super DVD drive. With it unplugged my Mac sleeps. With it plugged in it doesn't. It seems kind of rediculous to have to plug it in each time I need to use it. Is there another solution?

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so if you have narrowed it to the Iomega drive,
Sep 29, 2006 6:55AM PDT

have you checked with Iomega?

I am glad to know it does not seem to be the La Cie...

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Iomega
Oct 2, 2006 1:25AM PDT

I have checked Iomega's website for a possible Super DVD USB firmware update, but found nothing. I couldn't even find any mention of the problem I am experiencing. I guess my next step is to call their tech support dept. I am keeping my fingers crossed that their tech support dept. is not in India ( I have had very bad luck in the past with a few different companie's tech support dept's located in India ).

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Just fodder for the discussion.
Sep 29, 2006 5:28AM PDT
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Sleepless iMac G5
Oct 6, 2006 12:11AM PDT

I have an iMac G4 running Panther. I have my computer set up to receive Faxes. If the "receive faxes on this computer" is checked, then my computer will not sleep, so I have to un-check it and remember to check it again when I need to receive a fax.

Hope this helps!
Eleanor C. Bockman

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Similar problem: Shutdown doesn't
Oct 6, 2006 2:33AM PDT

I have a similar problem. When I do a shutdown, it seems to work, but when I come back later, a restart has happened, not a shutdown. Pretty confusing.

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Iomega culprit
Oct 8, 2006 12:27AM PDT

I see that you finally traced the problem to the Iomega DVD burner. Doesn't surprise me. My experience in the field is that Iomega puts out an iffy product line with regard to the Mac (can't speak to the PC side of their production, where perhaps they do a much better job). While it may be a pain disconnecting this device, it's probably less annoying than what's been going on. If you don't want to do that, then I'd be sure that it's on a POWERED USB hub. If there isn't an independent source of power - a power cube, for example - for the hub itself, then that MAY be triggering the wake-up when an underpowered USB divice is plugged into your Mac via the hub. Or, bite the bullet and put the Iomega on craigslist.com (some PC user on a tight budget will be happy to get it!) and buy a new DVD burner that's not from Iomega and, preferably, from an Apple dealer, who is far more likely to carry only products that play nice with your rig. My personal favorite is Sony, but there are several excellent brands at quite reasonable prices.

Don
The MacTherapist
Los Angeles