iMac starts up by itself

Question

iMac starts up by itself

my Intel iMac starts up by itself for no apparent reason after it was shut down
using the shut-down command in the Apply drop-down menu. When I come
back some time later I find it is running and I shut it down again - only to find it running again when I return to the room the next time. This does not happen
when I shut it down using the power button on the back.
I have already done a SMC reset and have thrown out some plist preference
lists (as Apple recommended) It has made no difference.
It would be quite simple to always use the power button to shut it down - but
then I find that Elgatos EyeTV will not start the computor when a program is
scheduled for recording. Yes I have checked the Energy Saver to make sure it
is not set for automatic turn-on.
Yes I have also checked EyeTV to make sure that nothing is scheduled for
recording.

I am just over the 90day free Apple phone support and they now want payment for further help.
Looking for some good suggestions,

Walter

iMac (Intel core duo) Mac OS X (10.4.9)

iMac (Intel core duo) Mac OS X (10.4.9)

iMac (Intel core duo) Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on May 2, 2007 3:07 PM

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Answer 1

JMEH

Level 4

2,482 points

May 2, 2007 4:23 PM in response to Walter Haenel

Hi there,

Personally, I would disconnect the Elgatos Eye TV for a day or so (or even just the time needed to see if your mac stays off) and see if the problem persists. Post back with results...

Good luck, Rick

iMac G5 iSight 20" - 30G iPOD in Slimming Black - WD 500G FW - Mac OS X (10.4.8) - HP Pav 15" WS and Toshiba Sat 17" WS LP's - Canon 20D & A620 Kodak P880

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Answer 2

May 2, 2007 4:54 PM in response to Walter Haenel

Walter,

I would also say you probably have a naughty peripheral that is mis-behaving.

I have had this problem before, although with my G4 SnakeBite tower. It was caused by a self-powered USB hub attached to the 15" Studio, which was also self powered (non-ADC). I resolved the problem by plugging the hub into the tower instead.

Your situation is a bit different with the iMac, but I feel the EyeTV, being a self-powered peripheral that has the ability to turn on your machine (even though you say it is not set to come on during the times you are experiencing the problem) is probably the culprit. I would strongly suggest you disconnect the EyeTV for a day or two and see if the problem still occurrs.

Thomas

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Answer 3

May 3, 2007 4:23 AM in response to Thomas Mastin

thank you for your suggestions.
Have disconnected the EyeTV stick from the iMac - but have not trashed the
EyeTV software.
The iMac switched itself on approx 45 mins after shut down with the shut down
comand. EyeTV is still disconnected.

What next ?

Walter

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Answer 4

JMEH

Level 4

2,482 points

May 3, 2007 5:14 AM in response to Walter Haenel

Hi again,

With all peripherals disconnected... now try resetting SMC: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303446 - do not connect anything back except mouse and keyboard and see if you can shut it down...

Also, what kind of mouse and keyboard do you have, are you doing any networking with other computers, printers etc etc etc...

Rick

iMac G5 iSight 20" - 30G iPOD in Slimming Black - WD 500G FW - Mac OS X (10.4.8) - HP Pav 15" WS and Toshiba Sat 17" WS LP's - Canon 20D & A620 Kodak P880

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Answer 5

Jpfresno

Level 4

3,020 points

May 3, 2007 12:33 PM in response to Walter Haenel

Hi Walter, Welcome back to Apple's Users Help Users Forums.

See if you have any alarms set in iCal. I have seen threads where that was the solution. A forum search on ical would be appropriate.

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Answer 6

May 4, 2007 6:16 AM in response to Jpfresno

Hi Rick, and Thomas,

have done another SMC reset and minutes after connecting everything - that
is - original keyboard, original mighty mouse, and Epson printer the iMac
had switched itself back on (EyeTV still disconnected). I don't do any networking. I checked iCal and have no dates set in it (I don't use iCal).
I have also an iPod dock connected and an ethernet cable.

Regards

Walter

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Answer 7

iMac973

Level 1

10 points

May 4, 2007 10:20 AM in response to Walter Haenel

Hi, I have the same problem (10 days ca.). I have done an update of Eye TV and security update on 20/04/2007. From then I have this trouble.
I've tried evrything...but nothing seems to work.
Sorry for my english, I'm italian.
Regards.

iMac Core 2 Duo 20" Mac OS X (10.4.9)

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Answer 8

Matteo S.

Level 1

110 points

May 4, 2007 10:52 AM in response to Walter Haenel

so is this a software problem? it means that when you turn off the mac there are certain processes that remain active and are able to wake up the computer. does anyone know where this processes reside? there must be a list somewhere (maybe activity monitor?).

