Desktop won't go to sleep anymore. Just started about 3 weeks ago

FredricJLowe · 15 Nov 2019

I used to be able to have my Desktop go to sleep. Now it won't. From various suggestions on Google, I've gone into Power Options and attempted to change some of the settings but it still will not enter sleep mode.

I hope you can assist.

Tech Support Guy System Info Utility version 1.0.0.4
OS Version: Microsoft Windows 10 Home, 64 bit Version 1903
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz, Intel64 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 11
Processor Count: 4
RAM: 8125 Mb
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 210, 1024 Mb
Hard Drives: C: 449 GB (176 GB Free); D: 14 GB (3 GB Free); F: 931 GB (349 GB Free);
Motherboard: Dell Inc., 0TP406
Antivirus: Norton Security Suite, Enabled and Updated

Try3 · 15 Nov 2019

The initial steps for all sleep problems are to

1 Re-install display driver
1.1 Go to the computer maker, for display cards supplied with the computer, or
1.2 go to the display card maker, for display cards bought separately,
to get a copy of the latest display card driver and install it [even if it is the same version as that currently installed, just to bowl out the possibility that the installed driver has become corrupted].

2 Go back to the computer maker to check for & install any updated Bios.

These steps might or might not solve the problem but 'logical' faultfinding might never identify these potential causes so it's best to get them out of the way before going ny further.

3 It can also be useful to try Safe mode. If it works in Safe mode but not normally, check Device manager in Safe mode so you can be certain about which driver was used [I believe it will be an MS default driver but things change over time so I cannot be sure]. You can then post the results [including the driver versions] and ask for more help.

Best of luck,
Denis

mrgeek · 15 Nov 2019

Try3's suggestion is good. I recently had this issue too, after updating Display driver. I rolled-back and Voila, problem fixed. If you didn't update it yourself or you're uncertain, just uninstall it completely and re-boot and Windows will install one that makes it happy ... and you.

Try3 · 15 Nov 2019

I've added a step to my previous post -

3 It can also be useful to try Safe mode. If it works in Safe mode but not normally, check Device manager in Safe mode so you can be certain about which driver was used [I believe it will be an MS default driver but things change over time so I cannot be sure]. You can then post the results [including the driver versions] and ask for more help.

Best of luck,
Denis

FredricJLowe · 15 Nov 2019

I uninstalled the driver and it defaulted to Microsoft after restarting. Then I cliked on Update driver and it installed the Nvidia GeForce 210 driver. I'll let it try to enter sleep mode after 30 minutes before going onto the next suggestion.
Thank you!

- - - Updated - - -

Uninstalling and updating the driver did not fix the issue. So on to the next suggestion above.

Try3 · 15 Nov 2019

I urge you to get that display driver from your computer maker's website not from Windows or anywhere else [assuming that the display card came with your computer]. Only that can bowl out the possibility that your computer maker has tailored some aspect of the driver to cope with some peculiarity of thier hardware. It might not make any difference but there's no other way of telling.

Denis

FredricJLowe · 16 Nov 2019

Hi Denis,

OK, I'll uninstall the driver again and after it reboots and adds the generic MS driver, I'll go to Nividia to get the driver.
BTW I tried Safe Mode and it never entered sleep mode. If adding the driver from Nividia doesn't fix it, should I try Safe Mode again?

- - - Updated - - -

Found the culprit preventing sleep!!
I read there could be a process running. I saw an article that referred me to Command Prompt as an Administrator
and to type powercfg -requests

I saw a procesc that printer was spooling. Then I went to Control Panel and my printers. There was a printer that I had accidentally printed to that isn't on my network at the moment. I deleted those print jobs and then waited for the computer to go to sleep. I had it set to 5 minutes so I didn't have to wait long. IT WENT TO SLEEP!!

Thank you for all of your suggestions Denis!!!

Try3 · 16 Nov 2019

Fredric,

Interesting. Have you got a link to that powercfg -requests article?

Denis