My iMac closes down automatically even if it is up or downloading but I cannot find a means of delaying shutdown until the current task is finished. I am on Big Sur 11.6 but this problem goes back years. In PREFERENCES, ENERGY SAVER I have checked "Prevent computer from sleeping when the display is off" and I have not checked "put hard drives to sleep when possible". Surely a computer should not shut down when it is working but I cannot locate any option to set the shutdown rules other than perhaps to never allow the display to close, if that is linked.
SOLVED IMac automatic closedown
- Thread starter Calperon
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Sounds like you have a rogue kernel extension running, probably installed by a third-party app. They can be difficult to track down, and will probably require a wipe and reinstall/migration from backup. Even with that, the errant program/kext might get restored in the migration.
In the meantime, while you ponder your strategy, you could use a temporary solution, if only to get your pressing tasks done. You wrote “other than perhaps to never allow the display to close.” Does that mean your task will keep running as long as the display is active? If so, here’s your quick fix:
Go to System Preferences -> Desktop & Screen Saver, click on the Screen Saver tab, click on Hot Corners…
This will let you to temporarily disable the screen saver from turning on. You can select any of the four corners of the screen to place your cursor and perform the command, shown by the choices available, and can be triggered either by placing the cursor in a corner, by itself, or with a key combination. You will want to choose “Disable Screen Saver.” As long as the cursor is there, the screen saver will not kick in. Remember, this is a temporary relief. You still need to trace the root of the problem.
I read about a script that this person uses to keep the cursor “jiggling” in order to fool the computer to sense that the mouse is constantly in motion. I will try to find that article. At the very least, it can be interesting.
In the meantime, while you ponder your strategy, you could use a temporary solution, if only to get your pressing tasks done. You wrote “other than perhaps to never allow the display to close.” Does that mean your task will keep running as long as the display is active? If so, here’s your quick fix:
Go to System Preferences -> Desktop & Screen Saver, click on the Screen Saver tab, click on Hot Corners…
This will let you to temporarily disable the screen saver from turning on. You can select any of the four corners of the screen to place your cursor and perform the command, shown by the choices available, and can be triggered either by placing the cursor in a corner, by itself, or with a key combination. You will want to choose “Disable Screen Saver.” As long as the cursor is there, the screen saver will not kick in. Remember, this is a temporary relief. You still need to trace the root of the problem.
I read about a script that this person uses to keep the cursor “jiggling” in order to fool the computer to sense that the mouse is constantly in motion. I will try to find that article. At the very least, it can be interesting.
I am grateful you have taken time to reply. Your thought about a rogue app that has been carried from from other installations prompts me to delete all those apps that once seemed useful but I no longer use. I must have killed 30 or so. I wonder if my problem though is linked to my other long term problem?
Restart has not worked for several upgrades. The spinning pin wheel spins away every few days and if it won't go I have to use the power button to close the iMac down and then to restart it. Mostly it will not then boot correctly but the progress line staggers about half way, blinks, tries again, then shuts down but on the screen is always then a large cursor which it has been suggested to me shows that the machine has dropped out of OS into LInux. I then repeat the power button routine until (so far) it eventually starts. Yesterday it worked only on try 6.
So in anticipation that your research shows a clever solution, I shall now clean install Big Sur yet again having deleted every app I dare.
Restart has not worked for several upgrades. The spinning pin wheel spins away every few days and if it won't go I have to use the power button to close the iMac down and then to restart it. Mostly it will not then boot correctly but the progress line staggers about half way, blinks, tries again, then shuts down but on the screen is always then a large cursor which it has been suggested to me shows that the machine has dropped out of OS into LInux. I then repeat the power button routine until (so far) it eventually starts. Yesterday it worked only on try 6.
So in anticipation that your research shows a clever solution, I shall now clean install Big Sur yet again having deleted every app I dare.
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Did you delete those apps by simply moving them into the trash? That would leave a lot of associated files created when you installed/first ran the app. Some of those files, if they are not merely text files, could still be active when you are running the iMac. Before you reinstall macOS, try to purge those files first.
In order to properly purge an app, including related files, you need an app cleaner utility. Personally, I use AppCleaner (free). What to do if you have already deleted the main app? With AppCleaner, or similar utility, if you can locate the preference file (usually ending in “.plist”), you can try to load it in the cleaner application. There’s a good chance that it will locate all the other files related to it.
(My favorite cleaner app used to be AppDelete.app, but the author stopped supporting it. Thankfully, AppCleaner.app works just as well. I also have CleanMyMac X (not free) and it seems to have a similar function, but have never used it.)
In order to properly purge an app, including related files, you need an app cleaner utility. Personally, I use AppCleaner (free). What to do if you have already deleted the main app? With AppCleaner, or similar utility, if you can locate the preference file (usually ending in “.plist”), you can try to load it in the cleaner application. There’s a good chance that it will locate all the other files related to it.
(My favorite cleaner app used to be AppDelete.app, but the author stopped supporting it. Thankfully, AppCleaner.app works just as well. I also have CleanMyMac X (not free) and it seems to have a similar function, but have never used it.)
Thank you again. I have simply deleted them not thinking that they may have left debris about. The computer is up and running again and RESTART is much faster but the pin wheel still spins. I will download one of the apps you suggest and see if I can locate any debris.
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Good work! You’ll get there.
AppCleaner.app seems to have died, it is not on the Apple Store and a direct approach to its web site gets the answer that it will not open so I triedCleanMyMacX.com. That told me before I had finished loading it that I had use up my trial period, at the third attempt it ran and I signed up for it and it did seem to do clever things when I ran it but none referred to app debris so in the end it killed it.
The iMac seems to be running correctly now and I reckon I will wait and see if the problems recur and perhaps then plead for help and start again.
I am really grateful for your help and wish you well.
Best wishes Ron
The iMac seems to be running correctly now and I reckon I will wait and see if the problems recur and perhaps then plead for help and start again.
I am really grateful for your help and wish you well.
Best wishes Ron
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Best of luck, Ron. The mention of AppCleaner not working for you concerned me because I rely a lot on that utility, even more so than the paid CleanMyMac X. I ran and tested it right away, and it still works perfectly for me.
It still shows up on MacUpdate, https://www.macupdate.com/vendor/freemacsoft
and the author’s web page, https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/
His e-mail address is active as well: (e-mail address removed)
It still shows up on MacUpdate, https://www.macupdate.com/vendor/freemacsoft
and the author’s web page, https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/
His e-mail address is active as well: (e-mail address removed)