iMac 27" quad i5 Random restarts

MikesMacs · MikesMacs #1 (**permalink**)

11-08-2010, 10:24 PM

So when I let my iMac sit and go to sleep after 15 minutes of no use, it restarts itself then sits at the login screen. Is this caused by my settings or something else I am not aware of? If anyone has any idea please let me know. Thanks for your time.

- Mike

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

11-08-2010, 10:57 PM

Does it happen any other time?

How is your local power? Power glitches and spikes in the line can cause that to happen. Other things that can cause the machine to randomly reboot are bad memory or a bad power supply. Since the machine is probably fairly new the likelihood of that happening is small but still possible.

Do you have an UPS to use? (uninterrupted power supply)

MikesMacs · MikesMacs #3 (**permalink**)

11-08-2010, 11:10 PM

Yeah its plugged into a capacitor like powerstrip that holds a charge. I actually just realized something...

After I come back to the machine, And its at the login screen I then log in and all my applications that were open when I left it are now closed. Which led me to believe it had restarted... Then I check my uptime on iStat and it still says over a day. Is it just logging itself out and closing all applications?

I have no idea at this point.

- Mike

Chef_eam · Chef_eam #4 (**permalink**)

11-09-2010, 03:59 AM

Look in system preferences on the General tab of Security. There is an option to log out after a certain period of inactivity. See if that is checked.

chscag · chscag #5 (**permalink**)

11-09-2010, 01:28 PM

Good point Chef. I'll bet that's what's happening.

MikesMacs · MikesMacs #6 (**permalink**)

11-09-2010, 02:20 PM

I think that was it, I unchecked that and have no had the problem since.

Another question, do you guys turn your computers off at night or let them sleep?

- Mike

Raz0rEdge · Raz0rEdge #7 (**permalink**)

11-09-2010, 03:24 PM

I usually let my iMac just go to sleep after a few hours of inactivity..so I usually leave it running for days on end without any problems..

Regards

Chef_eam · Chef_eam #8 (**permalink**)

11-09-2010, 03:39 PM

I just put mine to sleep at the end of the day. One tap on the keyboard, and I am up and running again in the morning.

chscag · chscag #9 (**permalink**)

11-09-2010, 07:14 PM

I let mine sleep unless there are Texas sized thunderstorms and warnings in the area. When that happens, everything is turned off and unplugged. I learned that the hard way several years back.

MikesMacs · MikesMacs #10 (**permalink**)

11-09-2010, 10:45 PM

I have just been letting mine sleep as well. I like that a quick tap on the keyboard wakes it up within seconds.

- Mike

50voltphantom · 50voltphantom #11 (**permalink**)

11-09-2010, 11:26 PM

I've been meaning to ask the same question. Does it make any difference as far as the life of the machine when you leave it on and let go to sleep vs. a shutdown/restart every day? I'm currently a shutdown person with my main machine. As far as my other two, it just depends how I feel that day.

MikesMacs #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 10, 2010 Location: Roseville CA Posts: 58 Mac Specs: 15" MBP i5 500GB 4GB, iPhone 3GS, 160GB Classic, 40GB ATV, 16GB iPad WiFi	11-08-2010, 10:24 PM So when I let my iMac sit and go to sleep after 15 minutes of no use, it restarts itself then sits at the login screen. Is this caused by my settings or something else I am not aware of? If anyone has any idea please let me know. Thanks for your time. - Mike Everything was meant to be taken apart.
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,986 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	11-08-2010, 10:57 PM Does it happen any other time? How is your local power? Power glitches and spikes in the line can cause that to happen. Other things that can cause the machine to randomly reboot are bad memory or a bad power supply. Since the machine is probably fairly new the likelihood of that happening is small but still possible. Do you have an UPS to use? (uninterrupted power supply) Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,986 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	11-09-2010, 01:28 PM Good point Chef. I'll bet that's what's happening. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

MikesMacs #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 10, 2010 Location: Roseville CA Posts: 58 Mac Specs: 15" MBP i5 500GB 4GB, iPhone 3GS, 160GB Classic, 40GB ATV, 16GB iPad WiFi	11-09-2010, 02:20 PM I think that was it, I unchecked that and have no had the problem since. Another question, do you guys turn your computers off at night or let them sleep? - Mike Everything was meant to be taken apart.
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,986 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	11-09-2010, 07:14 PM I let mine sleep unless there are Texas sized thunderstorms and warnings in the area. When that happens, everything is turned off and unplugged. I learned that the hard way several years back. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

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Raz0rEdge #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 17, 2009 Location: MA Posts: 5,820 Mac Specs: 27" i7 iMac with 16GB RAM and 1TB HDD, iPhone 3G & 4, iPod Nano 16GB, iPod Shuffle, iPad 2 16GB WiFi	11-09-2010, 03:24 PM I usually let my iMac just go to sleep after a few hours of inactivity..so I usually leave it running for days on end without any problems.. Regards
	QUOTE Thanks

Chef_eam #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 12, 2009 Location: Midland,Tx Posts: 357 Mac Specs: iMac 27" 2.66GHz i5, 1TB HDD, 12GB RAM, OS X 10.7.3, iPod Classic 160GB,iPad 1 64GB Wi-fi, iPhone 4S	11-09-2010, 03:39 PM I just put mine to sleep at the end of the day. One tap on the keyboard, and I am up and running again in the morning.
	QUOTE Thanks

MikesMacs #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 10, 2010 Location: Roseville CA Posts: 58 Mac Specs: 15" MBP i5 500GB 4GB, iPhone 3GS, 160GB Classic, 40GB ATV, 16GB iPad WiFi	11-09-2010, 10:45 PM I have just been letting mine sleep as well. I like that a quick tap on the keyboard wakes it up within seconds. - Mike Everything was meant to be taken apart.
	QUOTE Thanks

50voltphantom #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 08, 2010 Posts: 164 Mac Specs: 20" iMac 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo - eMac 1.42 GHz (RIP) - iMac G3 400 MHz - iPad 2 16GB	11-09-2010, 11:26 PM I've been meaning to ask the same question. Does it make any difference as far as the life of the machine when you leave it on and let go to sleep vs. a shutdown/restart every day? I'm currently a shutdown person with my main machine. As far as my other two, it just depends how I feel that day. Mac Specs: 20" iMac 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo 4 GB RAM 500 GB HD OS 10.6.8 Magic Trackpad- eMac 1.42 GHz (RIP) - iMac G3 Grape 400 MHz 1GB RAM 40GB HD OS 10.4.11 iSub - iPad 2 16GB - iPod Classic 120 GB - iPod Shuffle 2nd Gen 1GB - Apple TV 2
	QUOTE Thanks

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