Computer will not hibernate - screen will just go to sleep

[Melissa]

Dear Forum,

I am looking at decreasing the power that my lap top is consuming.

I have googled and seen that you can go into the Administrator command prompt and type powercfg h-on or something to that affect.

I am having issues with going into command prompt and adjusting this - I just typed the above and pressed enter. Nothing changed.

In having trouble in getting in command prompt - I downloaded the following: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3718-elevated-command-prompt-shortcut.html

I just want my computer after a period of the screen going to sleep to go into hibernation. Then when I come back - it will go into hibernation and gain a screen that informs me that my computer is locked.

I do not know why my computer has had this change.

Windows 7 32 bit Home Premium.

Thanks again

 

[DavidE]

In your screen print it shows to hibernate after 360 minutes (6 hours).
Change those values to something like 30 minutes and see if that works.
Maybe you didn't wait 6 hours?

Your laptop should go to sleep after 15 or 20 minutes with your settings in the screen print.

 

[Melissa]

Thank you for looking at my screen snips.

I was having issues in trying to get into command prompt. I will just go to the menu and accessories menu to go to administrator.

I also have taken your advise, as I have left it overnight and the new settings 360 mintes (six hours) and the lap top has not never gone into hibernation.

I thought that I would receive some type of professional assistance - I have been advised to go into the command prompt - but that does not even work.

Thanks again.

 

[DavidE]

The powercfg command really doesn't give much feedback.
Without "Run as administrator" you should get an error message saying you don't have permission.
With "Run as administrator" there is no error message, but no useful feedback.

To more quickly/easily test this, set your Plugged In Hibernate time to 1 minute.
See if the laptop hibernates after 1 minute.

 

[Melissa]

Thank you for your reply.

I have tried your test and the only result was for the display to dim completely.

I have set my external hard drive to go to sleep after three minutes.

I am quite confused on what I should do - for example - restore to default.

I am not sure regarding - advanced settings in regards to the power settings

I am just after a quick fix so that the lap top can hibernate (flash orange) and then have the behaviour to wake up.

I am so sorry that I did not try the above first. I have been patient up until recently.

 

[DavidE]

You have sleep after set to 1 minute and hibernate set to 1 minute.
Can you set sleep to never, and leave hibernate set to 1 minute.

Sleep issues can be caused by a video driver.
Can you update your video driver?

 

[Melissa]

I am sorry - I am new to computers.

How do you change the video driver - see it's status etc. When I am not confident in doing something that may cause any issues with my computer.

I guess I will just leave it as it is. As far as I know, the video driver is up to date.

I am sorry to take up your time. Thanks for pointing out the difference in the times that I entered.

 

[DavidE]

Hi Melissa,
Sleep and Hibernate problems can be very difficult to solve.
Do you have a Tech friend that can help you with this?
Below is a tutorial for troubleshooting Sleep mode problems.
You can look through it to get an idea what is involved for troubleshooting this.
Power Options and Sleep Mode Problems

 

[Melissa]

I totally agree.
Being remote - and not able to know what the user has actually done and go into all the directories, of which I am not confident of going into. I will just make do with what I have.
I do not to alter anything.
This is what I have so far.

Thanks again. I will do a clean install or pay a professional if I can not transfer the issue.

I ave just put the settings to default.

 

[Melissa]

Power Options

I just waited until I had the next lot of Windows Update and then my settings started working.

I guess the good old turn off and on theory works sometimes.

I am never going to mess with the registry or CMD

Occasionally I have it not hibernating, but it is not remaining on constantly and going to locked state as I wanted.

I mainly think it is because of the external hard drive that I have connected constantly.