Computer randomly "sleeps" even while doing things?

I have hibernation disabled.
My computer is set to never sleep
display is set to never turn off (I turn the TV off myself)
Under a heavy load (re-running WEI score, heaviest thing I do) temps hover around 50c
Power supply is 300w, calculations show my maximum usage is under 220W




once in a while (about once a day now, but I'm on the computer a lot lately watching Andromeda for the first time) my screen will go black and there will be silence (mostly from the TV, which is a buzzing plasma), and the HDD light will go off for a moment. I press any key on my wireless remote, and it resumes again, as if it went to sleep, but I'm not doing anything that would initiate that. It's only started doing this in the last few days or so.

Help?
thanks.

Hello FuturDreamz,

If your watching TV and don't touch the KB/Mouse/Remote, Screen Saver may be kicking in.

Check your Screen Saver settings.
If it's set to "blank" on a timer, that might cause this.
If it is "blank", pick some other screen saver so you will know when screen saver kicks in.

Also check your advanced Power Options settings for allowing the Hard Drive to turn off.

Are you using WMC and a WMC compatible remote?

As it just started doing this, you could also try using a restore point from before the problem started.

I'd disable the screensaver as it's not needed except for CRT monitors to prevent burn-in. Use the Win7 background slideshow instead.

I'd also run a Clean Boot so no other freeloading program can affect what you're doing: Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

Hi Greg,

I don't know for sure if Screen Saver is the issue...
That's why I suggested what i did...
Until the OP replies, it's my first guess...

I had the screen saver disabled.

Which is odd, because I though I had set it to do photo slideshow.

Additionally, for some reason it's now saying that my video card can't handle themes.

Ouch !

It does not sound like a sleep or screen saver issue now.
My first thought is to look in the Event Viewer and see what you can find.
When this happens, is there an event that can help determine the cause?

You can also run System File Checker to check for issues.
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

With what you just said about the video card, it might be a hardware/driver issue.
Try updating your GPU driver...

I've rolled back, I've upgraded, and I've uninstalled a "Windows Live Display Driver" that Live Mesh had installed. Assuming that the problem I'm experiencing is related to the lack of themes, nothing has worked. And I have been re-running the WEI assessment after each time.


Which is odd, because according to Update history I upgraded the Video driver on the 25th, which may just be around the time the sleeping issue started.

Also: Could it be the PSU or power source? My Plasma is a big power hog and makes a loud buzzing noise when showing a white image, and it could be affecting the line...

WOW!
Try backing out the driver update, or installing an older driver version...

I have an (OLD) AMD 4670 GPU (and a disabled onboard IGP) in my primary HTPC.
I use an older AMD driver version because it works best for me.

For me getting several media programs/audio devices/TV Tuners/codecs/TV's/monitors/resolutions/configs/... working together the way I WANT is a challenge.

I normally run 2 LCD TV's, and have added a third screen without problems.
So, I don't think "PC power" is an issue...it isn't for me, and i know my hardware is "aged".

As far as the Plasma power source/hog question, can you connect the Plasma to another outlet/circuit with an extension cord?

I don't have Intel or nVidea graphics to test with...or Plasma

It is possible the supplied PSU is a problem, I can't guarantee otherwise.
I learned years ago, PSU's are the most likely point of failure in a PC...

That's after ME(David), the worst "malware" i know to my own systems
Curiosity killed the cat. :)

I bought a surge protector so I could swap out the old Mac's UPS. I ended up re-enabling hibernation for the UPS.

I have to wait and see if the sleep problem is still there or not, and I'm just going to use WMC's screen saver (as I always start WMC when done)