Computer will NOT go to sleep (tried everything)

Vista Home Premium 64-bit (SP2)
Intel Core2 Quad CPU Q8200 @ 2.33GHz, 4.0GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT 120

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Hi, I'm having a problem with putting my computer to sleep, and it seems to have cropped up again since I updated my NVIDIA card drivers, before that I'd had the problem but fixed it with the removal of mouse/keyboard auto wake up in device manager, but now I can't put it to sleep again.

I've tried the multimedia thing in power options, I've tried the cmd option to turn hibernate on (which interestingly, isn't working), i've checked whats stopping my computer to go to sleep or has the ability to and nothing has came up, I just can't understand what the issue is.

My screen (which is a HD TV) goes off and its clearly in some sort of standby mode (tested it whilst watching a youtube video and there was no sound coming from it, but the tower was still making the same noises as it would when on) but if I touch my mouse or keyboard the screen will come back on, but it never is in a power down mode. The first time I had this problem it would just wake itself up, but now its not actually going to sleep what's the problem.

Any ideas? I've followed all of the steps here but nothing seems to be working.

I imagine that the NVidia software installs some files that have a connection with mouse and keyboard system files. This is necessary for the triggering of the video drivers to engage when the mouse or keyboard is touched, if the computer was in sleep mode. But perhaps there is some other conflict going on, because you mention some auto wake-up entry in the device manager that previously caused you problems.

In any case, are you talking about the computer not going to sleep by itself only, or are you finding that you can't directly command it to sleep as well (such as from the shutdown screen)?

Cytherian said:

I imagine that the NVidia software installs some files that have a connection with mouse and keyboard system files. This is necessary for the triggering of the video drivers to engage when the mouse or keyboard is touched, if the computer was in sleep mode. But perhaps there is some other conflict going on, because you mention some auto wake-up entry in the device manager that previously caused you problems.

In any case, are you talking about the computer not going to sleep by itself only, or are you finding that you can't directly command it to sleep as well (such as from the shutdown screen)?

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Commanding. I've tested the mouse and keyboard (unplugging them) and it still can't shutdown. Before it was that it would automatically wake up, now it's that it won't physically go to sleep and just closes the screen.

Well, that's very peculiar. You should be able to command your computer to sleep, in addition to the natural time out with your power options plan. Are you able to fully shut down the machine via normal means? If not, then something has been seriously compromised. I'd try uninstalling the NVidia software and roll back to the last OEM sanctioned version obtainable on your manufacturer website.

If you are able to shut down normally, just not sleep mode, then how about trying the following:
1) Define a new Power Plan. Set both the screen timeout and sleep to 1 minute. Put that plan in force and see if anything happens.
2) Reboot without loading Startup items (use msconfig). With the plan you previously put into action, see if the computer goes to sleep this time. If not, try to command it directly.
3) Reboot into SAFE mode (use F8 at boot up to select the menu option for SAFE with networking). Repeat the actions I mentioned in step 2.

If this doesn't work, then there must still be some issue with the NVidia software that has compromised Windows Vista. Did you update your NVidia drivers directly from their support download section? Is what you downloaded newer than what your computer brand has sanctioned? If so, then there must be a hardware component involved that is causing problems. You may not be able to use the absolute latest NVidia software--only the last version recommended by your computer maker. However...

One last thing to check is if your computer manufacturer has provided an updated BIOS. Sometimes an updated BIOS resolves system level problems like this.