Computer randomly goes to sleep, Event Viewer says lid closed

Chris J · 01 Jan 2017

Basically, this started happening after I had to shut my computer down via the power button after Windows went unresponsive for 11 hours. After turning it back on the next day, it worked fine, but a couple hours later it started going to sleep while I was using it. I checked all of the power settings, including advanced, and all of them are set to "Never" and "Nothing", including what to do when the power button is pressed or the lid is closed. It still does this.

I checked the event viewer and found a Information level entry for Kernel-Power at the times it went to sleep. The general information for this was as follows (with everything moved to one column, because it formatted weirdly here):

The system is entering sleep.

Sleep Reason: Button or Lid

Log Name: System
Logged: 12/28/2016 11:34:05 AM
Source: Kernel-Power
Task Category: (64)
Event ID: 42
Keywords: (4)
Level: Information
Computer: BlakesLaptop-PC
User: N/A
OpCode: Info

This is from the first one, the others are pretty much the same.

There were no events listed at any level above Information at or around those times. All other entries around those times are to be expected when the computer goes to sleep and wakes back up.

This also seems to happen at about the same part of the day, from 10:30am to 12:00pm.

Another thing that I just found while typing this is a blank event from 12/31/16. This correlates to another entry in Kernel-Power which says that the system rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. I am unsure as to why such an empty event would occur or why my computer would have lost power on the 31st, as this problem started on the 28th after I had to shut it down on the 27th. The event has nothing at all (not even N/A) on it anywhere, and the "details" page is also entirely blank.

I really would like to fix this, as it goes to sleep regardless of what I am doing (including while I am actively typing a sentence), and it also disconnects from wifi and all external hardware that is plugged in whenever it does this.

Eric3742 · 02 Jan 2017

Welcome to SevenForum Chris

Just a comment, as i am not that expect in this area, so someone may have to step in to assist you.

On Laptop, as laptop user.

There are some sort of indicator that will alert the system to go to sleep.
There are 2 hinges, left side and right side, between the screen and the keyboard control.
Should this be faulty, it will result in auto sleep start.

The faulty hinges may be damaged if this is done too much.
Some users will do something about the hinges issue, to prevent such from happening, same as your issue.

Hence, i do not use the lid to close in order to go to sleep.
I set the display to turn off.
But it is because i use laptop as a desktop, using main power adapter, no battery inserted.
This is how i prefer, as i close the lid when i am shutdown the system.

Other issue could be the power button, which this may be very unlikely.
Power button like any buttons, there is a spring between both contacts.

So, it is up to you to check on the hinges as most likely cause.
Check on the angle when the system start to sleep.
At that point, look at the hinges, should there be any damage.

This is what i can say about your issue.

Megahertz07 · 03 Jan 2017

It can be for many reasons:
- Mechanical: Your lid switch is damage and it informs that the lid is closed when it's not.
- Software: Some file is corrupted or a virus / malware playing a joke on you.

Run System file checker 3 times rebooting after each run: Run sfc /scannow

M6500W764 · 10 Jan 2017

I had a couple of possibly related errors.

The first was rather infuriating trying to figure out. Laptop would randomly shut down without warning or provocation. It could go for days or several times a day. Turned out the power button was the cause. Super cheap fix that took a couple of minutes to change out and has not recurred since.

The next one just happened this week when I got a new cell phone that had a magnetic cover. Apparently this laptop uses a magnet to detect the lid closing. I initially freaked until I realized it only went to sleep when the phone got too close! One does get a bit paranoid with an old rig like this!