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Blue Roses

Q: My hard drive will not shut down in sleep mode

My hard drive runs permanently when my iMac 2011 model is put into sleep mode or times out into sleep mode. I assume it is the hard drive as i can hear something  quietly spinning inside.and the computer is slightly warm. this has only started over the last few weeks. Before this the computer was completely silent and gave off no heat. the operating system is El Capitan.

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011), OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Jul 20, 2016 9:18 AM

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Q: My hard drive will not shut down in sleep mode

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  • by Joseph_S.,Helpful

    Joseph_S. Joseph_S. Jul 21, 2016 7:47 AM in response to Blue Roses
    Community Specialists
    Jul 21, 2016 7:47 AM in response to Blue Roses

    Hello Blue Roses, 

     

    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. 

     

    I see that you are having an issue with your iMac's hard disk running when your computer goes into sleep mode. I know how important it is to make sure that you idle your hard disk when you need to. I'll be more than happy to assist you with this. 

     

    You can enable the option 'Put hard disks to sleep when possible' in your iMac's Energy Saver preferences by following this path: Apple menu > System Preferences > Energy Saver > Put a check next to Put hard disks to sleep when possible. Once you've enabled this, test, and see if you get the same result with the hard disk spinning. 

     

    The following article has more information on the Energy Saver preferences:

    OS X El Capitan: Energy Saver preferences

     

    If you still have an issue after that, try to start your computer into safe mode and create a new user to see if you get the same result in both. This can help isolate the issue from the current user and the entire system. The following articles will help:

    OS X El Capitan: Start up in safe mode

    OS X El Capitan: Set up users on your Mac​

     

    Cheers! 

  • by Blue Roses,

    Blue Roses Blue Roses Jul 21, 2016 9:01 AM in response to Joseph_S.
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 21, 2016 9:01 AM in response to Joseph_S.

    Thank you for your suggestions .I did none of the above . But I have found out what was causing the problem.  which  was to do with Changing a wireless router a week or so earlier. To cure the problem go to "System Preferences" and select the "Networks Icon" when the Networks Box opens at the top there is a text window that next to it says "Location". If it this showing. "Automatic". In this Box the internal and  back up hard drives will permanently remain spinning in Sleep Mode. However selected, manually or auto time out.  What you have to do if you haven't created your location already, is to create one! Eg. "Home". "Office". Or any other name, via the edit menu that appears when you select the blue up/down buttons to the right of this text box. I had already created a location name. "Home." But somehow it got changed unnoticed to "Automatic" when I was messing with the router.  Switching the location back to "Home." My iMac is back to normal and the drives are now shutting and going to sleep properly.