Windows won't activate screensaver, or sleep, with game controllers in

Hello,

Flying flight simulators I have joystick, throttle and rudder pedals connected to the PC. They are all fairly high end.

When they are connected however, the PC refuse to hibernate, sleep or activate the screensaver...

I've tried multiple suggestions for a solution, but without luck.

Except from disconnecting the mentioned controllers, what do you suggest I could try?

Macboatmaster said:

I appreciate listing the multiple solutions maybe time consuming for YOU, but I hope you also appreciate, that it will save me wasting my time.

I get you, Macboatmaster! I am sorry.

Of course it should be reasonable to expect a list of what I`ve already tried.

I tried to clean the pot meter on my first joystick. That did not help.

I then tried replacing the joystick and throttle with a high end one (Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS). Somewhat unexpectedly that did not help either.

I have contacted Thrustmaster asking them for help and advice. Never got any reply from them though.

One suggestion was to uncheck "allow this device to wake the computer". That did not help.

I have played with different power plans without success.

I have tried to preview a screensaver with different times to start (from 1 to 10 minutes). That works and the screensaver will remain on until I move the mouse, but it will not start the screensaver by itself.

I have checked for drift in the joystick properties. There are no movememt though that I can see.

Disconnecting both joystick, rudder and throttle from the PC starts the screensaver at the set time.

I have not however tried suggestions that make changes in the registry.

Macboatmaster said:

Try this
cmd prompt admin rights
powercfg /devicequery wake_programmable
============
If that does not work have you considered a switchable usb hub rather than the pain of disconnecting the joystick etc.
As you have probably read some people have reported such a solution.

Sorry for the late reply there Macboatmaster,

I've been away for work so I had to get home before I could test your suggestion.

I did run the command you suggested, but no game controller appears in the list.

C:\Windows\system32>powercfg /devicequery wake_programmable
HID-kompatibel leverandørdefinert enhet
HID Keyboard Device
HID-kompatibel leverandørdefinert enhet (001)
HID-kompatibel systemkontroller (002)
HID-kompatibel leverandørdefinert enhet (002)
HID-compliant consumer control device
HID Keyboard Device (002)
HID-compliant device (005)
HID Keyboard Device (003)
HID-compliant device (007)
HID-compliant consumer control device (004)
Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6 AX200 160MHz
HID-kompatibel mus (003)
HID Keyboard Device (007)
HID-kompatibel telefon
Intel(R) Ethernet Controller (3) I225-V
HID-compliant consumer control device (008)

In device manager - Devices for Human interface (HID?) I do get three HID-compliant game controllers though, but they do not appear in the list using the command you suggested.

Does that mean I will not be able to proceed?

I do have a USB hub that can be turned off, but it is not what I am after as it introduces other problems and issues that I would like to avoid. Mostly because I am in the habit of just leaving the computer from time to time without the intention of leaving it "permanently". But then something else happens so that I do not return to the computer until a few hours have passed. This is one scenario where I'd love the screensaver to start, or alternatively the computer to go to standby/sleep mode.

Macboatmaster said:

I suggest you disconnect the joystick, throttle and rudder pedals
re run the cmd and compare the different entries

I just tried this and unfortunately the list is the same indicating the game controllers do show up in the list at all. They are currently connected to a TP-Link UH720 USB 3.0 7-Ports Hub.

Macboatmaster said:

Another way and I am not sure it will work is to go to power plan - please see my screenshot
and try IF you have not already done so the setting show - important wake timers only

I tried this as well now and unfortunately the screensaver does not start after the set time when I changed the setting from Enable to Important Wake Timers Only.

Macboatmaster said:

Cheers
Sorry but I have no other suggestions
It is as you know, a commonly reported problem

Thank you for taking the time anyway. It is highly appreciated!