BleepingComputer.com: Lap to lock up when idle

I have a Dell Inspiron 1720 Lap top running windows vista home premium. For about a month now, it has been "locking up" when left idle. It only locks up when left idle. If I am actively using the keyboard or mouse pad, it does not lock up. Its lock up is either no response from clicking, moving the mouse, or hitting the windows key, or I can move pointer, click on something and it goes into the never ending circle indicating the computer is busy (no amount of time allows me to continue without shutting down and restarting). Diagnostics scan indicates no hardware problems. I have been able to run my spyware, antivirus scans (Trend Microsystems)with no indicated problems. Any ideas or suggestions for resolving this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely

cmaze

This post has been edited by cmaze: 27 February 2010 - 11:40 PM

Do you use standby/hibernate?
Check your power settings. Maybe even set them to never for now
I know this sounds silly, but update your video driver

Dear Garmanma:

I was or did not believe I was using standby or hibernate. I went into power options and reset everything to never (hard drive under advanced options had 20 minutes as a default). Hard drive sleep or shutdown is now at never. I still have the problem of locking up. I also went and updated the Nvidia driver, yet still have the lock up problem when the computer is left idle. The time-to-lockup seems longer, and the lock-up initially is a "bogged down state" where mouse pad will accept responses (one or two), before just not being able to accept any more input, although the last lock-up was the same with no response to the mouse pad motions or clicks.

Sincerely,

Christopher

Nothing to do with power settings or graphics settings just right click a blank spot on your desktop, go to personalize then to screen saver options.

once your on there you will see it says wait (time) minutes and (a ticked box) On resume, display logon screen

just untick the box and this should fix your problem

Moderator Edit

This post has been edited by Pandy: 01 March 2010 - 08:20 PM

Con10119:

the "On resume, display logon screen" was already not ticked, and the lock ups have resumed to the original degree given in my first posting.

Sincerely,
Christopher

This post has been edited by cmaze: 01 March 2010 - 10:48 PM

Does your lap top get hot?

Cryptodan:
I can't say I've paid much attention to heat, but just having felt the bottom, just having recovered from a lock-up in which it had been idle for over an hour, it is not hotter than it has been in the past before the problem. When its on your lap it warms your legs less than that of a pizza on the ride home from the pizza shop.

Sincerely,
Christopher

I have since uninstalled and reinstalled a newer version of the Trend microsystem antivirus package that came with the computer from Dell, as the old one was 07 vintage. Odd that the paid system does not update and upgrade the system automatically when you click update. The lockups when idle continue with the new 2010 software.