OldCodeExpert

Q: Mac mini won't wake from sleep. A SOLUTION.

I've been having the same problem everyone else has:

Mac mini won't come out of sleep, requiring a shutdown and reboot.

 

I found the cause of my problem. This solution has been tested.

Your system may differ from mine, but my solution may give you ideas to try.

 

My system: Mac mini (mid 2011), running Lion.

 

On March 19, the day before the trouble started, I sent a print job to my printer.

The next morning (March 20) the trouble began, and happened again March 21.

 

Exact Symptoms Seen: Display goes into a power save mode; however the computer never enters sleep (front panel LED remains on, all night long, not doing its usual slow-breathing sleep pattern).

Notably, the file "system.log" does not show the usual "maintenance alarm" wakeup every 2 hours. The logs just go quiet.

 

Printing triggered the problem:

My printer is a late-model Brother laser printer.

Beginning on March 19, I had been using Command-P to print documents;

however, at no time did I turn the printer on; my intention was to let my print jobs accumulate for several days,

after which I planned to turn the printer on and do my printing and mailing all at once, for efficiency.

 

This helped me: This solved my problem:

Late on March 21, I wondered if something in the print queue was preventing sleep.

Experimentally, I opened Brother’s print queue app and deleted the print job in the queue,

and BINGO, I instantly regained the ability to sleep and wake my Mac mini.

 

Further testing showed that the problem is repeatable at will. :^)

On March 22 I tested the mini to make sure it sleeps and wakes.

Then I sent a print job to the queue, leaving the printer off, and tried to sleep the computer.

The problem returned immediately: The display went to sleep but the computer did not.

Next, I logged in via ssh over the LAN and issued:

   % lpq

to get the job number of the print job, and then

   % lprm [jobnumber]

to clear the printer queue.

This deleted the print job, and the computer went to sleep immediately.

 

Moral: They say peripherals can prevent sleep.

Well, this shows that a peripheral can prevent sleep without even being turned on!

 

 

Tip: If you *must* shut your mini down, first try logging in over the LAN via ssh and issue

   % sudo shutdown -h now

for a more orderly shutdown with less risk of data loss.

 

PS. Usually I can solve any sleep problem if I ssh in from another computer and issue

    % killall ScreenSaverEngine

but that didn’t work in this case.

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Mar 22, 2016 11:25 AM

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Q: Mac mini won't wake from sleep. A SOLUTION.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by K Shaffer,Helpful

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Mar 22, 2016 4:29 PM in response to OldCodeExpert
    Level 6 (14,249 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 22, 2016 4:29 PM in response to OldCodeExpert

    This item could be converted to a 'user tip' -- if you would like.

    Since it is helpful and not directed to another user in a reply.

     

    Thanks for sharing!

  • by OldCodeExpert,

    OldCodeExpert OldCodeExpert Mar 22, 2016 4:30 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 4:30 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Cool! :^)  Fine by me.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Mar 22, 2016 5:34 PM in response to OldCodeExpert
    Level 6 (14,249 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 22, 2016 5:34 PM in response to OldCodeExpert

    There are certain details about the User Tips that I thought to share with you

    in so much as the ability to create them arrives after some time on the boards

    & some earned privileges that apply after helping others in ASC discussions.

     

    User Tips: Orientation

    Award points, level up, and earn new privileges

     

    Apple Support Communities Use Agreement

     

    So if you would prefer the item to become a User Tip, that can be done by any

    who have achieved a level of at least Five in the Apple support communities...

     

    However I thought I should tell you this, since I'd prefer you get credit but don't

    see how that is done. -- Perhaps another can detail that & also create the Tip.

     

    In the past, some users had cited replies I'd posted to user questions and not

    created any Tip associated with my post. So I am unfamiliar with that aspect.

     

    Although I looked into it, the idea appears to mean if I proposed the User Tip

    it would be created by me; and I believe the idea & credit should be yours...

    however that works. Thought you should know that seems to be the case.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by OldCodeExpert,

    OldCodeExpert OldCodeExpert Mar 23, 2016 1:05 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Mar 23, 2016 1:05 PM in response to K Shaffer

    That's rather complex. I'll have to decline.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Mar 23, 2016 2:54 PM in response to OldCodeExpert
    Level 6 (14,249 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 23, 2016 2:54 PM in response to OldCodeExpert

    While I can submit the concept and it would have your name on it,

    I found that it would appear under User Tips in my name should I

    submit it. Or if anyone of sufficient stature in the ASC discussions

    do so, the same would follow. I did inquire if there was another way

    so the author could be first credited, if the Tip were sponsored by a

    user already able to submit the tip... no reply to that as of yet.

     

    So I thought to let you know how the path usually works in that instance.

    It can proceed, apparently, in that way, should anyone nominate a Tip.

     

    Anyway, thank you for the information and as a user of two Mini Macs

    (and several others) I appreciate the concepts involved.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Mar 25, 2016 2:54 AM in response to OldCodeExpert
    Level 6 (14,249 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 25, 2016 2:54 AM in response to OldCodeExpert

    Although I'm uncertain of the outcome to a request, an inquiry was

    addressed by me to the Hosts, if they could nominate or create a

    User Tip of your first post above; in this instance... It is my personal

    thinking these should be nominated in such a way, so as the author

    of the tread who proposed a Solution would be credited, & not me.

     

    And I have also bookmarked your Solution, though my Minis may

    not ask that I try & implement it unless they're weary & act tired.

     

    Thank you for your contribution!

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Apr 24, 2016 2:05 AM in response to OldCodeExpert
    Level 6 (14,249 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 24, 2016 2:05 AM in response to OldCodeExpert

    .

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Aug 18, 2016 3:09 AM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 6 (14,249 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 18, 2016 3:09 AM in response to K Shaffer

    =