Hi Steven. A 2017 Intel Mac is getting into past history with Apple. Maybe think about upgrading A new Mac mini is advertised for about $1300 And a Kogan 27" UHD 4K Frameless USB-C Monitor (3840 x 2160) is about $300 With that set up you get the latest Apple software and the software upgrades and security checks for free.
I think you can pay off with instalments these days. Cheers Marcus Marcus Harris Mobile +61417965618 > On 3 Jun 2026, at 4:56 pm, Rod Blitvich via WAMUG <[email protected]> > wrote: > > AI said: > > "That sounds more like a wake-from-sleep / wake-from-display issue than > a startup issue. > > On a 2017 Intel Mac running macOS Ventura, a 10–15 second delay before > the password field becomes active is commonly caused by one of these: > * external drives or USB devices “hanging” wake-up > * network/login items trying to reconnect > * FileVault delay > * Mail or cloud syncing during wake > * corrupted power management settings > * failing SSD or low free space > * old Intel Macs struggling with Ventura > > Here’s the order I’d check things. > __________________________________________________________________ > > 1. Disconnect ALL external devices first > > This is the biggest culprit surprisingly often. > > Temporarily unplug: > * USB hubs > * external drives > * printers > * webcams > * SD cards > * dongles > > Then: > * restart the Mac > * let it sleep > * wake it again > > If the delay disappears, reconnect one item at a time. > > External drives that are spinning up from sleep are especially > notorious. > __________________________________________________________________ > > 2. Check free disk space > > Ventura behaves badly when storage gets low. > > Go to: > Apple Menu → About This Mac → Storage > > If free space is under about: > * 30–40 GB = possible slowdowns > * under 15 GB = very likely issue > __________________________________________________________________ > > 3. Turn OFF “Wake for network access” > > Go to: > > System Settings → Battery → Options > > Turn OFF: > * Wake for network access > > Also turn OFF: > * Power Nap (if shown) > > These can cause delays while networking wakes up. > __________________________________________________________________ > > 4. Test without Mail running > > Even though Mail isn’t a startup issue, it can hang during wake while > reconnecting accounts. > > Try: > * quit Mail completely > * let Mac sleep > * wake it > > If fixed: > * one email account may be stalling > * Exchange accounts are common offenders > __________________________________________________________________ > > 5. Disable FileVault temporarily (test only) > > FileVault can occasionally cause delayed login responsiveness on older > Intel Macs. > > Check: > System Settings → Privacy & Security → FileVault > > If ON: > * temporarily disable it > * test for a day > > (Decryption takes time, so only worth trying if other fixes fail.) > __________________________________________________________________ > > 6. Reset SMC and NVRAM > > On Intel Macs this still matters. > > Reset SMC (2017 MacBook/iMac Intel) > > Shut down. > > Then press: > * Shift + Control + Option > * AND power button > > Hold 10 seconds. > > Release and start normally. > > Reset NVRAM > > Start Mac and immediately hold: > * Option + Command + P + R > > Hold about 20 seconds. > __________________________________________________________________ > > 7. Check Activity Monitor after wake > > Immediately after the lag: > > Open: > Applications → Utilities → Activity Monitor > > Look for: > * very high CPU > * “Not Responding” > * kernel_task spikes > * Mail > * Spotlight > * cloud storage apps > __________________________________________________________________ > > 8. Ventura on 2017 Intel Macs > > Ventura is near the upper limit for some 2017 Intel machines. They > often become sluggish after updates. > > If everything else fails: > * a clean restart may help temporarily > * safe mode test is worthwhile > * reinstalling Ventura without erasing can repair corrupted system > files > __________________________________________________________________ > > 9. Quick diagnostic question > > One important clue: > > Does the delay happen: > * ONLY after sleep/wake? > * or ALSO from a full restart? > > If it’s sleep/wake only, power management or peripherals are most > likely. > > If it also happens after reboot/login, storage or background processes > become more likely." > Rod Blitvich - Amy & Sam’s Dad > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . > > On 3 Jun 2026, at 11:38 am, STEPHEN CHAPE via WAMUG > <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi folks. > My wife uses my previous iMac. > MacOS Ventura 13.7.8 > 2017 Model Intel i7 > Just lately an annoying issue is happening. > When she taps a key to activate the screen (Mac is on) there is > delay. > Once the login box appears it takes about 15 seconds before the > password can be entered. > I have checked her startup apps and the only one is Mail. > But the Mac is not booting when it does this anyway … it is already > on. > Regards, > Stephen Chape > Mac by choice > Windows because my employer knew no better > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - > <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug> > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Settings & Unsubscribe - <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug>
