Disable keyboard when in sleep mode

Question

Disable keyboard when in sleep mode

Hi

I have searched the net for answers to this simple problem but haven't found any help. I have an iMac with a USB keyboard (because i need the numeric keypad) and two kittens. When I put it to sleep it will often not stay there for very long as the kittens keep hitting the keyboard thus waking it up.

Is there any way to specify that only the power button can wake up the computer?

27" iMac i7, MacBook Air, 1st gen. 1.6 GHz, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Feb 15, 2010 8:53 AM

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Answer 1

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,547 points

Feb 15, 2010 11:54 AM in response to Wierdo Beaver

I know of no way to disable a USB keyboard while a Mac is asleep aside from disconnecting it.

Another approach is to make the keyboard unavailable with something like a keyboard tray that allows you to hide it under the desktop when not in use. Or one that lets you store it under the iMac.

But, the psychologist in me suggests a behavioral approach and teach the kittens to stay away from the computer. A squirt gun or spray bottle is a harmless way to teach them that this area is off limits. Squirt them and say NO firmly and quickly just saying NO will suffice. A few weeks of this and they should avoid the computer a together. Just do not spray your electronics!

Dah•veed

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

91,582 points

Feb 15, 2010 1:31 PM in response to Wierdo Beaver

Hi Wierdo Beaver

David is on the mark.

Kittens learn very quickly about boundaries and will generally abide by the rules with a little bit of good old school training. I've always use a loosely rolled page of news print to reinforce the training and in the beginning a "no stay down" reinforced with a light swat gets there attention. Then if you leave the news print or squirt bottle (as David suggest) next to the keyboard in plane sight you will quickly notice that a simple "no stay down" works without a swat or squirt. Of corse there is always that one joker that will require a few extra swats or squirts, but generally they make the best pet because all they really want is your attention.

Dennis

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Answer 3

Onio-n

Level 1

51 points

Feb 15, 2010 2:53 PM in response to Wierdo Beaver

My cat does that, scares the life out of her when the fans blair one during startup but is still very annoying. A simple thing I did is just put the keyboard under the iMac on its stand as the cats don't normally venture under my iMac itself so the keyboard is out of paw range. Though with two small kittens they might wonder everywhere.

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Answer 4

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Feb 15, 2010 3:33 PM in response to Wierdo Beaver

Hi, just set up a Security Camera App (lots are Free) - when the iSight/App sees movement you can program any sounds you like as a warning..works like a charm..L

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Answer 5

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,547 points

Feb 15, 2010 4:12 PM in response to elmac

Um...L, you are skim reading again. He wants the Mac to sleep. Can you do any of that with a sleeping Mac?

Dah•veed

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Answer 6

Feb 16, 2010 7:03 AM in response to Wierdo Beaver

Thanks for the response - I kind of anticipated the general recommendation to be to raise the kittens (and feared the "get rid of the kittens" response). My problem is that we have succeeded very well in teaching them not to be on the kitchen table etc. but only when we are around. When home alone they dance on all the forbidden spots just to mock us (I might be exaggerating a bit)...

I will try to hide the keyboard under the screen and see if it helps, but I was hoping that somehow, buried deep inside OS X, you could specify which inputs should wake the computer...

Have a nice day to you all

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Answer 7

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Feb 16, 2010 11:20 AM in response to Dah•veed

Hi, DaaVeed" I was just thinking out of the box" If he set up SSpy and ran it for a few days with the motion alarm setup the cats would avoid the area" to reinforce he could Open SSpy now and again.
I was just trying to help...L

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