Mac Sleep Timer (through 'Energy Saver' in System Preferences) won't work

Question

Level 1

95 points

Mac Sleep Timer (through 'Energy Saver' in System Preferences) won't work

Hello,
I have a MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009) running Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3,
and it has been installed with the latest software updates possible.
(The latest update is the 'Security Update 2010-003')

Previously I was using Mac OS X Leopard 10.5 on my MacBook,
and I can vaguely remember the timed computer sleep through Energy Saver would work.
That is, when the counter's time matches the amount of time I specified (e.g. 10 minutes), the computer enters sleep mode and displays a pulsing power light.

After upgrading to Snow Leopard I can barely remember the scheduled computer sleep will work as I don't really notice how it sleeps / I will shut down my MacBook before I go to bed.

==========

However, last night I was really tired and slept in front of my MacBook unconsciously.
When I woke up, I found that my MacBook didn't display a pulsing power light but a continuously-growing power light.
I tapped the trackpad and the display turned on, so I knew that my MacBook didn't go to sleep a whole night.
*What that means is that the Sleep Timer (through 'Energy Saver' in System Preferences) won't work.*
But the timed display sleep DOES work.

==========

After spending a whole day Googling,
I found that there are plenty of people suffering the same problem as me, although their Macs and OSs vary.
I also found an official support page from Apple concerning the related issue:

Mac OS X: Why your Mac might not sleep or stay in sleep mode
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1776

I tried the following methods but still can't resolve the problem:
_- boot my MacBook in safe mode_
_- use the 'Disk Utility' to repair Disk Permissions through booting my MacBook from the Mac OS X Snow Leopard Installation DVD_
_- reset NVRAM (Intel-based) (as PRAM is used by PowerPC-based Macs)_
_- reset SMC (System Management Controller)_

NONE of the above-mentioned methods can resolve the problem.
Althought I am sure that the Spotlight isn't indexing the hard drive, and I just start my computer and do nothing and wait for the scheduled computer sleep, the scheduled computer sleep just won't work.

In the other Mac forum, I saw someone suggest installing an application called PleaseSleep:
http://www.dragonone.com/products/macosx/pleasesleep/
It works.
But I really want to find out what caused this problem as this is a function shipped with Mac which is expected to work normally.
What's more, Apple is claiming to be a green Apple, right?

==========

Here's the log taken from 'Console':

- Sleep by closing the lid of my MacBook:

Apr 18 13:21:05 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback WILL sleep
Apr 18 13:21:05 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Sleep notification received from the system
Apr 18 13:21:07 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: network configuration changed.
Apr 18 13:23:21 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback will power on, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:23:21.028 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:23:19.410 PM = Deltatime:1.618421972
Apr 18 13:23:21 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: handleUnlockResult, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:23:21.579 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:23:19.410 PM = Deltatime:2.169138968
Apr 18 13:23:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Sleep: Success - AC 98 - Clamshell Sleep
Apr 18 13:23:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Wake: Success - AC 98 - EC LID0
Apr 18 13:23:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Hibernate Statistics
Apr 18 13:23:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Wake notification received from the system

- Sleep by manually clicking the Apple logo in the upper left corner of the screen -> 'Sleep':

Apr 18 13:31:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback WILL sleep
Apr 18 13:31:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Sleep notification received from the system
Apr 18 13:31:49 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: network configuration changed.
Apr 18 13:32:04 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback will power on, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:32:04.033 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:32:02.720 PM = Deltatime:1.313067079
Apr 18 13:32:04 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: handleUnlockResult, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:32:04.589 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:32:02.720 PM = Deltatime:1.869303048
Apr 18 13:32:06 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Sleep: Success - AC 98 - Software Sleep
Apr 18 13:32:06 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Wake: Success - AC 98 - OHC1
Apr 18 13:32:06 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Hibernate Statistics
Apr 18 13:32:06 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Wake notification received from the system

- Sleep by manually pressing control + eject, and the press 'Sleep':


Apr 18 13:34:17 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback WILL sleep
Apr 18 13:34:17 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Sleep notification received from the system
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback will power on, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:34:46.080 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:34:44.720 PM = Deltatime:1.360466003
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: handleUnlockResult, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:34:46.564 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:34:44.720 PM = Deltatime:1.844347000
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: PMConnection AirPort configd plug-in com.apple.powermanagement.applicationresponse.slowresponse 566 ms
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: bootpsessiontransmit: bpf_write(en0) failed: Network is down (50)
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: DHCP en0: INIT transmit failed
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: PMConnection IPConfiguration com.apple.powermanagement.applicationresponse.slowresponse 567 ms
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: network configuration changed.
Apr 18 13:34:48 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Sleep: Success - AC 98 - Software Sleep
Apr 18 13:34:48 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Wake: Success - AC 98 - OHC1
Apr 18 13:34:48 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Hibernate Statistics
Apr 18 13:34:48 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Wake notification received from the system

