iMac Screen sleeping during work

[johncgalloway]

Hi

Hope you guys can help. My iMac (2013ish model) keeps sleeping, even as I type or move my mouse.
We have had issues with power in the office, even though our Macs are on surge protection and (supposedly) UPS red plugs. (Supposedly UPS because we loose power sometimes.)

However I can't help but think this seems more like a software issue. Usually it ends up with me having to press / press the power button while clicking like some crazed OCD maniac.

Anyone else had this before?



Kind Regards


me.

 

[bwana]

Whats the output if you open terminal and do a pmset -g?

 

[johncgalloway]

Active Profiles:
AC Power -1*
Currently in use:
hibernatemode 0
halfdim 1
womp 1
networkoversleep 0
sleep 0
Sleep On Power Button 1
ttyskeepawake 1
hibernatefile /var/vm/sleepimage
autorestart 0
disksleep 0
displaysleep 180

Whats the output if you open terminal and do a pmset -g?

 

[bwana]

Active Profiles:
AC Power -1*
Currently in use:
hibernatemode 0
halfdim 1
womp 1
networkoversleep 0
sleep 0
Sleep On Power Button 1
ttyskeepawake 1
hibernatefile /var/vm/sleepimage
autorestart 0
disksleep 0
displaysleep 180

Ok - go into your energy saver in the system prefs and slide the "Turn display off after" bar to never. Right now it's probably set to three hours.

 

[johncgalloway]

Ok - go into your energy saver in the system prefs and slide the "Turn display off after" bar to never. Right now it's probably set to three hours.

Okay, I've done that - I have an app I use on the laptop called caffeine to keep it up, but it seems not to work.
I hope this adjustment will though.


Just a question, the Mac tends to get extremely hot at the back top left corner (my left as I'm facing it.),
I've downloaded a monitor.




That secondary hits 72 sometimes. Is that normal?

I've also noted a slight "water" mark on the inside of the screen (almost like condensation left a kind of stain), apparently something that happens with these iMacs due to the way they are put together. Is this something we should have the tech have a look at?

 

[Vohligh]

InsomniaX is a small utility that also keeps your mac from sleeping.

 

[bwana]

InsomniaX is a small utility that also keeps your mac from sleeping.

It's also intended for Macbooks so you can run them with the lid closed. I can't think of any reason why you would need an app like that for a desktop - all that stuff is configurable via the Energy Saver pref pane.

 

[johncgalloway]

It's also intended for Macbooks so you can run them with the lid closed. I can't think of any reason why you would need an app like that for a desktop - all that stuff is configurable via the Energy Saver pref pane.

I know... I was so completely flustered by the screen shutting down I thought maybe a little caffeine would help, since Macs "feel" and experience "stress' etc. (Mac tech speak I heard once, thought the man was gonna tell me the machine runs on fairy dust and the dreams of children.) Anyway, the 3 hour to NEVER sleep thing seems to have worked though, I would like to know how come the OS thinks 3 hours goes by every other 10 - 20 minutes?

 

[Ninja'd]

Give it a written warning.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Try a PRAM and SMC reset.

PRAM is done simply holding Alt + Command + P + R on restart (screen will go black and you should hear the ding, hold it in for three dings just to be sure).

SMC is model dependent just Google it.

 

[johncgalloway]

Try a PRAM and SMC reset.

PRAM is done simply holding Alt + Command + P + R on restart (screen will go black and you should hear the ding, hold it in for three dings just to be sure).

SMC is model dependent just Google it.

Unfortunately this morning the machine started the sleeping thing again so it seems that putting everything to never wasn't working.


So thanks for this tip, I hope it works! I have actually done it before, months ago for some reason I can't remember.
Anyway, I just did the Alt+Command+P+R prior to this reply, in fact the "Tadaaa" sound played 3 times (I think I held it in to long) right now I'm Googlin' for the other one and will do the SMC restart, asap.

Fingers are crossed, I've turned my iPhone towards Cupertino and prayers have been said to Lord Jobs.
(Unfortunately I haven't got a Fanderroid to offer as a sacrifice, so I've opted for cheap incense instead.)










