Energy Saver quit working

I suspect that there is a preference file somewhere that has gone bad and needs replacing, but can not find any.
Chester K wrote on :

All of a sudden I noticed that my computer would not go to sleep automatically any more. I can make it go to sleep manually but the Energy Saving settings just will not put it to sleep. I have checked to make sure no applications were running that might keep it from sleeping.
In fact, after I restart and just wait for it to go to sleep it will not sleep unless I manually put it to sleep.

I suspect that there is a preference file somewhere that has gone bad and needs replacing, but can not find any. Is there any .plist files that I can trash to try to get it working again? If so, where might I find them?

Jolly Roger replied on :

In article DoNotReply-8B38BD.21465714022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

All of a sudden I noticed that my computer would not go to sleep automatically any more. I can make it go to sleep manually but the Energy Saving settings just will not put it to sleep. I have checked to make sure no applications were running that might keep it from sleeping.
In fact, after I restart and just wait for it to go to sleep it will not sleep unless I manually put it to sleep.

I suspect that there is a preference file somewhere that has gone bad and needs replacing, but can not find any. Is there any .plist files that I can trash to try to get it working again? If so, where might I find them?

I would more suspect that a process is running that is keeping it from sleeping. You might try logging out and back in, or restarting the computer, to see if it clears up.

Chester K replied on :

In article jollyroger-FDBBC7.21150214022008@redacted.invalid, Jolly Roger jollyroger@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article DoNotReply-8B38BD.21465714022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

All of a sudden I noticed that my computer would not go to sleep automatically any more. I can make it go to sleep manually but the Energy Saving settings just will not put it to sleep. I have checked to make sure no applications were running that might keep it from sleeping.
In fact, after I restart and just wait for it to go to sleep it will not sleep unless I manually put it to sleep.

I suspect that there is a preference file somewhere that has gone bad and needs replacing, but can not find any. Is there any .plist files that I can trash to try to get it working again? If so, where might I find them?

I would more suspect that a process is running that is keeping it from sleeping. You might try logging out and back in, or restarting the computer, to see if it clears up.

That was my first suspect too but I tried turning everything I could OFF and then restarted several times. I am pretty sure the computer is completely idle but won't sleep automatically. The only thing left I can think of is a bad preference file but can't find any related .plist at all. Thanks anyway.

Jolly Roger replied on :

In article DoNotReply-79074D.22265414022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article jollyroger-FDBBC7.21150214022008@redacted.invalid, Jolly Roger jollyroger@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article DoNotReply-8B38BD.21465714022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

All of a sudden I noticed that my computer would not go to sleep automatically any more. I can make it go to sleep manually but the Energy Saving settings just will not put it to sleep. I have checked to make sure no applications were running that might keep it from sleeping.
In fact, after I restart and just wait for it to go to sleep it will not sleep unless I manually put it to sleep.

I suspect that there is a preference file somewhere that has gone bad and needs replacing, but can not find any. Is there any .plist files that I can trash to try to get it working again? If so, where might I find them?

I would more suspect that a process is running that is keeping it from sleeping. You might try logging out and back in, or restarting the computer, to see if it clears up.

That was my first suspect too but I tried turning everything I could OFF and then restarted several times. I am pretty sure the computer is completely idle but won't sleep automatically. The only thing left I can think of is a bad preference file but can't find any related .plist at all. Thanks anyway.

It can also be that the power manager unit (PMU) or system management controller (SMC) needs to be reset. What model Mac do you have?

Chester K replied on :

In article jollyroger-574D2B.21494814022008@redacted.invalid, Jolly Roger jollyroger@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article DoNotReply-79074D.22265414022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article jollyroger-FDBBC7.21150214022008@redacted.invalid, Jolly Roger jollyroger@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article DoNotReply-8B38BD.21465714022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

All of a sudden I noticed that my computer would not go to sleep automatically any more. I can make it go to sleep manually but the Energy Saving settings just will not put it to sleep. I have checked to make sure no applications were running that might keep it from sleeping.
In fact, after I restart and just wait for it to go to sleep it will not sleep unless I manually put it to sleep.

I suspect that there is a preference file somewhere that has gone bad and needs replacing, but can not find any. Is there any .plist files that I can trash to try to get it working again? If so, where might I find them?

I would more suspect that a process is running that is keeping it from sleeping. You might try logging out and back in, or restarting the computer, to see if it clears up.

That was my first suspect too but I tried turning everything I could OFF and then restarted several times. I am pretty sure the computer is completely idle but won't sleep automatically. The only thing left I can think of is a bad preference file but can't find any related .plist at all. Thanks anyway.

It can also be that the power manager unit (PMU) or system management controller (SMC) needs to be reset. What model Mac do you have?