- Sleep by _turning on the application called 'PleaseSleep' based on the settings from 'Energy Saver'_:

Apr 18 13:37:22 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Application is enabled
Apr 18 13:37:29 Michael-Leungs-MacBook System Preferences[1136]: * AGCAttach() failed
Apr 18 13:37:31 Michael-Leungs-MacBook [0x0-0x58058].com.apple.systempreferences[1136]: Couldn't find any matches.
Apr 18 13:38:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Checking sleep conditions...
Apr 18 13:38:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Going to sleep...
Apr 18 13:38:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback WILL sleep
Apr 18 13:38:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Sleep notification received from the system
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback will power on, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:38:56.042 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:38:54.720 PM = Deltatime:1.321902931
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: handleUnlockResult, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:38:56.571 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:38:54.720 PM = Deltatime:1.850627959
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: PMConnection AirPort configd plug-in com.apple.powermanagement.applicationresponse.slowresponse 707 ms
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: bootpsessiontransmit: bpf_write(en0) failed: Network is down (50)
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: DHCP en0: INIT transmit failed
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: PMConnection IPConfiguration com.apple.powermanagement.applicationresponse.slowresponse 708 ms
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: network configuration changed.
Apr 18 13:38:58 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Sleep: Success - AC 98 - Software Sleep
Apr 18 13:38:58 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Wake: Success - AC 98 - OHC1
Apr 18 13:38:58 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Hibernate Statistics
Apr 18 13:38:58 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Wake notification received from the system

- If I disable 'PleaseSleep' and only depend on the non-working 'Energy Saver', nothing happens.

==========

Looking forward to your replies! Thanks in advance! 😀

MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009), Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Apr 17, 2010 10:52 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Apr 17, 2010 11:11 PM in response to MicBook

There is a preference list you need to trash

Quit System Preferences. Go to Macintosh HD/Library/System Configuration Preferences and drag the following file to the Desktop:

com.apple.PowerManagement.plist

This is the file that gets modified when you change the sleep time. Then launch System Prefs --> Energy Saver and set the time you want it to engage.

Reply

Answer 2

MicBook Author

Level 1

95 points

Apr 17, 2010 11:34 PM in response to Glenn Carter

Glenn Carter wrote:
There is a preference list you need to trash

Quit System Preferences. Go to Macintosh HD/Library/System Configuration Preferences and drag the following file to the Desktop:

com.apple.PowerManagement.plist

This is the file that gets modified when you change the sleep time. Then launch System Prefs --> Energy Saver and set the time you want it to engage.

Thank you for your prompt reply! 😀

I think you are saying '/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration' -> 'com.apple.PowerManagement.plist', right?
I opened it with TextEdit, and I could see the variables inside that file are the same as I set through the Energy Saver.

I copied it to the desktop for back-up, and trashed it.
And then I open the Energy Saver again, the file 'com.apple.PowerManagement.plist' was then automatically generated, and the variables inside that file are the same as the one I trashed.

The problem is still unresolved.
Any replies are welcome! Thanks in advance! 😀

Reply

Answer 3

JMAY76

Level 1

0 points

Apr 23, 2010 10:14 AM in response to MicBook

I too am seeing this issue, but with many systems on our network. They will not go to sleep. Does not seem limited to 10.6 as I'm seeing it with 10.5 and 10.4.

Reply

Answer 4

Apr 25, 2010 6:17 AM in response to JMAY76

I have the same issue. This has happened now and then through my many years with Powerbooks and now MacBook Pros. The last time I found that running Safari prevented sleep and before that I learned that having the EyeTVHelper process running was the culprit.

But this time I have tried quitting every running app and most daemons as well. I have tried to delete the PowerManagement.plist and nothing happens. Interestingly, the display does not sleep either.

I do get the AGCAttach() failed in the Console log every time I attempt to change the sleep settings in the System Preferences / Energy Saver.

Any good ideas?

Many thanks.
PEter

Reply

Answer 5

JMAY76

Level 1

0 points

Apr 26, 2010 4:54 AM in response to MicBook

I've discovered our issue. It was with McAfee Security Version 1.0.0 (676) with Anti-malware Version 9.0. Once this was uninstalled all was well. Yes, I know antivirus SW is not "needed" but we are in a Windows environment and we don't want our users passing anything along via email.