PS. Damned shame I'm an atheist though... hopefully HE hasn't noticed.

 

[johncgalloway]

Unfortunately this morning the machine started the sleeping thing again so it seems that putting everything to never wasn't working.


So thanks for this tip, I hope it works! I have actually done it before, months ago for some reason I can't remember.
Anyway, I just did the Alt+Command+P+R prior to this reply, in fact the "Tadaaa" sound played 3 times (I think I held it in to long) right now I'm Googlin' for the other one and will do the SMC restart, asap.

Fingers are crossed, I've turned my iPhone towards Cupertino and prayers have been said to Lord Jobs.
(Unfortunately I haven't got a Fanderroid to offer as a sacrifice, so I've opted for cheap incense instead.)

PS. Damned shame I'm an atheist though... hopefully HE hasn't noticed.

Well, so far, so good. Not had a blackout in a bit now... will see how this goes on. If it solved the problem, well then you have my eternal gratitude, minus eternity plus another 10 years to be on the safe side. (What with loadshedding, my alcohol consumption might go up, which doesn't bode well for my liver.)













Okay forum, I have now lengthened my response by more than 1 character. Happy? Mmm? Better be.

 

[johncgalloway]

Well, so far, so good. Not had a blackout in a bit now... will see how this goes on. If it solved the problem, well then you have my eternal gratitude, minus eternity plus another 10 years to be on the safe side. (What with loadshedding, my alcohol consumption might go up, which doesn't bode well for my liver.)



Okay forum, I have now lengthened my response by more than 1 character. Happy? Mmm? Better be.

Well that didn't last very long.


I dunno. It just happened a lot. To the point that I'm beginning to suspect someone is remotely sleeping my machine. Is that even possible? Anyway, I was jumping in between artworks (I use the "distribute" thingamabob iOS has when I press F3) and it blacked out twice. To the point that it did it 3 x in quick succession.


I really can't figure what's causing this.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Well that didn't last very long.


I dunno. It just happened a lot. To the point that I'm beginning to suspect someone is remotely sleeping my machine. Is that even possible? Anyway, I was jumping in between artworks (I use the "distribute" thingamabob iOS has when I press F3) and it blacked out twice. To the point that it did it 3 x in quick succession.


I really can't figure what's causing this.

Don't you possibly have Hot Corners configured to put the display to sleep or start hte screensaver?

Did you do the SMC reset?

Resetting the SMC for Mac Pro, Intel-based iMac, Intel-based Mac mini, or Intel-based Xserve
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord.
Wait fifteen seconds.
Attach the computer's power cord.
Wait five seconds, then press the power button to turn on the computer.
Note: For Intel-based Xserve computers that are not responding, you can shut down locally, or by using remote commands, or by pressing and holding the power button for five seconds.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Okay seems this might also be a thermal protection issue.

Have a look and check that your air vents aren't obstructed and maybe have a listen if your fans are working.

Clean what you can.

 

[johncgalloway]

Okay seems this might also be a thermal protection issue.

Have a look and check that your air vents aren't obstructed and maybe have a listen if your fans are working.

Clean what you can.

And now to find an easy way to check fan speeds... seriously though, why can't these OS people build g*ddamn monitors into their OS as a basic tool. Would it kill them?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Well obviously the monitoring is there if that's the reason its switching off.

Just not easy GUI access and to be honest you don't really need it so why worry with it.

Probably some terminal command to get the info though.

 

[bwana]

And now to find an easy way to check fan speeds... seriously though, why can't these OS people build g*ddamn monitors into their OS as a basic tool. Would it kill them?

smcFanControl?

 

[johncgalloway]

smcFanControl?

Lol, I wanted to DL that, but now we have the answer.


It's going to the Digicape workshop. Tomorrow.


So my next topic will be.



How do you connect a Macbook to a 24" iMac (5 years old).

 

[bwana]

How do you connect a Macbook to a 24" iMac (5 years old).

Target disk mode.

I'm assuming the 5 yr old iMac has firewire 400 or 800 - what about the macbook?