Multiple Panic restarts - 2024 M4 Mac Mini 16/512

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Multiple Panic restarts - 2024 M4 Mac Mini 16/512

I purchased a 2020 M1 Mac Mini 8/256 in May 2022 as a stopgap measure and it would frequently reboot while asleep. I keep them on 24/7 but asleep.

On November 8th, I migrated my data to my new 2024 M4 Mac Mini 16/512 and now when I bring it out of sleep there is notifications of many times my external drives were improperly disconnected and a Dialog Box of another Panic

I think it must be some software I migrated over, but I need help to determine how to stop this problem

Problem Report attached as Additional Text.

Thank you!

Posted on Nov 20, 2024 12:26 PM

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Answer 1

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MlchaelLAX Author

Level 4

2,293 points

Nov 21, 2024 4:03 AM in response to hcsitas

Actually, when you had me check the System Settings, I unchecked "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" and so far that seems to have solved it.

I like to be able to have it wake for network access, as I use this Mac Mini for home entertainment access for my AppleTV box as well.

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Answer 2

Nov 20, 2024 12:35 PM in response to MlchaelLAX

Are your external drives connected via an unpowered hub?

They should be plugged directly into the Mac or into a hub with a power supply.

The waking during sleep could be caused by spurious signals from Bluetooth devices.

Download and install BlueSnooze to disconnect BT whilst sleeping. You will then need either a wired keyboard or press the power button to wake it up.

BlueSnooze

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Answer 3

MlchaelLAX Author

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2,293 points

Nov 25, 2024 12:51 PM in response to hcsitas

There were more Alert Notices and at least one Panic, but yesterday I found my OWC USB-A to USB-C adapter and moved my OWC 16T miniStack drive to the front ports using this adapter.

I just woke my Mac mini now and no Panics nor Alerts!

Thank you!

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Answer 4

hcsitas

Level 6

13,970 points

Nov 20, 2024 1:13 PM in response to MlchaelLAX

Sleep is unnecessary on later Macs and should be disabled. Shut for long absences/idle overnights i.e. do not manual-sleep) and for regular operation, use the settings exactly as shown below (reboot after changes), should fix.

Additionally, avoid manual sleeping your Mac and use the Lock Screen settings to switch the display off on timer:

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Answer 5

hcsitas

Level 6

13,970 points

Nov 20, 2024 9:43 PM in response to MlchaelLAX

Uncheck Wake and check Prevent, should fix.

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Answer 6

MlchaelLAX Author

Level 4

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Nov 20, 2024 2:40 PM in response to Ian R. Brown

Ian: Good tip: The external drives are currently connected through an unpowered hub since the M4 only had Thunderbolt/USB-C ports. I am trying to find my USB-A to USB-C adapter that I purchased some months ago from OWC when they offered it to me on discount after buying their 16 T miniStack.

I may have misspoken, but the drive does not wake during sleep; it is unmounting during sleep, resulting in many alerts that it was not properly unmounted.

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