Barbara Hibbard
Level 1 (33 points)
Desktops

Q: Shut down

I shut down my iMac overnight due to thunderstorms. 21 inch, 2.8 GHz intel core i5, 8g ram, running 10.11.6. Sometimes when I come downstairs the next morning it has not completed shutdown. There is a black screen with spinning lines (not the beach ball) at the bottom and I have to shut it down with the power button. (Jiggling the mouse or tapping keyboard does not wake it up).

 

Any ideas what might be causing it or what to do about it?

Thanks

Posted on Jul 28, 2016 6:42 PM

by macjack,Solvedanswer
macjack macjack
Level 9 (55,682 points)
Mac OS X
A:

If you see a spinning globe instead of an Apple logo, it means your Mac is starting from a network-based startup disk like Netboot or Internet Recovery instead of a connected or built-in startup disk. If you didn't mean for your Mac to start this way, press and hold the power key to turn off your Mac. Then, press the power key again to start up normally.

About the screens you see when your Mac starts up - Apple Support

Posted on Jul 28, 2016 8:07 PM

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Barbara Hibbard

Q: Shut down

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  • Helpful answers

  • by den.thed,Helpful

    den.thed den.thed Jul 29, 2016 5:58 AM in response to Barbara Hibbard
    Level 7 (27,430 points)
    Jul 29, 2016 5:58 AM in response to Barbara Hibbard

    1. Reset the SMC, as per > Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    2. Go to: Apple > System Preferences > Energy Saver and make sure that "Start up automatically after a power failure" is not checked. (that way, it will not start up automatically when the power is restored)

     

    Also, what other precautions are you taking to protect your iMac from a lighting induced power surge...?

  • by macjack,Solvedanswer

    macjack macjack Jul 28, 2016 8:07 PM in response to Barbara Hibbard
    Level 9 (55,682 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 28, 2016 8:07 PM in response to Barbara Hibbard

    If you see a spinning globe instead of an Apple logo, it means your Mac is starting from a network-based startup disk like Netboot or Internet Recovery instead of a connected or built-in startup disk. If you didn't mean for your Mac to start this way, press and hold the power key to turn off your Mac. Then, press the power key again to start up normally.

    About the screens you see when your Mac starts up - Apple Support

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jul 28, 2016 9:29 PM in response to Barbara Hibbard
    Level 10 (207,936 points)
    Applications
    Jul 28, 2016 9:29 PM in response to Barbara Hibbard

    Outdated software for a Wacom tablet can prevent shutdown. If you no longer use the device, please remove the software. Otherwise, update it to the latest version from the manufacturer's website.

    After following the removal instructions linked above, you may also need to open the Users & Groups pane in System Preferences, select the Login Items tab, and delete any Wacom-related items. That's because the uninstaller is defective.

    Back up all data before making any changes.

  • by Barbara Hibbard,

    Barbara Hibbard Barbara Hibbard Jul 29, 2016 5:40 AM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (33 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 29, 2016 5:40 AM in response to macjack

    I see a circle of spinning lines in the morning when it has failed to shut down. I shut down using the menu at night and I am seeing in the morning that it has not completed shut down. I have to use the power button to turn it off and then turn it on to use it.

  • by Barbara Hibbard,

    Barbara Hibbard Barbara Hibbard Jul 29, 2016 5:43 AM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (33 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 29, 2016 5:43 AM in response to macjack

    The problem is on shut down, not start up. I see spinning lines or dashes (----) in a circle that spins. This is after I use the menu to shut down at night, 8 hours go by and it has not completely shut down. Thanks.

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Jul 29, 2016 5:44 AM in response to Barbara Hibbard
    Level 9 (55,682 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 29, 2016 5:44 AM in response to Barbara Hibbard

    Here's something you can do to be sure your Mac completely shuts down. It is not a solution but a workaround:

     

    Open Terminal and at the prompt copy & paste this command to shutdown:

    sudo shutdown -h now

    (You will get a lecture on the dangers of using the sudo command incorrectly)

    Enter your admin password. It will be invisible.

    Press Return.

     

    To do a restart you can use this command:

    sudo shutdown -r now

  • by Barbara Hibbard,

    Barbara Hibbard Barbara Hibbard Jul 29, 2016 5:50 AM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (33 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 29, 2016 5:50 AM in response to macjack

    This answer is checked solved. It's not solved. The problem occurs on shut down, not start up and don't involve a globe of any kind. I still need more help.

  • by Barbara Hibbard,

    Barbara Hibbard Barbara Hibbard Jul 29, 2016 5:58 AM in response to den.thed
    Level 1 (33 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 29, 2016 5:58 AM in response to den.thed

    Thank you den.thed. Start up automatically is not checked. I had no idea that setting was there and I appreciate the info. I'll be sure it is not checked on my other computers. I am also using power surge strips.