Ricka Gerstmann
Level 1 (45 points)

Q: MacMini Shuts Down Instead of Just Sleeping

Other posts have mentioned this issue, but none of the suggestions solved my problem.

 

The monitor is set to sleep after 15 minutes and the hard drive is set to sleep after half an hour. At first, my MacMini just shut down after a varying period of sleep, despite having no shutdown options selected in System Preferences. Over the last 6-9 months, I've pulled the power cord so many times I can't even count them to reset the power management unit. No joy. Now, after applying the 10.8.5 combo updater and supplemental, the machine won't startup again unless you pull the power cord. The only difference that I can see between my setup and that of the others that have posted on this issue is that I am using Filevault.

 

Elsewhere on Apple's website, I read that the reason the machine shuts down is related to a EU requirement for energy saving that was introduced within the last year or so. I could live with the machine shutting down when it's not being used, but having to pull the power cord every time I want to startup is really annoying, and I'm concerned that I have a hardware problem that should be addressed while this machine is still under warranty. Any ideas?

 

Ricka

Mac mini (Late 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), Filevault; 10.8.5 Supplemental

Posted on Oct 5, 2013 9:39 AM

by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer
Linc Davis Linc Davis
Level 10 (208,000 points)
Applications
A:

You may still be able to boot in safe mode. Try it.

Posted on Oct 5, 2013 3:44 PM

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Ricka Gerstmann

Q: MacMini Shuts Down Instead of Just Sleeping

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Oct 5, 2013 10:48 AM in response to Ricka Gerstmann
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    Oct 5, 2013 10:48 AM in response to Ricka Gerstmann

    Are you trying to wake it with a wireless keyboard? If so, try a wired one. Otherwise see below.

     

    Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

  • by Ricka Gerstmann,

    Ricka Gerstmann Ricka Gerstmann Oct 5, 2013 12:52 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Oct 5, 2013 12:52 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Lonc, as I stated in my post, resetting the SMC has not solved the problem. The computer is not asleep. It seems to have crashed. The light on the Mini is out. Pushing the power button does nothing. The only way to restart the machine is to pull the power cord, wait, and then plug it back in. Then, when the cord is plugged back in, the machine starts up without pushing the power button.

     

    Ricka

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Oct 5, 2013 2:27 PM in response to Ricka Gerstmann
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    Oct 5, 2013 2:27 PM in response to Ricka Gerstmann

    as I stated in my post, resetting the SMC has not solved the problem.

     

    I don't see where you made that statement in your first post. You're making it now.

     

    "Safe Sleep" behavior is described here:

     

    Mac computers: Progress bar appears after waking from sleep

     

    Your description doesn't seem to fit. If that's correct, and if you've already reset the SMC, then see below.

     

    Please read this whole message before doing anything.

    This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

    The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, or by corruption of certain system caches.

     

    Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. Note: If FileVault is enabled on some models, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
       
    Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and  Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.

    The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

     

    Test while in safe mode. Same problem?

     

    After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

  • by Ricka Gerstmann,

    Ricka Gerstmann Ricka Gerstmann Oct 5, 2013 3:14 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Oct 5, 2013 3:14 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Filevault is enabled, so what do I do instead?

  • by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Oct 5, 2013 3:44 PM in response to Ricka Gerstmann
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    Oct 5, 2013 3:44 PM in response to Ricka Gerstmann

    You may still be able to boot in safe mode. Try it.

  • by Ricka Gerstmann,

    Ricka Gerstmann Ricka Gerstmann Oct 5, 2013 6:58 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Oct 5, 2013 6:58 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Well, I started in safe mode and left it for nearly 3 hours. It did not shut down, so I'm thinking that your suggestion that it is third party software loading at startup is correct. That would include Dropbox, Google Drive, MacApp Blocker, and my Brother multifunction printer software. I'm betting it might be MacApp Blocker and will try uninstalling that first to see if the behavior stops.

     

    Thanks for your help.

     

    Ricka

  • by Ricka Gerstmann,

    Ricka Gerstmann Ricka Gerstmann Oct 6, 2013 10:33 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Oct 6, 2013 10:33 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Well, starting in Safe Mode must have fixed some issues that even Disk Warrior had not been able to repair. The Mini now sleeps as it is supoosed to, and does not shut down.

     

    I'm glad to know that it is possible to start in Safe Mode under Mountain Lion with FileVault enabled, since many mentions of the lack of that ability (under early versions of Lion) remain on the web.

     

    Thanks, Linc!

     

    Ricka

  • by keilor1,

    keilor1 keilor1 Dec 22, 2013 10:04 AM in response to Ricka Gerstmann
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 22, 2013 10:04 AM in response to Ricka Gerstmann

    I had the same problem as you described on my new Mac Mini.  Sleep mode would cause the computer to shut down and could only be restarted after being unplugged for several seconds.  SMC resets didn't help.

    Disconnecting my USB hub (MSI) fixed the issue.

  • by G in QLD,

    G in QLD G in QLD Dec 5, 2015 6:30 PM in response to keilor1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 5, 2015 6:30 PM in response to keilor1

    Hi All

     

    Setup and installed a new Mac Mini (purchased December 2015) for my neighbour.  Found that if the Mini was put to Sleep and then tried to awaken by touching keyboard, mouse or On-Off button, then it would completely shutdown. Pressing the ON-OFF button had no effect at all and the only operation that could revive the Mini was to unplug the power lead at the wall socket.  Followed the suggestion of keilor 1 above and, by a process of elimination, found that a powered Swann USB hub that my neighbour used was the culprit - removed the USB hub and the Sleep operation performed flawlessly. I then connected, for a quick test, an old powered Belkin USB hub that I used many years ago and found that this did not affect operation of the Sleep function - the Mini worked OK with the powered Belkin USB hub (Model F5U021). My neighbour decided to not use any USB hub and will try to make do with the Mini's 4 USB ports.

     

    G in QLD