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Level 1

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iMac G5 Sleep Problems

This problem has just started happening in the past couple of weeks.

I always had used sleep mode on my iMac.

Now this is what happens when I put the account into sleep mode.

It goes to sleep, and the blinking sleep light works for about 1 minute. Then the light stops and the computer appears to fall out of sleep, into a quasi-shutdown mode. I can no longer wake the computer at this point.

Then the fan starts running, really, really fast and does not stop.

The only way to "fix" this is to force shutdown the system by holding my power button. Afterwards the computer starts up like always with no problems at all.

But the sleep problem remains.

Does anyone know what is going on here and how to fix this? I am still under my AppleCare warranty that does house calls (if I read it right 🙂 ). The first digits of my serial # is W8441.

I do not have anything new on the computer, last upgrade done was to add a Gig of memory about 5 months ago.

my best
-Ray B

iMac G5 1.8 GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Sep 30, 2007 5:31 PM

26 replies

jrcook79

Level 1

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Oct 23, 2007 6:09 PM in response to CArchivist

I think I have your solution. I have 1st gen Imac G5--would go into sleep mode, light would blink, but computer would then not wake up. I took it into apple store--this is a common problem and is with the power supply. There is a warranty extension on this issue, and it was fixed for free, otherwise would've been $200 repair. At any rate, pretty happy with the result. Works fine now.

Oct 30, 2007 11:05 AM in response to CArchivist

Any solutions? I have the same problem. Just started recently, could have been after 10.4.10 was installed, but couldn't say for sure. Called Apple and it boiled down to a bad file that is suppossed to control the fan. I'm currently doing an erase and install of OS X to see if that solves the problem.

I saw someone mentioned the power supply replacement. Although my computer falls under the applicable serial numbers, I don't have the symptoms that are described on the web page that deals with that power supply issue.

Anyone have anymore inputs on this?

Thanks!

jef0704

Level 1

0 points

Oct 31, 2007 10:01 PM in response to CArchivist

I have a similar problem with my first generation imac g5, when i star tha computer you can hear the fan, but 10 minutes latter you hear tha fan working so hard and tha computer go to sleep; if you use any video app eg(see a movie in quicktime or dvd, or youtube) the noise of the fan is incredible and the computer go to sleep in 2 min. then i press barspace for retur from the sleep mode and return but in 1 min go to sleep again.

Does anyone dealing with this problem???

In advance thanks for your help...!!!!

Mu-Q

Level 1

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Dec 2, 2007 1:20 AM in response to jef0704

I'm having exactly the same problem...

Dec 21, 2007 4:18 AM in response to Mu-Q

After having the power supply replaced (1st gen iMac with affected serial number), the iMac worked fine for about two months. Guess what happened last night. Twice.

MGW

Level 7

27,041 points

Dec 21, 2007 5:53 AM in response to Julian Jones2

Call Apple immediately, there's a 90 warranty on repairs.

Dec 21, 2007 7:39 AM in response to MGW

After about an hour and a half on the phone with tech support and product specialists, they have agreed to replace my iMac with a new model. I'm a little frustrated but overall very pleased with the outcome. It's hard to complain when they are going to give me a new iMac.

Dec 22, 2007 9:24 PM in response to CArchivist

Not sleeping can be caused by several things. You could have a power supply and or logic board going bad. Also apple is going to look at the memory install and want you to remove it and see if the problem is still there. Even though you have not had the imac for very long it could also be a software issue. Like caches or preferences. You need to call apple care back. Simply let them know that you have called before about the same problem. They can bring up you imac based on the serial number and read what the last tech talked to you about. You just need to work the apple care system and keep your problem on the front burner with them.

CArchivist Author

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Dec 24, 2007 3:31 PM in response to CArchivist

Ah, I have finally an update to my sleep adventures in AppleCare repair. As it turned out, it was the issue with the power supply. The people at the very crowded and busy Apple Store were very nice and helpful. (Though I got to ask, what is the deal with Apple only opening these places in the rich white parts of town anyways? Every Apple Store in Metro Detroit is only found in the ultra-rich white suburban towns, and not one found within the city nor in working or middle class neighborhoods?..but I digress...)
The folks at the Apple Store knew exactly what the problem was, as they have apparantly dealt with this problem before and had the repair item right in stock. The same day it was fixed. Great job done by them.
Now let me tell you about my experience with the phone AppleCare techs. When I first explained my problem, the people on the line, had no clue what the problem was, assigned me an AppleCare number that disappeared from the system somehow. Then they transferred me to someone else who had to redo the AppleCare number and they still had no clue what the problem was. Finally I got a tech who was supposed to be local to me and he had no clue what my problem was and he told me to take it to the AppleStore. With each conversation, I tried to get anyone of those three people I spoke with to schedule an appointment to come to my house. According to my AppleCare contract, I was entitled to a tech to come to the home, with no strings or limitations. The tech even stated as much. But all three people made EVERT EFFORT POSSIBLE TO DENY A HOME REPAIR of my computer. The tech who spoke to me stated forthright to me that they do not go to homes if there is a repair location that I could go to myself within 45 miles of my home. I could not help by think that I was denied repair because I live in the city, because there is no documentation in my AppleCare document that outlines such limitations for home repair. Someone could just as easily take this incident racially, as I wonder if the AppleCare techs would have drilled someone living in an upscale neighborhood as much as I got from living within the city of Detroit.
So the problem, my friends, was with the power supply. AppleCare worked great at the store, not so good over the phone. And seriously, Apple needs to reach out to urban America too, especially in Metro Detroit.

CArchivist Author

Level 1

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Dec 24, 2007 3:33 PM in response to CArchivist

By the way, thanks for all the folks here who helped me too. It was from this posting that I even knew about the power supply problem.

Dec 24, 2007 9:05 PM in response to CArchivist

Apple care phone help is good for some things. You got what you needed from them which is an apple care number and you where told to take it in to a store. Once you walked up to the apple genius you had a short story to tell and you went through the steps that lead to the genius. He or she came through for you.

Hopefully you will not have any more problems but if you do you now know the steps to go through.

iMac G5 Sleep Problems