Windows 7 and sleep function

[Liver]

I put my computer to sleep and expect it to stay that way, but it seems to always be active when I return.

I assume it is running automated tasks once a certain time is achieved.

I have disabled the common Windows programs (auto update) but I am having a bear trying to figure out what is getting the computer out of sleep now.

Is there a way to find out what program (s) is pulling the computer out of sleep?

 

[nxcess]

Try disabling "allow wake timers" in Power Options

 

[General Crespin]

Maybe see if anything in Task Scheduler is causing it.

 

[bigdogchris]

Does your mouse pad have a lot of lines/pictures on it.

 

[S1N3R6Y]

I know this isn't going to answer your question but:

Why not use hibernate instead? I know it doesn't start up as fast, but it's not too bad. Plus, it saves electricity! Just a suggestion.

 

[Catweazle]

Why not use hibernate instead? I know it doesn't start up as fast, but it's not too bad. Plus, it saves electricity! Just a suggestion.

Maybe you haven't had experience on a machine which is fully hardware/chipset/BIOS compatible with the 'hybrid' sleep function introduced with Vista and present in Win7? Saves electricity? During hybrid sleep the machine is effectively 'off', to all intents and purposes. There's only a tiny trickle of power maintaining RAM contents and monitoring for a wakeup event. A machine in hybrid sleep draws no more than about 1 watt of power.

If anybody thinks that saving the consumption of that 1 watt of power is gonna save the planet then perhaps they oughta think again.

 

[Liver]

Thanks for all the tips.

I guess I don't know the practical differences between all the standby functions.

I recently installed an SSD and was thinking by leaving the machine on but in some sort of sleep mode would be instant on and save some electric.

 

[WhiteZero]

Check your keyboard and mouse in Device manager, make sure their set to not be able to wake the computer in Power Management.

 

[Liver]

Try disabling "allow wake timers" in Power Options

over the last two nights, the computer has remained in sleep. thanks for the tip!

 

[jyi786]

Thanks for all the tips.

I guess I don't know the practical differences between all the standby functions.

I recently installed an SSD and was thinking by leaving the machine on but in some sort of sleep mode would be instant on and save some electric.

You are aware that the hibernate mode in Windows 7/Vista is actually a hybrid of sleep and hibernate? If you have newer hardware, you'll notice there is no "hibernate" function; this is replaced by "sleep". You can enable the old style, which separates sleep and hibernate, in the Power Options. Personally, I think the hybrid mode kicks ass, because it gives you the best of both worlds, and is much faster at wakeup. Plus, unlike with regular sleep/standby, the computer will not lose its memory with the hybrid sleep; if you cut power, it will resume as if the computer hibernated. Win win if you ask me!