Laptop Freezes when idle or going into sleep mode

[Drew99GT]

I've had this problem now for about a month. Occasionally, when I leave my computer idle for several minutes (like over 20), it freezes. The fans stay on, the lights on the keyboard are lit, but the screen is blank, and I have to force restart it. My power settings are on power saver, so it dims the screen after 2 minutes, turns the screen of after 5, and goes to sleep after 15. In addition, I have the maximum CPU processor state set at 20% to keep it running cool. If I try and recreate the problem setting each setting to 1,2, and 3 minutes, it dims the display and goes to sleep just fine. In addition, it goes to sleep fine when I press the power button or close the laptop lid.

Things I've done to try and rectify the problem:

1) Updated the bios
2) Reset the power configuration settings using the command prompt
powercfg -restoredefaultschemes

3) Scanned for malware using Avira, Kaspersky, Malwarebytes, SAS, and the system is clean

Last night I left my laptop idle and it apparently crashed and BSODed, according to the event log. I see a lot of events in the log regarding DNS servers. I can post the event log. I've also seen some advice online to update the graphics card driver. I've found what I think is the most recent graphics card driver on gateways website but I'm reluctant to install it because I don't know whether it's correct. I also found a VGA driver on their website. Perhaps someone could help me through that process.

I'd really appreciate any help! I'll post logs, screen shots of settings/hardware etc. as best I can to get this fixed.

Thanks very much.

 

[matts6887]

if it blue screened; please try and upload any screen shots if possible so we can have a look.

 

[Drew99GT]

if it blue screened; please try and upload any screen shots if possible so we can have a look.

Screen shots of what, the event logs? I'll try and post that.

 

[matts6887]

The event log(s) and or the actual screen with the error message(if possible). Also, have you checked the power management settings in the bios and or within windows?

 

[Drew99GT]

As best I can tell, this is what caused the BSOD last night. I don't have the screen shot of the actual message, but if I remember correctly, it said something to the affect of the system recovered from a blue screen.

I have looked in the power management settings and everything looks OK; like I said, I redid them to the default settings and the only thing I've changed is to have the CPU run at 20%. I have looked in the BIOS and can't find anything related to power settings.

 

[Footloose]

I had the same problem. I disabled the google screen saver and have not had the problem since. Are you using a screen saver?