Sleepy Windows 7 PC

PistolPete · 13 Jun 2010 at 15:01

I'm a little confused and hopefully someone will point me in the right direction.

I have a Windows 7 Ultimate x64 box that goes to sleep when it's not actually idle. Virtually every post I've found people complain they can't get an idle machine to sleep, mine doesn't stay awake!

If I'm actually using the PC it's fine. But if I leave it doing anything - downloading, backing up, encoding my ripped CD's to MP3 etc it'll go to sleep.

I've had a fiddle with the power settings and nothing obvious is presenting itself and I don't want to change them too much as this PC is in my office in the loft and I often forget to power it off whilst I go do something else for hours on end so sleeping when idle is good.

Any ideas?

theheyes · 13 Jun 2010 at 15:17

Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Power Options\Edit Plan Settings

There will be a drop down box labeled "Put the computer to sleep:" - change that to what you want.

PistolPete · 13 Jun 2010 at 15:20

I think you misunderstood a little.

The PC is going to sleep, but even when it's not idle which is not right.
It should only sleep after x minutes when idle.

theheyes · 13 Jun 2010 at 15:22

What does it say in the settings? If it doesn't receive user input during that period it will go to sleep.

alex24 · 13 Jun 2010 at 15:24

I've experienced similar issues with windows 7 going to sleep when you're downloading and doing stuff (i.e. left it to complete a task). The only things that keep it awake are mouse movement, keyboard and Windows Media Center! I've had it turn off when defragmenting once or twice too using defraggler. It doesn't always do that though, and it stays awake when downloading with steam too actually.

Participant · 13 Jun 2010 at 15:29

I get the same PistolPete! Look at my thread here: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18152875.

I didn't get much joy.

theheyes said:
What does it say in the settings? If it doesn't receive user input during that period it will go to sleep.

There are no settings apart from the amount of time after which it should sleep the PC. Windows Vista never used to go to sleep when I had downloads running.

d_brennen · 13 Jun 2010 at 15:30

The only way I've found to get round this is not a fix but a compromise. Set up two different power scemes, one power saver and one performance. When you need to keep the machine on for downloading, switch to the sceme which does not allow sleep. PITA when you forget

It isn't ideal but unless someone has a better idea???

alex24 · 13 Jun 2010 at 15:31

That's the only sensible 'fix' I can think of. I think it might be something MS will have to address.

PistolPete · 13 Jun 2010 at 15:41

AH.... didn't see the extra options (only turn off monitor and sleep), however it says "specify how long your computer is inactive before going to sleep" so you'd assume encoding, backups etc wouldn't let it go inactive.

I understand MS want to make it as idiot proof as possible for the masses, but that sucks!

bledd · 13 Jun 2010 at 16:09

Some programs prevent sleep from happening

utorrent is one of them..

d_brennen · 13 Jun 2010 at 16:12

bledd. said:
Some programs prevent sleep from happening

utorrent is one of them..

There's only so many Ubuntu distros one man can ever need at once

Participant · 13 Jun 2010 at 16:24

bledd. said:
Some programs prevent sleep from happening

utorrent is one of them..

Not on mine it doesn't.

PistolPete · 13 Jun 2010 at 19:07

bledd. said:
Some programs prevent sleep from happening

utorrent is one of them..

Blergh!!! I don't do P2P so I'd rather not have any clients on my PC.

dave-lew99 · 13 Jun 2010 at 19:58

This is normal behaviour, 'idle' is defined by no user input.

Quite a lot of programs access the appropriate windows APIs which prevent the machine from sleeping or displaying the screensaver etc, most common ones are video playback applications.

You will need to investigate if the applications you use will hold off the sleep timer, or switch which applications you use.

I can tell you that the Handbrake video encoder does do this, but thats the only one i use on a machine which i let sleep.

Participant · 15 Jun 2010 at 09:32

dave-lew99 said:
This is normal behaviour, 'idle' is defined by no user input.

Quite a lot of programs access the appropriate windows APIs which prevent the machine from sleeping or displaying the screensaver etc, most common ones are video playback applications.

You will need to investigate if the applications you use will hold off the sleep timer, or switch which applications you use.

I can tell you that the Handbrake video encoder does do this, but thats the only one i use on a machine which i let sleep.

You think it's normal for a PC to sleep in the middle of a backup? What planet are you on? Windows Vista never did this and until I read a MS help file describing the interruption of backups as 'normal', then I personally will just have to assume you're talking out of your derriere once again.

dave-lew99 · 15 Jun 2010 at 20:10

It depends entirely on the backup software, if it doesn't notify windows that it's in use and to not sleep then of course Windows is going to go to sleep.

This is a developers problem not a Microsoft problem.

Robbie G said:
I personally will just have to assume you're talking out of your derriere once again.

I would very much like to know what you mean by this personal attack on my knowledge.

Mr.Nick · 16 Jun 2010 at 20:15

WMP and Foobar2000 stop the machine from going to sleep, so I suppose you could play some music and just mute it?

I will also assume other media player's act in the same way.

Temi_D · 17 Jun 2010 at 00:09

I moved from vista to 7 and that is the only thing that really annoys me. I made a thread about it but no one understood. I like sleep so dont wanna turn it off. But it windows 7, its too strict!