Win7 comp goes to sleep and can't get up

[TehMac]

This has been happening for a while now...when I am away from my computer for an extended period of time (let's say anywhere from 45 min-8 hrs) my computer's screen(s) will go to sleep, as they should. My computer doesn't officially go to sleep, but when I try to "wake" my computer up, the screens won't activate, letting me see my desktop.

Both mouse and keyboard are directly attached to the desktop tower, and mashing the buttons on both does nothing for me.

I have to push the reboot button on the tower to make the computer restart, which as you might imagine, is not optimal.

To counter this, I try to leave Windows Media Player open and playing music so even though my monitors go to sleep, my computer won't, although this tactic doesn't always work.

So I'm trying to figure out what the hell is causing this problem.

 

[VirtualLarry]

you've tried opening Control Panel, System, Power Options, and then clicking on your power plan, click settings, and then change Sleep to "Never"?

 

[TehMac]

That is correct. And this weird phenomenon occurs in which the computer won't come out of this strange limbo state.

 

[corkyg]

Do you perchance have a "green" HDD?

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Do you perchance have a "green" HDD?

and set your HDD to never turn off.

 

[us3rnotfound]

You say you need to hard reset it, but have you tried pressing the power button on the case and seeing if it will shutdown normally? If it refuses to I'd guess there's a hardware problem.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yes, if you have sleep disabled in Windows, then this doesn't sound like sleep. It sounds like it is hard-locking, only just when you have the monitor off.

 

[TehMac]

Do you perchance have a "green" HDD?

I have a 2009 Western Digital Caviar Black w/ a tb.

I dont think thats very green.

Yes, if you have sleep disabled in Windows, then this doesn't sound like sleep. It sounds like it is hard-locking, only just when you have the monitor off.

That sounds like it. Also, the goddamn Windows updates probably confuse things. How can I set my hdd to "never shut off?"

 

[paul878]

Are you overclocking?
Sandy Bridge have that problem if PLL Overvoltage is enable.

 

[airdata]

you've tried opening Control Panel, System, Power Options, and then clicking on your power plan, click settings, and then change Sleep to "Never"?

This.

Windows 7 by default has some rather weird power saving settings. You may want to tweak some settings in the power plan including pcie power.

 

[jhansman]

While you're in the power options, take a few minutes to create a custom power plan. Some of the less obvious options can be set to create fewer headaches.

 

[TehMac]

I am not overclocking. I created a custom power plan but I dont think that will stop it.I updated Windows 7, so perhaps it will stop bitching now that I have the service pack.