iMac turns on at midnight, every night

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Level 2

430 points

iMac turns on at midnight, every night

My iMac turns on at midnight every night. The energy saver settings says it will not turn on itself, even though it does. What's the problem?

iMac Late 2007, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Feb 16, 2008 9:13 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

den.thed

Level 10

94,618 points

Feb 16, 2008 9:19 PM in response to srojtas

Hi srojtas

First reset the iMac's SMC (System Management Controller) exactly following the instructions in the following link.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303446-en

Then in the "Energy Saver Preference / Options" be sure that the box "Restart automatically after a power failure" is unchecked, just in case something else is interrupting the iMac's power at that time.

Lastly are you using elgato iTV? If so look at the discussions thread below!

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4532472&#4532472

imac973 say's

+Ok, the problem seems to be resolved... I have deleted the file named "Wakein" located in /Libreria/Application Support/EyeTv...+
+Then I deleted and then reinstalled Eye Tv and...OK! my iMac doesn't restart by itself!!!+

Dennis

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Answer 2

Feb 17, 2008 6:10 AM in response to srojtas

Hello srojtas,

I had this very issue. And to fix it you must reset the PRAM. To do this you firstly shut down your computer. Then you switch the computer back on the IMMEDIATELY hold down the Command-Option-P-R keys and kept them held down. Keep them held down until the computer restarts and you hear the "bong" sound.

More info: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

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Answer 3

Jun 23, 2008 2:21 AM in response to brainfog

Try settings your Energy Saver settings to something you don't want like wake up daily at a certain time. Then delete this file: Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.PowerManagement.plist Restart and set the Energy Settings to how you want them.

George

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Answer 4

Mar 24, 2008 10:25 AM in response to srojtas

SMC is related to portables and I have an iMac (Intel). Disconnecting all wires (also power) for at least 15 seconds is similar to the SMC reset but that also did not work for me.

Now I have removed the preference file for the Energy control panel and I will wait till tomorrow to see what will happen.

Important: I found out that removing this file will result in not starting up at all unless you start up with the command-alt-p-r pressed.

Jeroen

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Answer 5

pr100

Level 2

478 points

Mar 31, 2008 1:47 AM in response to Jeroen Vink

Does it still wake up if you disconnect your modem/router?

Simon

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Answer 6

brainfog

Level 1

0 points

Jun 23, 2008 1:28 AM in response to ElliotPearson

There is no easy answer to this one. The only thing that has worked for me is to turn on "Start up or wake" in the "energy saver" settings and setting it to start up every Sunday at 9am, the reason I set it to that day and time is that I am always sitting behind my computer at that time of the week, it's up to you what day and time you choose. I found that as soon as i turned it off again it reset itself to "12am" and the problem returned.

Since I have done this my computer has not started itself every day, only on Sunday's. It's not a permanent fix but it's better than nothing. Lets hope Apple can fix the problem.

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Answer 7

Jul 5, 2008 7:58 PM in response to ichristofer

Hi,
i personally think your post is different to everyone elses, because i think you may have just accidently programmed your computer to turn on at a certain time (like i did)...
I've forgotten how to change the setting but if you ring Apple they'll help you out...
Hope this is good info.. =]

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Answer 8

srojtas Author

Level 2

430 points

Mar 24, 2008 6:30 AM in response to srojtas

Try resetting the SMC.

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Answer 9

pr100

Level 2

478 points

Mar 31, 2008 3:25 AM in response to Jeroen Vink

It's a long shot but I had a problem in the past with my internet connection dropping every night at midnight during the summer and 1am in the winter. It turned out to be the 'schedule blocking' settings on my Netgear router which by default schedule some activity at that time every day. I cured it by unchecking all the days of the week. I don't know whether such activity might wake a sleeping computer but I do know it cost me $1000 one night when I was about to call an all-in bet with four Aces!

Simon

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Answer 10

srojtas Author

Level 2

430 points

Apr 5, 2008 12:38 PM in response to srojtas

OK, finally gone. I don't know how it connects but there was a faulty fan and I understand this, SMC controller. Thanks everyone!

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Answer 11

Mar 24, 2008 12:57 AM in response to srojtas

I have exactly the same issue but resetting P-RAM and turn of the iMac as described did not work for me.

The iMac still turns on every night at 01 AM.

In the energy-saver-settings the 'start up or wake' option is NOT checked.

So may be I have to remove the preference file for 'energy saver' but where is this preference file stored?

Jeroen

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Answer 12

Mar 26, 2008 2:08 PM in response to srojtas

That happens to me intermittently.

My iMac (October 2006) uses to start up at 01:00 am since i upgraded to leopard.
Not every night but at about 2-3 nights a week

I thought it was related to EyeTV 3 but there were no scheduled records

I resettet parameter ram and smc with no success.
Meanwhile i leave the power cord unplugged at night.

Any suggestions?

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Answer 13

Apr 6, 2008 3:41 AM in response to srojtas

Still not gone here.

Even when I dissconnect my network cable, still the iMac turns on every night.

This is what I tried so far:

- Resetting PRAM several times
- Reset SM several times
- Turn off the iMac with all cables (including power) disconnected for a few minutes
- Deleted the energy saver preferences
- Change the settings energy saver preferences a few times
- Disconnect the network cable for a few night so that the router cannot control my iMac

Still the iMac turns on at 1:00 in the night.

Question?
Can Windows XP (also installed on my iMac) control my iMac even if it's shut down????

Jeroen

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Answer 14

Edward NC

Level 1

105 points

Apr 22, 2008 3:43 AM in response to Jeroen Vink

Exactly the same problem here. Likewise, I have tried every suggestion made so far: PRAM resets, SMC resets, changing all the sleep options, unconnecting peripherals....the things just insists on waking up every bloody night. I have let Apple know several times via feedback.

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Answer 15

Jun 21, 2008 7:11 AM in response to srojtas

Hello: I have the same issue. My iMac switches on every day at 8:02PM. I have tried both options discussed on this thread but still the thing turns on. Any suggestions? I have tried contacting support via email but get no reply.

Thanks

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