Macbook Sleep Indicator LED Behavior

[mirrorchild]

I recently had to reset the SMC on my Macbook Core Duo in an attempt to rectify a separate issue and now I don't know if the sleep indicator LED is behaving abnormally, because I don't seem to remember for sure how it was before the SMC reset.

Can anyone tell me if the Macbook's sleep indicator LED on the bottom right hand corner should be lit when the machine is switched on? I can almost swear it wasn't before, but now the LED is constantly lit up.

Another thing is that when I set the machine to sleep before the SMC reset, the LED used to pulsate (as it should) very distinctly; it still does after, but rather non-distinctly, in the sense that I have to strain my eyes staring at it to be satisfied that it is indeed pulsating and the machine truly in a state of sleep.

 

[toby jones]

My macbook doesn't have that light on when the computer is awake (on either battery or mains power). I've had to look at it to check that it really is sleeping, though. Depends on how bright the light in the room / outdoors is...

 

[karenflower]

Mine is also switched off when it's on (the light, that is), so it sounds like it's behaving normally.

Have you tried checking for the sleep pulse in a darkened room? It's much easier to see than in daylight.

 

[mirrorchild]

Mine is also switched off when it's on (the light, that is), so it sounds like it's behaving normally.

Have you tried checking for the sleep pulse in a darkened room? It's much easier to see than in daylight.

Eh? If that is the supposed normal behavior, then mine is not behaving as it should be. The sleep LED is ON when the the machine is awake.

I have difficulty noticing the pulsating light even in a darkened room. It's as if I have an overactive LED that is constantly shining way too brightly. The only time when it doesn't light up is when I power the laptop off. I fear it may burn out faster than normal.

Is there anything I could do to try to get it back to normal?

 

[toby jones]

I'm sorry, I have no idea...

 

[UltraNEO*]

Eh? If that is the supposed normal behavior, then mine is not behaving as it should be. The sleep LED is ON when the the machine is awake.

I have difficulty noticing the pulsating light even in a darkened room. It's as if I have an overactive LED that is constantly shining way too brightly. The only time when it doesn't light up is when I power the laptop off. I fear it may burn out faster than normal.

Is there anything I could do to try to get it back to normal?

Normally, the LED is only lit (and pulsing) when your system is sleeping, otherwise it's off. You can try resetting the PRAM too! But first, shut down or restart the system.


On powerup, press and hold the following keys until the second chime, then release.

Apple+Option+P+R

 

[JNB]

It should also be on steady in clamshell mode.

 

[Bozok]

Same problem, wondering status?

Can anyone tell me if the Macbook's sleep indicator LED on the bottom right hand corner should be lit when the machine is switched on? I can almost swear it wasn't before, but now the LED is constantly lit up.

Another thing is that when I set the machine to sleep before the SMC reset, the LED used to pulsate (as it should) very distinctly; it still does after, but rather non-distinctly, in the sense that I have to strain my eyes staring at it to be satisfied that it is indeed pulsating and the machine truly in a state of sleep.

Hello! I know it's been more than a year, but this thread is the only thing on Google that I could find that described my problem. I know the normal operation of the sleep indicator LED is to be off when the computer is on, and to pulsate distinctly when the computer is sleeping. However, like the original poster, my sleep indicator LED is on when the computer is on, and pulsates from bright to very bright when sleeping (rather than bright to faint). Mirrorchild, did you ever find out why your MacBook was doing what it was doing? Thank you!

By the way, my MacBook is the white, mid-2007, 2.16 GHz model.