Power Saving Mode

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 5:36 am

For a number of weeks now, I've been having a problem with my desktop. It goes into Power Saving Mode and I can't access my PC. Initially I thought there was a problem with the Power Saving Mode, cos normally when it does that, I just move the mouse and I can carry on doing what I want, it's a kind of screensaver I suppose. Antway, I set PC to not do this, and still it does it, and when it does this I cant access my PC, I have to reboot. This happens a lot when I'm watching video (movie or show) on the PC. And there are 2 kinds of it, one where it just goes into like Power Saving Mode, and I get 'NO SIGNAL' on my monitor, and another one where it starts making a really loud buzzing sound, but technically it appears to be doing the same thing, ie shutting me out, so again I have to reboot.

I called PC World's Tech Dept, and after a couple questions suggested I do a complete wipe to see if it'll sort it. I wasn't impressed. So I called PC World direct and got much more help from customer services in the store, she seemed more clued up than the Tech guy. After a lengthy discussion, she came to the same conclusion, wipe PC to see if it fixes the problem, and if it doesn't get back to us.
I'm putting this here cos I know there are a lot of you guys that know computers, and have probably seen them f*** up in spectacular ways. Have any of ya seen anything like this?

moved by mod

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 6:41 am

Hi spacebitch that sounds a bit annoying.

I'm gonna put my two cents in before someone who actually knows what their talking about comes along.
So from a bloke who stumbles through with trial and numerous errors.
With some thing like that I always go to device manager, in the control panel, first and check if there are any driver issues.
Would try to update some relevant ones, if they all seem to be up to date, you could even try disabling then enabling them. This some times seems to rectify a glitch (actually worked for me last week with some sound issues).
If I'm not satisfied with that I will get copies of the latest drivers from the manufacturers site (the latest and up to date ones on your machine could be corrupt) before I uninstall some of the likely candidates, so I can reinstall them fresh.
Don't be scared, especially with the monitor ones, cos things start to flicker, change size and can go black. But It will automatically find default generic ones on a restart.
Now I did say this is the first thing I try, so if that doesn't work I'm in the poo, just like you, if that's not the problem! Smile

Ultimately it could be so many other things, with which I cant help.. Good luck hope it does the trick!

(watch the next person to post say something very simple, short and sweet to fix the problem, and make me look like a nuff nuff)

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 7:08 am

What version of windows do you have? If you have already set all the options in power management, to never go to sleep or hibernate etc, there may still be some options in the BIOS for power management. Maybe have a look there?

If nothing there, you can check the event viewer after its happened, and in the system, or maybe the application log in there, you should see an event showing whats causing. If you remember the last time it happened, search for that time for last events listed before it powered down. If you cant remember the last time, just leave your machine idle for however long it takes, then when it happens, power back up, and go into event viewer and take a look.

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 1:29 pm

Thanks for all your help guys. My brother came over and told me to unplug my keyboard, restart the computer then try with an old (regular) keyboard, and (fingers crossed) it seems to have sorted things. Before this I tried watching the first episode of Shameless USA and it crashed 3 times, I'll try it now and see if I can watch the whole episode.
I got this keyboard from Ebay a year ago, I have fought friends, to keep this bugger going, half the letters missing and I've resisted replacing it, even resorted to buying sticky lettering [thanks Gemhol]. And it appears that this may have been the cause. And I've had to restore the power settings to default, but at the moment I'm not locked out when it goes into power saving mode. For the time being, resolved. Thanks again for swift response, fellow Isohunters.

This is/was my keyboard

EBAY

[EDIT] Hmmm, that seemed to fix things for a while, but the problem is still there. Watched another TV show and it went into the (the noisy sleep mode), and again this morning I was watching a movie and it went again. I'll go +and check your suggestions now guys.

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:38 am

A pattern has emerged. When I watch any video content whethr it be a file or youtube for example, I get this buzzing sound, computer loses it's signal and screen goes black, I have to reboot.

I'm surfing the internet, and without warning, the screen goes black, no signal starts going round screen and I have to reboot.

I've looked online for solutions and in Windows Solution Centre, and there doesnt appear to be a fix.

I have a friend who has had several viruses and has had to wipe his computer more than once. There are risks involved. But I struggle to believe ther isnt a fix for this other than wiping pc. And the wipe isnt guaranteed to even fix the issue

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:20 am

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:54 am

it is quite possible your keyboard is not playing nice with your computer.
it looks quite old and maybe proprietary, so the driver could be taking a place in memory that windows expects to see open.
see if you can borrow a keyboard, or buy one of those flexible rubber roll up USB kboards for 20$
there is an old bug where a UPS backup and a PS2 mouse would make the machine lockup when it entered power saving mode.

also i have never had windows hibernation mode work reliably, it always needs a reboot and maybe comes back where you left off.

bazzer gave you the scoop on power save settings , and the idea of BIOS conflict with OS.

hope it helps

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:13 am

open the control panel
go to power options (you may have to set view to small icons)
click change plan settings
in the window that opens:
click change plan settings
click change advanced power settings, expand usb and ensure usb selective suspend is disabled.