Correct usage of preterit and past perfect

Solution 1:

The past perfect is generally only used when one event in the past occurs before another. This helps the reader to understand which one came first. And in fact, if the order of events is clear without using the past perfect, there is no grammatical requirement to use the past perfect.

In the sentence 2a there are two uses of the past perfect, one before the other. The only possible rationale for doing this would be if the next sentence, or the previous sentence, discusses a time period before the present but after he woke up. Without this intermediate time frame, you should use 2b.

In 2a, there are only two times: the present and the past. You should not use the past perfect. Sentence 2b is correct.