Reply

Answer 6

MicBook Author

Level 1

95 points

Jul 19, 2010 2:37 AM in response to MicBook

BUMP

Nearly 3 months since posting this topic, hope I can get some suggestions on this issue, thanks in advance! 😀

Reply

Answer 7

lnttn

Level 1

5 points

Sep 9, 2010 9:05 AM in response to MicBook

I have this problem with my iMac (10.6.4). In the console, I see this when I try to change the system preferences for energy saver:
9/9/10 12:01:46 PM [0x0-0xc40c4].com.apple.systempreferences[1125] Couldn't find any matches.

I have tried the suggestions listed and the problem returns.

Reply

Answer 8

dieseL.

Level 1

15 points

Sep 16, 2010 4:14 AM in response to MicBook

I've just started a new topic about this, I didn't realise that this one was still alive.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2583012

The only obvious similarity with the three of us here experiencing the problem (me included) is this line in the console:

Apr 18 13:37:31 Michael-Leungs-MacBook [0x0-0x58058].com.apple.systempreferences[1136]: Couldn't find any matches.

9/9/10 12:01:46 PM 0x0-0xc40c4.com.apple.systempreferences1125 Couldn't find any matches.

Sep 16 12:12:16 Andys-iMac [0x0-0x1f01f].com.apple.systempreferences[238]: Couldn't find any matches.

It must be linked to this, surely? I'm searching for a solution to this irritating problem. If this doesn't work, I'm unsure about what else doesn't on my +brand new+ iMac - it's disappointing.

Reply

Answer 9

Nov 14, 2010 9:08 PM in response to MicBook

Bump.

New Macbook Air 13", OS X 10.6.5

com.apple.systempreferences[194]: Couldn't find any matches - shown when closing Preferences after modifying Energy Saver settings. Doesn't appear if using any other preferences panels.

Hoping somebody at Apple reads these threads. Is amazing that a Mac can be broken like this practically out-of-the-box.

Reply

Answer 10

Nov 15, 2010 4:37 PM in response to MicBook

I too am having this issue on a 24" iMac. I get the following in Console:

10/15/10 7:20:23 PM [0x0-0x191191].com.apple.systempreferences[3903] Couldn't find any matches.

Reply

Answer 11

Jan 10, 2011 10:40 AM in response to MicBook

I'm getting the same. Energy Saver on Macs ***** is my only conclusion 😟

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Answer 12

Mar 1, 2011 1:31 AM in response to MicBook

Same here! Macbook doesn't sleep automaticly. Deleting plist files, safe boot, reseting NVRAM and SMC did not helped. Realy don't want to use PleaseSleep.

Reply

Answer 13

Mar 1, 2011 1:51 AM in response to Lage Lagovich

Strange. I installed clean system on USB drive and guess what - my Macbook does NOT sleep automaticly! :O Any sugestions?

Reply

Answer 14

Quixx23

Level 1

4 points

May 22, 2011 10:05 AM in response to Lage Lagovich

Found this discussion by googling "com.apple.systempreferencescouldn't find any matches"...

One month ago I bought a brand new Macbook Pro 13", and after a couple of weeks I realized it wasn't sleeping on its own when it should, per the system preferences. (I did sleep when I chose "Sleep" in the menus or closed it... It just wouldn't sleep on its own, while open.) What was extra frustrating was that it was intermittent... It would sleep on its own maybe 1/3 of the time, but other times it would NEVER go to sleep. I deleted PowerManagement.plist, reset the SMC, etc... No luck.

I took it to the "geniuses" at the Apple Store, and the guy took all of five minutes trying to diagnose the problem. When my MBP wouldn't sleep on its own, he promptly replaced it with a new one. That was nice, but I actually would have preferred that he diagnosed and fixed it. (I think the store was so swamped with people coming in for service that day that they were doing anything they could to close cases and get customers out of there ASAP.)

Now, sitting here with my 48-hour-old MBP, I still have the problem. The other one was so new that I had barely put anything on it yet. The only applications I had put on it were MS Office for Mac 2011, Firefox, Chrome, and Adobe Flash Player. I've put Office and Flash Player on this one, but not yet Firefox or Chrome. That's it. No other customization or fancy business.

I looked into the Console just now, and I see the "Couldn'tfind any matches" entry popping up again and again. The last three seemed to pop upright around the time when my MBP should have gone to sleep on its own, but not down to the second, so it's hard to definitively point at that and say it's it for sure.

They need to fix this!!

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Answer 15

Jul 21, 2011 9:07 AM in response to MicBook

Sadly an update to OS X Lion didn't fix this issue. Does any of you found a solution for this?

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