Multiple computers waking from sleep

All of a sudden (perhaps since 1903 was installed) three of my computers are waking themselves up from sleep. I can put them back to sleep but invariably they will soon be back awake. AFAICT once they are awakened they will not go back to sleep.

This is not happening to all computers on the network. Running the last wake command tells me:

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> powercfg -lastwakeWake History Count - 1Wake History [0] Wake Source Count - 1 Wake Source [0] Type: Wake Timer Owner: [SERVICE] \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\svchost.exe (SystemEventsBroker) Owner Supplied Reason: Windows will execute 'NT TASK\Microsoft\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\Universal Orchestrator Idle Start' scheduled task that requested waking the computer.

A quick search tells me this is related to Windows Update and should not be disabled. I need my computers sleep without issue, need that function. Any help?

I checked a computer that is not doing this and I don't see an entry for "Universal Orchestrator Idle Start", only "Universal Orchestrator Start" which the effected computer also has. Can I do something with that task to see if it is the cause? On the effected computer the "Idle" task last run seems to correspond when the computer was wakened.

edit: Tried to disable the task and it tells me I don't have permission. I am the administrator. Ugh I hate Windows.

Bru,

Here are steps that you can take to modify those settings in task scheduler. I was involved in a discussion with someone yesterday who had the same problem and modifying the settings in task scheduler did not help them, but I'd really appreciate it if you report back whether this helps you at all.

Download the Microsoft Sysinternals utility called PsExec from here:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sys...wnloads/psexec

Extract the contents to a folder.

Open an ELEVATED command prompt and navigate to the folder where you extracted the utility.

Run this command:

Code:

psexec.exe -i -s %SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe

This will open a new command prompt with System rights.

In that command window, run this command:

Code:

taskschd.msc

You have just opened task scheduler with System rights.

Navigate to UpdateOrchestrator (Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > UpdateOrchestrator) and right-click on Backup Scan and select Properties. Go to the Conditions tab. Uncheck "Wake the computer to run this task".

Click OK to save the change.

Yes, I could also not change permissions in Task Scheduler so trying to do your instructions I am lost here:

Open an ELEVATED command prompt and navigate to the folder where you extracted the utility.

Run this command: etc

I right click on Command Prompt and select Open a File location but how do I select the folder which I called PSTools on my desktop. Highlighting it doesn't seem to work? If I click it there are many folders inside it.

bru,

On my system (which does not wake up on its own), I don't see the Universal Orchestrator Idle Start that you see. While you are in there with System rights, try disabling that.

I believe that in that other case I was referencing in my previous note we were only looking at the Backup Scan option and even after turning off the option to allow it to wake the system that option was getting re-enabled somehow. Maybe you are onto something with the Universal Orchestrator Idle Start item.

hsehestedt said:

bru,

On my system (which does not wake up on its own), I don't see the Universal Orchestrator Idle Start that you see. While you are in there with System rights, try disabling that.

I believe that in that other case I was referencing in my previous note we were only looking at the Backup Scan option and even after turning off the option to allow it to wake the system that option was getting re-enabled somehow. Maybe you are onto something with the Universal Orchestrator Idle Start item.

Agree I don't see Idle Start either on a different computer so the simple thing would be to disable it but I get an error that I don't have permission, even though I am the administrator. Perhaps because the task is under the user S1-1 etc. No idea what that is.

I googled and I think I do need to do what you say I just can't figure it out

I don't think You get it. When he tries to disable it and save it, He get's the info to put credentials on for the S-1-5-18.
Get psexec.exe, run:
cmd (as administrator)
get to the proper folder with psexec
psexec -s -i cmd.exe
in the new window
taskschd.msc
Then You can disable or even remove that task.
It was turning my computer every 15 minutes... crazy

Here are some more detailed instructions:

In the search box, type "CMD". You should see a command prompt option as in the following illustration. Right-click it and choose to run as administrator.



Locate the folder where you saved and extracted PSEXEC. Hold down the SHIFT key and while still holding it down, right-click on that folder. Select the option "Copy as path".



Go back to the command prompt you opened.

Type in "CD" (without the quotes) followed by a space. Right-click within that command prompt. That should paste in the path. Hit ENTER.

It should look something like this but with the path to where you saved PSEXEC.



Now you can continue with the steps to run the psexec command, etc.

I found the other thread (maybe there are more). For now I am going to disable wake timers in the power options to see if that works as even with your excellent instructions I am not very comfortable doing that fix. Depending on what happens I may have try it anyway.

I know you or probably no one here can answer but I wonder why even though all of my computers were just upgraded to 1903, not all of them have this Orchestratoridle task that is causing this issue? I sure hope Microsoft issues a fix as I have to think many people's computers are waking up from sleep because of it.

Disabling Wake Timers didn't work. Computer is back awake 15 minutes later.