Monitor no longer shuts off, computer doesn't Stand By

[MichaelD]

WinXP SP3. No changes except Security Updates in past month.

I was away from home for 3 weeks, so my system was shut down. Got home a few days ago. PC is working fine. Everything works...but...

My monitor no longer shuts off and computer doesn't stand by.

In Power Settings, it's set to Home Office/Desktop, monitor to shut off after 20 mins, system standby after 1 hour. It no longer does either of those things.

The screen saver (standard WinXP logo) comes on, but the monitor wont' shut off. It used to work fine. I doubt the standard "Patch Tuesday" security patches broke it...

Any ideas?

 

[LuckyTaxi]

same sh!t for me, I had to reinstall XP but didn't install SP3. I found out that my cordless mouse/keyboard was causing it to hang but my issue is different. I can manually force it into Standby, but it doesn't do it automatically.
I set the damn thing to 3 mins and I sat there and watched it. NOTHING! Prior to modifying the settings for my keyboard/mouse, I wasn't able to manually force it into Standby. See if that works for you. I'm still trying to figure
out why it doesn't do this automatically.

 

[MichaelD]

The odd thing is that it was working perfectly before. The only thing that changed was that I installed whatever security updates were available last Tuesday. After that it broke. I don't see how security updates would cause this. I'm stumped.

 

[C1]

A problem similar was heard as a call-in to a local radio station (all about computers). The result was that the most likely issue is that some application is interrogating or stimulating the system so it doesnt enter standby. I would first begin by inspecting the BIOS settings (Power Management). Then verify all options in the OS Power Management section for correct setting.

I would then do some ad hoc testing. Set up the Performance Monitoring to watch CPU & HDD & RAM activity. Set up Event Viewer (to catch ongoing system events). Then set the system to Standby in 1 min & watch the recorded activities to try to determine what is stimulating the system. (On the radio program wireless devices such as mice & keyboards can be responsible, but you are getting the screen saver. My guess would be to focus on the HDD activity.)

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: C1
A problem similar was heard as a call-in to a local radio station (all about computers). The result was that the most likely issue is that some application is interrogating or stimulating the system so it doesnt enter standby. I would first begin by inspecting the BIOS settings (Power Management). Then verify all options in the OS Power Management section for correct setting.

I would then do some ad hoc testing. Set up the Performance Monitoring to watch CPU & HDD & RAM activity. Set up Event Viewer (to catch ongoing system events). Then set the system to Standby in 1 min & watch the recorded activities to try to determine what is stimulating the system. (On the radio program wireless devices such as mice & keyboards can be responsible, but you are getting the screen saver. My guess would be to focus on the HDD activity.)

Excellent reply; thank you! I will do just that. This problem is maddening to me. It worked fine the day I shut it off...now, it's hosed. :roll: Thanks again.