1GHz 17 inch Flat screen iMac running 10.5.2. Everything else runs perfectly (as far as I know). I appreciate your trying to help me out here, but all I really need to know is the name of and path to the preference file that controls this function to make the computer sleep after a certain amount of time. I've been working on this for a couple of days now and have a strong feeling that once I find it and trash it; Energy Saver will build a new one and it should work again.

billy replied on :

Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid writes:

all I really need to know is the name of and path to the preference file that controls this function to make the computer sleep after a certain amount of time.

Open the System Preferences, change the idle time until sleep setting (any change will do), close the System Preferences, then open the appropiate preferences folder (I don't know where that might be for 10.5, but it's likely /Library/Preferences or the same path from in your home directory), then type Command 2 (hold down the Command key and press the 2 key) to select the List View, then click on the Date header until the sort is by descending date, and the file you are looking for will be at or very near the top of the list.

If trashing what you think is the offending file doesn't work, then open a terminal window, issue the command ps -ax and post the results. That is, something you're not aware of may be running and preventing the computer from sleeping.

Billy Y..

me replied on :

Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

1GHz 17 inch Flat screen iMac running 10.5.2. Everything else runs perfectly (as far as I know). I appreciate your trying to help me out here, but all I really need to know is the name of and path to the preference file that controls this function to make the computer sleep after a certain amount of time. I've been working on this for a couple of days now and have a strong feeling that once I find it and trash it; Energy Saver will build a new one and it should work again.

/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.PowerManagement.plist

Jolly Roger replied on :

In article DoNotReply-A757F6.23071314022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article jollyroger-574D2B.21494814022008@redacted.invalid, Jolly Roger jollyroger@redacted.invalid wrote:

It can also be that the power manager unit (PMU) or system management controller (SMC) needs to be reset. What model Mac do you have?

1GHz 17 inch Flat screen iMac running 10.5.2.

Try this procedure:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303446

I appreciate your trying to help me out here, but all I really need to know is the name of and path to the preference file that controls this function to make the computer sleep after a certain amount of time. I've been working on this for a couple of days now and have a strong feeling that once I find it and trash it; Energy Saver will build a new one and it should work again.

I see others have given you the path. You should know, by now, if the problem is the preferences file. I doubt it, but you never know.

Chester K replied on :

In article jollyroger-9AA4DC.04493615022008@redacted.invalid, Jolly Roger jollyroger@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article DoNotReply-A757F6.23071314022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article jollyroger-574D2B.21494814022008@redacted.invalid, Jolly Roger jollyroger@redacted.invalid wrote:

It can also be that the power manager unit (PMU) or system management controller (SMC) needs to be reset. What model Mac do you have?

1GHz 17 inch Flat screen iMac running 10.5.2.

Try this procedure:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303446

The URL is for an intel based iMac. I have the G4 PPC - the half mellon base one. I could not find anything for the PPC based PMC at the apple site.

I see others have given you the path. You should know, by now, if the problem is the preferences file. I doubt it, but you never know.

Throwing out preference files don't help either. You were right.

After playing around some more, I did find that force quitting a HP printer process called HP IO Classic Proxy from the Activity Monitor did solve the problem but only until a restart of the computer. The funny part is that I have two other machines that will go to sleep while HP IO Classic Proxy is running.

Now my question is - why would Energy saver work with the process running in a G5 iMac and a MBP but not in the G4 iMac?

Andy replied on :

In article DoNotReply-8382B4.22232015022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article jollyroger-9AA4DC.04493615022008@redacted.invalid, Jolly Roger jollyroger@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article DoNotReply-A757F6.23071314022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article jollyroger-574D2B.21494814022008@redacted.invalid, Jolly Roger jollyroger@redacted.invalid wrote:

It can also be that the power manager unit (PMU) or system management controller (SMC) needs to be reset. What model Mac do you have?

1GHz 17 inch Flat screen iMac running 10.5.2.

Try this procedure:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303446

The URL is for an intel based iMac. I have the G4 PPC - the half mellon base one. I could not find anything for the PPC based PMC at the apple site.

I see others have given you the path. You should know, by now, if the problem is the preferences file. I doubt it, but you never know.

Throwing out preference files don't help either. You were right.

After playing around some more, I did find that force quitting a HP printer process called HP IO Classic Proxy from the Activity Monitor did solve the problem but only until a restart of the computer. The funny part is that I have two other machines that will go to sleep while HP IO Classic Proxy is running.

Now my question is - why would Energy saver work with the process running in a G5 iMac and a MBP but not in the G4 iMac?

I've found G4s have more 'issues' with sleeping/waking from sleep than other Macs. A lot of the time my G4 MDD Powermac will shit itself on waking from sleep, or wake itself up 1/2 a second after being put to sleep manually, or just not wake at all (hard reset required) sometimes.
Kernel panics, too.

There is no pattern to this behaviour, it can be fine for a week, and then fall over at random.

Cheers, Andy.

