Takes Long Time To Sleep - If Interrupted Computer Won't Work

[PGB1]

Hi All!
I have a 2006 MacBook Pro running OS X 10.11.6, the newest OS that this computer can use.
When I close the lid or use the power button dialog to sleep the computer, it takes up to 10 minutes before the computer's sleep light snoozes. If I open the lid before the computer is fully asleep (when the light goes bright-dim-birght, etc.), the computer won't work.

By won't work, I mean that if I click on anything, the rainbow colored ball spins forever. The keyboard is also not functional, nor will the power button bring up the shut down dialog box. I have to hold the power button for several seconds to force the computer to shut down. Also, if I close the lid and wait, it will never go to the sleep light snoozing indication. Re-opening it reveals the spinning ball again.

I made sure no programs are running in the background, such as my backup application or Time Machine by disabling them first & trying sleep. The same long time to sleep thing happens.

Is there a way to force the computer to sleep faster?

Thanks for helping!
Paul

 

[pigoo3]

This is an old computer (13 years). Asking a 13 year old computer to do things in a "2019 computing environment" is asking a lot.

- the computer is slow
- probably low on RAM
- slow hard drive
- hard drive may be getting full
- hard drive could be slowly failing after so many years

The reason I say all this is...when an Apple computer shuts down or before sleeping...it does a bunch of "house-keeping" tasks that insures when the computer is turned on or woken up again...it starts up "happy" and right where you left it. This requires a bunch of CPU & hard drive related activities...and on a older & slower computer...these tasks take longer.

HTH,

- Nick

 

[chscag]

Hey Paul:

Is there a way to force the computer to sleep faster?

At my age I'm trying to figure the same thing for myself!

LOL, Nick gave you some great advice.

Have fun.

 

[PGB1]

Thanks Nick for the knowledge. I sure appreciate your informative & straight forward answer. Such is life with an old computer!
Your statement about using it in a 2019 environment really made sense to me.
Maybe it's time to start shopping (saving) for a new or almost new replacement.

The processor is 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo. It has 4 GB of RAM, a SSD, but with only 12 GB free out of 200 GB on the partition.
If I can figure out how, maybe I can get rid of the second partition and transplant the space to the primary partition. That will give me 40 more GB.

Disk Inventory X didn't show any giant space hogging files, but there are some I can probably ditch, which will add up. Maybe that will help a little.

At my age I'm trying to figure the same thing for myself! And with me, at my age, it's more about staying awake (and then trying to stay asleep). Such is life with an older body! (At least we're here to experience the wonders of aging!)

Thanks Again Nick for your great explanation. (Think I'll wander over to OWC to check what they have in the used Mac lot today.)

Enjoy Today!
Paul

 

[toMACsh]

Last week, out of nowhere, my screen refused to go to sleep. No settings were changed, no new software was installed. It seems to be back to normal, but I have no clue why it suddenly developed insomnia.

 

[PGB1]

Last week, out of nowhere, my screen refused to go to sleep. No settings were changed, no new software was installed. It seems to be back to normal, but I have no clue why it suddenly developed insomnia.

One of my Favorite things about Mac OS is how it more-often-than-not fixes itself. (Wonder if there is a Mac OS version for my brain?)