PC not going into standby mode

R

riscbroker

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I'm not sure if this is a hardware or software issue.

I have a Intel motherboard based PC with Win XP that I use occasionally for testing. This PC I had setup so it would go into standby mode when not in use; everything would power down - fans, HDD etc so that the machine would appear to be removed from mains power, but would start up upon hitting any key on the keyboard. It's been working like that for months.

I then got a couple of HDD's from another dead PC and tried to test them in this PC - one of the HDD's made nasty clicking noises and the machine would not boot. I removed the offending drive, re-booted, tested the remaining drive (which proved to be fine) and then removed that drive to restore the PC to original state. During the course of this exercise, the original HDD also started making funny noises (these I found were caused by a faulty power connector) and the OS got corrupted. I re-installed the OS and the machine works fine. But...

The PC now will no longer enter the previous standby state that I was able to create - screen and HDD power off but the CPU and PSU fan stay on. What have I done wrong/missed/broken?
 
This is the nature of Windoze. You can install the same Win on the same PC ten times and you will get ten different outcomes. Try re-installing a few times.
 
Valis said:
This is the nature of Windoze. You can install the same Win on the same PC ten times and you will get ten different outcomes. Try re-installing a few times.
Click to expand...
Ok, I'll give it a bash. I suspect the version that I re-installed is different to what was originally on there.....
 
I disagree. Thats NOT the nature of Windows. It's most probably chipset drivers or the BIOS. Check that the BIOS is set to S3 sleep and check if you are using the latest chipset drivers. These drivers are responsible for a PC's power management.
 
yea update bios and drivers first, try it, see if it fails with an event or works.
 
It could be that ACPI isn't enabled in the BIOS, or that you haven't installed those drivers in Windows.

S3 sleep state should also be set, like vinodh said.
 
Thanks for all the replies, I've just reloaded Win XP with SP3, latest chipset drivers off Intel site. I'll check the BIOS for the S3 sleep bit and see what happens.......
 
Happily, it's now working how I want it. I'm pretty sure it was the chipset drivers that sorted it - I didn't touch the BIOS and just set up a manual standby. Thanks very much for the tips guys
 
Valis said:
This is the nature of Windoze. You can install the same Win on the same PC ten times and you will get ten different outcomes. Try re-installing a few times.
Click to expand...
Sorry, mate - whatalottanonsenseyouspeak. Unless the software on the disk is automagically being recoded there is just no ways in the current universe this can possibly happen - your prejudice and/or ignorance are/is showing through, and your "advice" is wrong. If you are experiencing these inconsistencies maybe you need to get your PC/yourself exorcised - a poltergeist is more credible than "same Win in same PC ten times with ten different outcomes". It matters not a jot whether it's Windows or anything else - the same basic physics applies.
 
Arthur said:
Sorry, mate - whatalottanonsenseyouspeak. Unless the software on the disk is automagically being recoded there is just no ways in the current universe this can possibly happen - your prejudice and/or ignorance are/is showing through, and your "advice" is wrong. If you are experiencing these inconsistencies maybe you need to get your PC/yourself exorcised - a poltergeist is more credible than "same Win in same PC ten times with ten different outcomes". It matters not a jot whether it's Windows or anything else - the same basic physics applies.
Click to expand...

Brilliant! :D
 
Try this plug out your peripheral USB connections like ones to external hard drives.
Those sometimes ping back causing your slumbering pc to awake before it heads struck the pillow.
 
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