iMac startup problems w/ beach ball

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Level 1

8 points

iMac startup problems w/ beach ball

I generally put my iMac 5K 27" running Mojave to sleep, since I come back to it oftren during the day (whether this is right or wrong I'm not sure), only to come back to wake it, to find a spinning beach ball on a dark screen. I can wait for a long time (10 minutes or more), and it still spins away. I usually just hold down the power button, and this turns off the system, and then I restart it. I will get a message as if I had a power outage, and ask if I want my apps re-opened.

My first question is, am I handling the problem incorrectly? Secondly, is there something I can do, to eliminate this from happening? Is it a common problem, or issue with my system? Thank you.

Posted on Aug 19, 2019 11:08 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

den.thed

Level 10

83,182 points

Aug 19, 2019 11:27 AM in response to bonesamon1

Are you using the Screen Saver before Auto Sleep? > How to display a screen saver on your Mac - Apple Support

If so, set the Screen Saver to Never, set Display Sleep to 5 or 10 min. and test it that way for a few sleep/wake cycles.

Are you using/doing some Power Nap activities? > How Power Nap works on your Mac - Apple Support

If not, go to the Energy Saver pref, un-check the Power Nap box and test it that way for a few wake/sleep cycles.

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Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

144,796 points

Aug 19, 2019 11:13 AM in response to bonesamon1

I would start by resetting the NVRAM and also restarting in Safe Mode which clears any corrupt caches. Instructions to both are in:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063 and

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

If neither work, then please do the following:

Please navigate to the Mac App Store and download the free version of EtreCheck OR please click www.EtreCheck.com where you will find the app. Once you downloaded the free app and created the report please post it as your reply to this message. In order to post it, please use the following link for more detailed instructions on how to correctly include the results:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250000211

We can then look for obvious issues that may be causing your problem.

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Answer 3

bonesamon1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 21, 2019 10:10 AM in response to den.thed

Hi, before I get into this, I wanted to ask, do I turn off the Firmware Password separately, before I I the NVRAM reset procedure? In other words, do I reboot in safe mode, reset PW, then reboot again, for the reset? And is the firmware PW, something I would havew selected, or came with the system coded, and I had to note it somewhere? If the latter, I don't see it anywhere. Thanks again.

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