Vista - Vista Ultimate x64 won't enter sleep mode

Folks,

I'm looking for some help here. I'm running Vista Ultimate x64. It no longer enters sleep mode on its own. It used to. I can force it into sleep mode by clicking on the Vista Orb and selecting "Sleep". It won't do it on its own - which is what I want it to.

I've run through the Control Panel/Power Mgt troubleshooter on these forums. All my settings seemed to be correct. Using the CMD prompt and powercfg -devicequery wake_armed yields one device: my logitech g15 keyboard. (Using powercfg -a shows that the only sleep state available is S3. That is correct for my motherboard, an Abit IP 35 pro.)

If forced into sleep, the keyboard will wake it up.

The problem, again, centers on the automatic sleep entrance. Currently set for 1 hour of idle.

It seems to me that the machine never thinks it's idle. Is that where I should start? Finding processes which are running in the background?

I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks,
Ken

Hello Ken,
Is it possible that the problem started after you switched to a wireless mouse/keyboard ?

No; the keyboard - Logitech G15 - is USB, as is the mouse - Logitech G5.

I have no wireless items attached to, or communicating with, the computer.

Thanks.

what i would do is set it to sleep after 3 mins, set it to turn off yoyr display after 1 min & hdd after 2. Unplug your mouse & see if there is something with the optics causing it to move slightly. Then sit there & see if your pc turns ur monitor off, listen to see if it turns off your hdd (should spin down) then see if it enters sleep.

Its a good way to check if your pc is not setting the times right. I had an xp machine do this & it was way annoying.

Ok, try this link regarding sleep mode and related problems. It's compiled by Brink, one of our moderators. His tutorials are always useful.


Power Options and Sleep Mode Problems

fieseler,

Thanks, but unplugging the mouse did nothing. Screen off; HD inactive. Computer not in sleep mode.

Regards,
Ken

t-4-2,

That's a great link, and Brink has helped me out in the past. Unfortunately, the link has this:

PROBLEMS:
1. Computer will wake up for no reason.
2. Sleep mode does not work any more.
3. Hibernate option is not available, accidentally deleted the Hibernation file Cleaner in Disk Cleanup.
See: How to Restore the Hibernation File in Vista
4. Screen saver not working.

I've been through ALL the steps in his tutorial, and the base problem I have is not one of the 4 conditions the tutorial addresses. (It was useful for double-checking all settings and exploring the various powercfg switches/commands.)

Thanks,
Ken

Would it be too late to suggest a system restore ? You must have installed something(s). It's not SP1 , I hope.

One more maybe-silly question : what kind of computer table you're using. Is it a Glossy finished table, or worst, a glass table top ? The reflection will cause the optical sensor( at the bottom of the mouse) to react which will wake up the sleep mode.

Solution!

For two weeks the computer has been reliably entering sleep mode. I've made two changes. In a perfect world I'd undo each individually and test to see if only one change was what was needed. Vista's not perfect, neither am I. So, I'll tell the two changes;

Deep in the mouse menu I've disabled "Wake from Sleep". I have a MAJOR gripe with Microsoft and the manner in which this setting is hidden. These are the steps: Control Panel/Hardware and Sound, Mouse/Mouse Properties, Hardware/Properties/(Note, the three tabs showing are not all that's available, you've got to find the HIDDEN tab) General, Change Settings/ (NOW you see a new tab, POWER MANAGEMENT), Power Management, uncheck "Allow this device to wake computer". Why, the hell isn't that an option ANYWHERE in the POWER MANAGEMENT section of the control panel?

Okay, the other change; Control Panel, System and Maintenance/Power Options/Balanced, Change Plan Settings/Change Advanced Power Settings/Change Settings That Are Currently Unavailable/Advanced Settings, Multimedia Settings, When Sharing Media/ Setting: ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO SLEEP.

I have a hardwired home network. Attached to the network is an Xbox. Vista and the Xbox communicate. Changing this setting to Allow the Computer to Sleep is my attempt to preclude the Xbox from blocking the computer.

Again, I'm not sure if it was only one of these or both. I'll probably change the mouse setting soon and see if that changes anything.

Thanks for the help.

Regards,
Ken