New PC w/ native W7, but system failed to enter sleep mode

[pikalax]

I just got a brand new HP Pavilion dm4t CTO notebook PC, and when I tried to put it into sleep mode, the system not only failed to go to sleep, it also failed to break the sleep operation when I attempted to "wake it up". This was when the computer was running on battery power; the computer has successfully gone to sleep when plugged in. The power plan tells the computer to go to sleep on lid close whether or not it is plugged in. What should happen is this:
* Display turns off
* Three to five seconds pass
* LEDs for Mute and Wireless turn off
* The round HP logo backlight on the lid turns off
* The hard drive (and fan, if spinning) stops spinning
* Upon opening the lid, everything turns back on and the system asks me to unlock my ID
* I/O devices respond normally

What happens is this:
* Display turns off
* LEDs for Mute and Wireless remain lit
* The round HP logo backlight remains lit
* The hard drive continues to spin. Not sure what the fan does as I haven't let it get to that point yet.
* Upon opening the lid, no status change occurs i.e. everything that was running keeps running and everything that was off remains off, as if the lid were never opened
* Input devices elicit no response

Similar problems were experienced with an HP Pavilion dv3 notebook PC running Windows 7 RTM (Vista upgrade using HP's discs). (The dv3 is close to being retired due to insurmountable hardware problems.)

To return my computer to working state, I have to power down the system by holding down the physical power button. When I start up again, it gives me the safe mode boot options.

 

[pikalax]

I'm bumping this topic because the situation has not improved.

It seems that if the computer is powered on (awake or asleep) when I remove the AC adapter, and then I try to put it into sleep mode while on battery power by closing the lid, the exact events I described in the first post (see "What happens is this:") occur. This is a fundamental flaw that should be fixed.

I have received only those updates that were applied automatically either by Windows Update, by HP Support Assistant, or by individual software items (Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash, Google Chrome, etc.). My BIOS is the same as it was when my computer arrived: F.15 (I believe it's the same as on HP's webpage).

I have installed the following software on my computer. Perhaps one of these applications is known to cause this problem?

- Microsoft Office Academic Professional 2010
- Trainz Railroad Simulator 12 by Auran
- Sony Vegas Pro 10.0e
- Google Chrome
- ChemDraw Pro by CambridgeSoft
- MiKTeX and TeXWorks (LaTeX typesetting)
- SynthFont MIDI mixer
- Anvil Studio MIDI composer
- Steam Client with Portal 2 and Garry's Mod
- iTunes x64
- aTube Catcher (YouTube downloader)
- Skype