Display goes black, but mac isn't sleeping

Question

Display goes black, but mac isn't sleeping

While watching DVDs or shows online, the screen will go black after 5 minutes or so. I can wake it up by moving the mouse. I've checked the energy saving settings and made sure they're not set too short, but the display will continue to shut off. Constantly moving the mouse seems like a stupid workaround. Thanks in advance.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Dec 22, 2008 11:13 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 9

77,134 points

Dec 22, 2008 2:33 PM in response to madtowngooner

Hi and welcome to Apple Discussions!

If it's an Intel iMac reset the SMC: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1543

We don't have much to go on are you using a connected TV or second display, what version of OS X are you running and exactly which iMac do you have?

Dennis

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Answer 2

Dec 22, 2008 2:50 PM in response to madtowngooner

I'm using OS 10.5.5 on an 20" iMac, 2.4 GHz core duo, late 2007. I'm not using a secondary display. The problem happens when I use iDVD or Netflix online; basically anytime I'm not using the keyboard or mouse for a few minutes at a time. I'll check out the SMC (whatever that is; I'm a recent Mac adapter).

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 9

77,134 points

Dec 22, 2008 3:43 PM in response to madtowngooner

If the reset above doesn't help, something else you could do is set the Sleep Display Preference to 2 or 3 hours. Then setup a Hot Corner in the Exposé & Spaces > Exposé preference and use that to the Sleep Display the rest of the time.

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