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Answer 9

iMac973

Level 1

10 points

May 5, 2007 5:57 AM in response to Matteo S.

I don't know if it's a software problem, but I've noticed that after an update (eye TV update and Apple secutity update) my iMac (late 2006) it statrs up by itself (like Walter Haenel' iMac).
I hope that Apple's technician made something to solve this proble.
In an italian forum I've found another person that after the update his computer (iBook) sturts up by itself...

Help please!!!!

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Answer 10

den.thed

Level 10

92,956 points

May 5, 2007 6:54 AM in response to Walter Haenel

Hello Walter and others!

Go to: "System Preferences / Energy Saver / Options" and "uncheck" the "box" for "Restart automatically after a power failure"

If you still seem to have an issue, and are using the power botton to sleep or shut down? Then you also may want to uncheck "Allow power button to sleep the computer" and try using "Apple Menu / Sleep or Shut Down"

Dennis

17" iMac Intel Core Duo 1.5GB Ram Mac OS X (10.4.9) Maxtor 300GB FireWire Creative Inspire 2.1 2G Nano

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Answer 11

iMac973

Level 1

10 points

May 6, 2007 2:05 AM in response to den.thed

Hi den.thed,
I've unchecked the "box" for "Restart automatically after a power failure" and "Allow power button to sleep the computer" but the problem persist.
I have noticed that my iMac starts automaticalli always at the same tima (between 17,00 to 18,30). Infact, yestarday, untill the 17 approximately it was "shut down", but when I came back home (19,30) it was power on!!!
I don't undarstand what it be. I deleted some programs update recentely (VLC media player etc.). but nothing!!!
I begin seriously to being preoccupied...
I'm going to reinstall the entirely Operating System...

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Answer 12

iMac973

Level 1

10 points

May 6, 2007 11:02 AM in response to iMac973

Ok, the problem seems to be resolved... I have deleted the file named "Wakein" located in /Libreria/Application Support/EyeTv...
Then I deleted and then reinstalled Eye Tv and...OK! my iMac doesn't restart by itself!!!

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Answer 13

May 6, 2007 4:43 PM in response to iMac973

Hi Denis and everyone else,
on Saturday I completely de-installed the EyeTV software and pulled all cables out after shutting the iMac down with the Apple pull-down shut-down comand.
It made no difference, the iMac turned itself back on.
On Sunday I followed your suggestion Denis and looked at the Energy Saver.
The "RESTART AUTOMATICALLY AFTER ...." was always unchecked. The
"ALLOW POWER BUTTON TO SLEEP . . . " function was checked and I unchecked it.
From then on the iMac no longer turned itself on (using the shut-down comand) - except when a program was scheduled to be recorded in EyeTV
the computer is still turned on at other times before the scheduled time.
This Monday morning I followed iMac973s suggestion and deleted the Wakein
file also, only to find that EyeTV was no longer able to start the iMac to record
a scheduled program - it missed the start time and I started the computer myself. EyeTV refused to open, it asked for the admin/authorization to install
something - which was the Wakein file . This file is back where it was before
and I believe EyeTV can't operate without it (maybe iMac973 can confirm this)
(Wakein file is an exe file. I always thought that such exe files only exist in Windows Oper/systems.)
To summarize,
a part solution for me is to have the Energy Saver set as you suggested Denis
and then the iMac won't turn itself on any more. The task of recording TV programs would have to given back to the old video recorder which means that taped programs have to be watched on an old CRT televion set (no fun).

I am more happy today but still confused,

best regards

Walter

Message was edited by: Walter Haenel

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Answer 14

den.thed

Level 10

92,956 points

May 6, 2007 5:36 PM in response to Walter Haenel

Walter

Well the truth is I was not sure, but problems can be caused by more than one thing. The only reason I even mentioned it was 1. in case a power disruption was causing a problem! 2. to be sure the Mac was shutdown properly! I also saw the other posts about the Wakein file and hope everyone can sort it out.

Dennis

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Answer 15

May 6, 2007 9:20 PM in response to Walter Haenel

Walter,

If I read your and Denis' posts correctly, the problem was "solved" by deleting the file in /Library/Application Support/EyeTV? Although, the problem may not be solved to your liking, it seems that your issue is due to bugs in the EyeTV software, not Apple's hardware or software.

So, for this reason, I suggest you mark your question as "Solved" giving credit to the person(s) who most helped with the issue.

I then suggest you contact the software developer of EyeTV and let them know what mischief their software has been causing, and hopefully, they will address the issue in a future release.

If, on the other hand, I misread your post and you still believe this problem is an Apple hard/software issue, then by all means, leave the thread open.

Cheers!

Thomas

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