Mavericks 10.9-10.9.1 bug/issue/problem: external drives connected through thunderbolt or firewire are not put to sleep when iMac goes to sleep

Thanks, definitely an interesting utility, may have to consider it; but the flaw in OS X Mavericks should be fixed. I'm sure Apple has had a multiude of complaints, we just need the correction.

10.9.3 DID NOT fix the issue either.

You do have FREE 90 day support on OS upgrades even if your warranty is expired.

Just call Apple Care at 1-800-275-2273 with your Mac Serial Number and ask to speak

with a senoir advisor about your issue with Mavericks, 10.9.1, 10.9.2 and now 10.9.3.

http://www.apple.com/contact/

OS X 10.9.4 update just went live and I'm updating now. Hope the FW sleep issue will finally be gone! Has anyone else tried 10.9.4 yet?

I tested the public beta for non developers a couple of days ago and nothing changed for me, any of my Firewire drive gets ejected unproperly upon sleep

I made a feedback through the feedback assistant, but honestly since 10.10 is coming my hope for a proper firewire support from mavericks is gone.

Kind of strange that Apple just can't support firewire properly anymore with 10.9.

I guess I should stop supporting Apple my self as well 😁

10.9.4 UPDATE still did not fix the problem thats been around since the birth of Mavericks.

Both FireWire and Thunderbolt drives do not go to sleep... ever unless I manually eject them.

I am sure someone has opened a case reference this problem besides me but I went ahead and opened another case. This is the second case I have opened and after several exchanges of questions and no solution I received the following as a final reply:

"Just wanted to let you know that the situation your having is under investigation and a future update may resolve it. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Let me know if you have anymore questions."

I find it hard to believe that they are not aware of the problem. I know sleep works with USB 2 which is what I have been forced to use since my Mac Mini 2011 does not have USB 3. From the above reply it appears to me that they realize there is a problem. Hopefully the next update to Mavericks will address this issue.

I do not have any Thunderbolt drives but I think that the problem may exist there also.

Added information: I use an app called "StorageStatus" which lets you see when the drives are supposed to sleep. It appears that the system is telling the drives to sleep after 10 minutes but it does not happen. They continue to spin.

I have done testing on newer JMicron chipsets that are used in enclosures (one example is a MacAlly S530U3B) which correctly honors the sleep request .

Does Apple care if your hard drive burns out?

Older chipsets did not implement such commands correctly. Mavericks switched to sending the newer commands, which older chip sets do not recognize or honor.

Either the consumer upgrades to newer chipset enclosures, or the Mavericks (or the not-yet-realeased version) can put the old command back. With the TB-to-FW bridge, the challenge is that the TB layer may throw such commands away because it does not recognize the older command codes.

I have a Mini Stack on order. Is the chipset in the enclosure or the hard drive itself?

If this is the Newer Tech (OWC) one, you should verify with OWC. Typically their website lists the chipsets they use.

I have had to stay on older OSes due to Mavericks breaking a lot of stuff on older HW. I do not use Airport Utility 6.x because of issues with 6.x. I am still running the Windows 5.6.1 version. I am glad that Apple has stayed away from upgrading the Windows side for AU.

OWC advised it is JMicron 355 chipset that has eSATA, FW800 (1394B) and USB 3.0 ports attached.

I also use this one which seems to be fine. http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MEMD3F0GBSW/ even though it has a different chipset. I suggest testing it within the equipment return window and verifying that it works, because there may be firmware differences.

OWC is usually good with their products.

Well I am sorry to say that the MiniStack does not sleep with Firewire. I needed the enclosure so I am now using it with USB 2 and living in hope that Apple comes through with the solution in the next update. I have considered a Lacie Thunderbolt to USB 3 converter but would hate to get one and find out it does not work either since according to OssiesMac the problem is happening with Thunderbolt also.

You may want to use Jettison, which may help a bit.

Appreciate the suggestion however I do not have a problem with the drive sleeping when I manually put the Mac in Sleep mode. Problem is the drive will not sleep after inactivity when the "Put Hard Drives to Sleep When Possible" option is checked under Energy Saver when connected via Firewire. Works fine on USB2. External Hard Drives never stop spinning.