Hard drive doesn't sleep anymore.

Lots of things can prevent sleep. Read this KB article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1776

Start diagnosing the problem by logging out of the computer. Will it sleep then? If it does there is a process running while you are logged in that is preventing sleep. Safari pages that automatically refresh will do it. Mail that checks periodically for new messages will do it. Network access will do it. The list is a long one.

One thing is certain though: it's not a virus. There are no viruses known to infect OS X.

You aren't running an anti-virus program are you? Add it to the list.

BTW, I am living in Tokyo, Japan and other Americans I know here can access the same URL. Again, I wonder if the two are strangely related somehow. Hmmm.

That implies a problem with your ISP's DNS settings. It is probably blocking access for some reason. You can use your own DNS settings if you prefer. OpenDNS and Google Public DNS are two such services.

Relax about viruses. It's the first thing most Windows users suspect, since they've been so inured to such things. I have not explanation for why your menubars got wonky but it's not a virus.

Glad it's fixed. Lack of system sleep happens from time to time and has always fixed itself. The last time I noticed my system wasn't sleeping it had not been rebooted for 83 days. A reboot fixed it.

... I still have the same problem accessing SSA.

The US Social Security website? I have no explanation. The Mac doesn't discriminate among websites, you can load whatever you want.

Perhaps Safari is loading a cached page? Try forcing a reload by emptying Safari's cache. Safari menu > Empty Cache.

In the same menu you will find Reset Safari. Try that too.

I'd keep using Google's DNS server. It's a beneficial change.

You're welcome.

I would guess the SSA is redirecting the request to a website maintained for your location (Tokyo at the moment) and that is what's broken.

Such redirection uses correlates your IP address to an approximate location.

Hi there. I'm glad you asked the question as I have the same issue.

I tried the SMC reset and my iMac still won't go to sleep. I have an extrarnal HD attached but it's powered off, basically there's nothing new to my system and it used to go to sleep at the press of the power button or the click of the option. Now however, only the display goes to sleep. I can't find any useful info on this forum or anywhere else.

What could be going on?

Well, I tried resetting the SMC again, this time leaving the power cord unplugged for sevral minutes rather than the 15 seconds recommended and this time it's worked, so all is well.

HELP!

John, have you ever found a definitive answer to what causes the Apple laptops to stop going to sleep? Mine will sleep the display, and begin hibernating the HD, but before it can cycle off it suddenly ramps ups again. This happens whether I ask it to sleep, or close the lid, or let it run through the time set in energy saver (1min)

I can tell you that I have tried every suggestion and nothing will get my unit (MBP- running 10.9.1, 2.4Core Duo with 5GB mem, and a 750 SATA with 592 free) to "sleep". I even tried a lullabye.

You suggest here that if it will sleep when I am logged out (from log-in screen), then it is a conflict with something associated with something the user has going. But you don't suggest what it might be if it won't sleep from the start-up screen, which is the case with me.

I currently have all sharing, bluetooth, wi-fi, energy saving and applications off....there is nothing attached. It won't sleep with power cord or with just battery. SMC reset NVRAM reset unchecking all the "let HD sleep" and turned off notification center...all that and it still won't sleep.

What can I do?

This is always due to a process keeping the system awake, but determining which is the challenge.

Here is an updated list of possible actions for you to take. You tried some already, so look through it to determine if there is one you may have overlooked.

If none of the following helps I have more troubleshooting steps plus one suggestion that is certain to work, and no you won't lose any of your files. If you need more help please start a new Discussion since this one is rather dated and concerns a slighty different issue anyway. When you do that please reply to this one so that I can find it.

• A first simple step is to create a new, temporary user account. Log out of yours and log into the temporary one. Determine if it sleeps then. If it does then you have a login item that is preventing sleep. System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items.
• Whenever you suspect a problem related to power, including sleep, an SMC reset is also recommended.
• Active Spotlight indexing will prevent sleep. Wait for it to complete.
• Check your Sharing preferences for anything that could permit an active network connection.
  • Toggle each one individually, followed by sleeping the Mac after each inversion.
  • In File Sharing, click the Options button and toggle them also.
• Energy Saver "Wake for network access" can prevent sleep, but unchecking it will prevent the ability to remotely access a sleeping Mac over a network.

  A normally functioning Mac will sleep according to Energy Saver, but will wake periodically for network access, after which it will return to sleep according to the settings in Energy Saver.

• Check Energy Saver > Power Nap. Whatever its setting happens to be, change it.

  Power Nap itself does not prevent sleep, but a corrupted Power Nap setting might. Changing its setting might correct it.

• Unfinished print jobs will prevent sleep. If a print job is queued, but if the printer is off or the connection to it is lost, the Mac will stay awake forever waiting for the printer to return.
• Safari pages that periodically refresh themselves are very common. This will prevent sleep.
• Frequently checking for new mail may prevent sleep. Change Mail's preferences to check for new mail less frequently.
• iTunes and iPhoto sharing will prevent sleep.
• Active Bluetooth devices will prevent sleep.
• Active USB or Thunderbolt devices will prevent sleep. Disconnect them to help isolate the cause.
• Using Time Machine over a network may prevent sleep. Time Machine using a Time Capsule will not.
• There are plenty of third party utilities designed to prevent sleep. One may not have been completely uninstalled.
• Quit the process with the name powerd in Activity Monitor. It will re-launch on its own.
• Any number of "anti-virus" utilities can prevent sleep, along with other miseries. Get rid of them.

Read Mac OS X: Why your Mac might not sleep or stay in sleep mode