Jolly Roger replied on :

In article DoNotReply-8382B4.22232015022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article jollyroger-9AA4DC.04493615022008@redacted.invalid, Jolly Roger jollyroger@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article DoNotReply-A757F6.23071314022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article jollyroger-574D2B.21494814022008@redacted.invalid, Jolly Roger jollyroger@redacted.invalid wrote:

It can also be that the power manager unit (PMU) or system management controller (SMC) needs to be reset. What model Mac do you have?

1GHz 17 inch Flat screen iMac running 10.5.2.

Try this procedure:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303446

The URL is for an intel based iMac.

Did you look at the actual procedure? It'll work fine regardless of which iMac you have, I believe:

  1. From the Apple menu, choose Shut Down (or if the computer is not responding, hold the power button until it turns off).

  2. Unplug all cables from the computer, including the power cord and any display cables.

  3. Wait at least 15 seconds.

  4. Plug the power cord back in, making sure the power button is not being pressed at the time. Then reconnect your keyboard and mouse to the computer.

  5. Press the power button on the back to start up your computer.

I have the G4 PPC - the half mellon base one. I could not find anything for the PPC based PMC at the apple site.

Apple does provide instructions for your iMac too, but it involves pressing the PMU reset button:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=95165

You may want to try the Intel iMac procedure above first, simply because it's easier.

I see others have given you the path. You should know, by now, if the problem is the preferences file. I doubt it, but you never know.

Throwing out preference files don't help either. You were right.

I figured as much.

After playing around some more, I did find that force quitting a HP printer process called HP IO Classic Proxy from the Activity Monitor did solve the problem but only until a restart of the computer. The funny part is that I have two other machines that will go to sleep while HP IO Classic Proxy is running.

Now my question is - why would Energy saver work with the process running in a G5 iMac and a MBP but not in the G4 iMac?

God question.

Is the "HP IO Classic Proxy" process part of HP tools you installed, or is it part of Apple's built-in HP printer drivers in Mac OS X? If the latter, have you considered uninstalling whatever HP stuff you installed on that Mac? Apple's built-in drivers may do the job just fine on their own.

Andy replied on :

In article no-0B0C9F.14425716022008@redacted.invalid, Andy no@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article DoNotReply-8382B4.22232015022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

Now my question is - why would Energy saver work with the process running in a G5 iMac and a MBP but not in the G4 iMac?

I've found G4s have more 'issues' with sleeping/waking from sleep than other Macs. A lot of the time my G4 MDD Powermac will shit itself on waking from sleep, or wake itself up 1/2 a second after being put to sleep manually, or just not wake at all (hard reset required) sometimes.
Kernel panics, too.

There is no pattern to this behaviour, it can be fine for a week, and then fall over at random.

Cheers, Andy.

And yes, I apologise - this information doesn't really help you with the problem you're trying to troubleshoot.

Cheers, Andy.

Chester K replied on :

In article DoNotReply-8B38BD.21465714022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

All of a sudden I noticed that my computer would not go to sleep automatically any more. I can make it go to sleep manually but the Energy Saving settings just will not put it to sleep. I have checked to make sure no applications were running that might keep it from sleeping.
In fact, after I restart and just wait for it to go to sleep it will not sleep unless I manually put it to sleep.

I suspect that there is a preference file somewhere that has gone bad and needs replacing, but can not find any. Is there any .plist files that I can trash to try to get it working again? If so, where might I find them?

Thanks to all that responded to this post. With your help, I have determined that the problem is not a preference or PMG resetting, but a HP printer process called HP IO Classic Proxy. Somehow it is preventing the computer from going to sleep. It's from a "old" HP PSC 1350 print, scan, copy machine. Fact is that you can not even install that printer driver software in 10.5.x. You must have it installed before 10.5 and then upgrade to 10.5 to make it work.

My solution will be to retire the printer and replace it with a different brand that writes better drivers for the Mac. Thanks again to all that responded.

Jolly Roger replied on :

In article DoNotReply-3704C5.12445616022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article DoNotReply-8B38BD.21465714022008@redacted.invalid, Chester K DoNotReply@redacted.invalid wrote:

All of a sudden I noticed that my computer would not go to sleep automatically any more. I can make it go to sleep manually but the Energy Saving settings just will not put it to sleep. I have checked to make sure no applications were running that might keep it from sleeping.
In fact, after I restart and just wait for it to go to sleep it will not sleep unless I manually put it to sleep.

I suspect that there is a preference file somewhere that has gone bad and needs replacing, but can not find any. Is there any .plist files that I can trash to try to get it working again? If so, where might I find them?

Thanks to all that responded to this post. With your help, I have determined that the problem is not a preference or PMG resetting, but a HP printer process called HP IO Classic Proxy. Somehow it is preventing the computer from going to sleep. It's from a "old" HP PSC 1350 print, scan, copy machine. Fact is that you can not even install that printer driver software in 10.5.x. You must have it installed before 10.5 and then upgrade to 10.5 to make it work.

My solution will be to retire the printer and replace it with a different brand that writes better drivers for the Mac. Thanks again to all that responded.

You'll be better off without that software, if it's truly that buggy to begin with. ; )