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2013 13" MBA Sleep Issue

I recently bought a new 13" MBA with the i5 and 4GB RAM less than a week ago. I've been noticing a sleep issue that I believe is software-related. I talked to AppleCare and they agreed that it was probably a software issue. But since it is software-related, that should mean that the issue can be reproduced on any MBA with the same hardware, and I was wondering if anyone else has had the same problem or can reproduce it.

I have tried resetting SMC, but it doesn't help.

I am running 10.8.4 ML. If you're running the same version, here's how to induce this issue:

1. Go to Energy Saver in your System Preferences.

2. In the Battery section, change your Display Sleep timer to the minimum (1 min) and make sure "Put the hard disk to sleep when possible" is CHECKED.

3. Take your MBA off of the charger if it isn't already.

4. Idle at the desktop; your display should dim, then sleep in about a minute.

5. When the display goes completely dark, wait around 25 seconds.

6. Wake up your MBA with the keyboard, then log in if you have to and use your computer normally.

7. If the issue can be reproduced, your MBA will go into hardware sleep within ~30 seconds.

Now repeat the steps with the hard disk checkbox UNCHECKED.

Here's my complete shot-in-the-dark hypothesis: The checkbox enables the MBA to put the hardware to sleep very soon after the display sleeps (e.g. the same sleep as if you closed the lid). So it activates a timer when the display sleeps, and as the timer reaches zero, it commands the hardware to go into sleep mode. However, when you wake the display up after it sleeps, the timer somehow isn't cancelled and continues to induce hardware sleep when it hits zero.

If anyone running 10.8.4 with the same hardware can try this out, I'd be forever grateful.

Thanks in advance.

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jun 27, 2013 6:16 PM

Reply
7 replies

Jul 29, 2013 4:25 AM in response to Heeshung

I have a Macbook Air 11, i7 Moutain Lion 10.8.4, 8G RAM 512 SSD with a case of Narcolepsy


I have used your steps above and it reproduces the Sleep after sleep issue. However turning off the HDD checkbox as sugested changed nothing. The isssue still presents its self.


My machine has had a sleep over at the Apple store and the Genius' couldn't replicate or find any hardware fault. SMC was reset and full diagnostics and stress tests were run.

Nov 24, 2014 10:40 AM in response to chickenmanaust

Please guys... I object to the term narcolepsy used in this context in this forum. Narcolepsy is a serious problem for those unfortunate enough to suffer from it. I suffer from Epilepsy and also am experiencing this frustrating Mac issue. Please check-out my post showing my latest repair details from Apple under the Apple Care programme (Mid 2013 Macbook Air fully charged but wont power on). Cheers guys. :-)

2013 13" MBA Sleep Issue

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