Sleepy computer - Help!

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HavocXphere

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My new PC goes to sleep after a while of no use despite the power settings being set to never sleep. I've also tried to disable hibernation via powercfg.exe. Checked the BIOS & disabled "Deep Sleep".

Its proving a major headache because I can't leave it unattended to download Steam games etc.

Any ideas as to what could be causing this?

EDIT:

AsRock Extreme 4 + Intel build. Software running is AsRock extreme Tuner and Intel rapid storage tech.
 
Your computer has the AIDS.

source: A computer expert

Seriously though I gave up on Windows sleep settings years ago. I'm never able to stop the fsckers going into sleep mode no matter what settings I alter. I think Microsoft just put those settings there to troll us, I'm convinced they don't have any listeners attached or anything :D
 
I think I _might_ have found the problem. BIOS has a Intel Rapid Start Tech option - I suspect that might be the cause.

Also, I can report that disabling the power service is a crap idea...takes a bunch of stuff down with it.

MexicanStandoff said:
Are u running Win7 Ultimate?
Click to expand...
Sorry should have included that. Win 7 Home Premium x64.
 
What temps is your PC registering when its sitting idle?
 
It is either that fancy Rapid Start thingy, or as NAG says, something is overheating. Is there an acrid burnt toast smell if you stick your nose in the case?
 
Even when you set your power settings to never sleep, you still need to go into advance settings and make sure that the screen and HDD is also set to never (0) (Ignore if you already did that).
 
beans100 said:
Even when you set your power settings to never sleep, you still need to go into advance settings and make sure that the screen and HDD is also set to never (0) (Ignore if you already did that).
Click to expand...
HDD was already set to not sleep, but why do you think the screen has any effect on whether it sleeps (currently at 20min for screen)?
 
HavocXphere said:
40 idle CPU. Its definitely proper sleep - i.e. only happens when the PC has been sitting idle for like an hour. Gaming etc is fine.
Click to expand...

I was thinking it might be a stuck temperature sensor, those sometimes do get faults but it can't trigger a sleep state. Can you give us the rest of your system specs? I worked with some local Asrock reps about two years ago when I was dealing with BIOS issues from a large order of Asrock motherboards, this could be BIOS-related as well. Sleep state is normally S1 or S3 and something could be triggering it. I'll try find the Asrock rep I met at rAge, he might be able to help you.
 
HavocXphere said:
HDD was already set to not sleep, but why do you think the screen has any effect on whether it sleeps (currently at 20min for screen)?
Click to expand...

Sorry, typing and thinking not my thing tonight. You said it messes with your downloads? Check the adapter settings, maybe that is set to switch off to save power too????????
You know: Control panel > network sharing center > change adapter settings > right-click properties > config > power management :)
 
beans100 said:
Sorry, typing and thinking not my thing tonight. You said it messes with your downloads? Check the adapter settings, maybe that is set to switch off to save power too????????
You know: Control panel > network sharing center > change adapter settings > right-click properties > config > power management :)
Click to expand...
Switched off power management on the WLAN now. ;) What I meant was that when the PC goes into sleep mode, that kills the download (and everything else).
 
Just realized something & feeling like a bit of an idiot atm: It doesn't just kill the download, it kills all the applications....which means it can't be sleep...that would have preserved the memory state. Yet it behaves like sleep in many ways e.g. Wakes when pressing spacebar. So I'm thinking its got to be this rapid start tech. Apologies for the wild goose-chase.

NAG - Wesley said:
I was thinking it might be a stuck temperature sensor, those sometimes do get faults but it can't trigger a sleep state. Can you give us the rest of your system specs? I worked with some local Asrock reps about two years ago when I was dealing with BIOS issues from a large order of Asrock motherboards, this could be BIOS-related as well. Sleep state is normally S1 or S3 and something could be triggering it. I'll try find the Asrock rep I met at rAge, he might be able to help you.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the offer. Let me first check whether that rapid start setting in the BIOS made a diff. I'll know by tomorrow morning.

Specs: AsRock Extreme 4, 3570k, 8gb GSkills Ripjaws, Vertex 4, 1TB Seagate, R7950 MSI, DLink WLAN dongle, Corsair 800w PSU. Latest BIOS.
 
Last edited:
HavocXphere said:
Just realized something & feeling like a bit of an idiot atm: It doesn't just kill the download, it kills all the applications....which means it can't be sleep...that would have preserved the memory state. Yet it behaves like sleep in many ways e.g. Wakes when pressing spacebar. So I'm thinking its got to be this rapid start tech. Apologies for the wild goose-chase.

Thanks for the offer. Let me first check whether that rapid start setting in the BIOS made a diff. I'll know by tomorrow morning.

Specs: AsRock Extreme 4, 3570k, 8gb GSkills Ripjaws, Vertex 4, 1TB Seagate, R7950 MSI, DLink WLAN dongle, Corsair 800w PSU. Latest BIOS.
Click to expand...

I've been looking up RST issues as well since I replied to the thread, though you might have a SSD installed. Which RST driver version are you on?
 
My suggestion would be to make a new user account, then within that make a new power plan and then set to never sleep.
 
Success. The BIOS RST setting was the issue.

Kinda weird that it doesn't have any kind of settings/notification or anything.
 
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