XP ignores power settings

XP ignores power settings Windows XP power settings

#1 Ronno6

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Posted 02 September 2010 - 06:28 PM

My Dell Dimension 8400 runs Windows XP SP3. Rather than use a screen saver I opt for having the monitor power down to standby after 5 minutes. However, XP does not always do as settings dictate. Several times daily the monitor does not power down. I have to go to the power settings in display properties, and reaffirm what is already there, then "apply" and "OK" on the settings screen, then "OK" on the Display Properties box.
I've seen other posts in which the settings have changed by themselves. My settings do not change, XP simply ignores them.
I have installed and run Malwarebytes, which detected some issues, but the problem persists.

The computer also only recognizes my MP3 player a finite number of times when connected via USB cable. When the MP3 player will no longer be recognized, only a reboot seems to rectify the problem.

Any ideas??

#2 Ronno6

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Posted 05 September 2010 - 11:25 AM

I feel lonelier than the Maytag repairman. Sigh..............

#3 dc3

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Posted 05 September 2010 - 11:46 AM

Hi Ronno6, and welcome to BleepingComputer.

In the Power Options of the Control Panel do you have a check mark in the box for hibernate?

#4 Ronno6

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Posted 05 September 2010 - 04:13 PM

Hi and thanks. Yes, the hibernate box is checked to enable hibernation, but on the power settings screen I use "never" as the setting. Could this cause a conflict?

#5 dc3

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Posted 06 September 2010 - 03:39 AM

Remove the check from hibernation and see if there are any results.

#6 danjmilos

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Posted 06 September 2010 - 09:37 AM

Ronno6,

Leave the check mark in the enable box and set a time amount to see if it will go into hibernation on its own. Make it something short like 15 minutes.

Dan

This post has been edited by danjmilos: 06 September 2010 - 09:37 AM

#7 Ronno6

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Posted 06 September 2010 - 10:49 AM

OK. I unchecked the box and all has been well since doing so yesterday. I'm not going to mess with success.

Previously, when using hibernation, I remember having occasional problems when waking up. I don't remember the specifics, but I know there's a reason why I discontinued using hibernation.

Thanks to all. Hopefully the problem has been solved!

#8 dc3

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Posted 06 September 2010 - 11:00 AM

Glad to hear that it worked for you. :thumbsup:

#9 Ronno6

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 06:24 AM

ME TOO !! It was such a drag having to reaffirm the settings that were already there, just being ignored.

THANKS !!!

#10 Ronno6

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 02:53 PM

Well, I jinxed it again! Worked fine for a couple of days and now it's back to its old tricks again.
I should not have proclaimed it as "fixed."
Anybody have any other ideas??

#11 danjmilos

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 04:36 PM

Ronno6,

How much RAM do you have installed? If there isn't enough stand-by will not work.

Dan

#12 dc3

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 10:18 PM

Standby is a power saving mode. Unlike hibernation where the RAM is kept powered up so that it can maintain the amount of data matching the amount of RAM, standby does not save date, so the amount of RAM in this application doesn't come into play.

Edited for content.

Ronno6, please post the exact setting you have in the Power Options.

This post has been edited by dc3: 07 September 2010 - 10:40 PM

#13 Ronno6

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Posted 08 September 2010 - 07:25 AM

The POWER SCHEME settings I have been using:
Turn off monitor : 5 minutes
Turn off hard drives: 1 hour
System Standby : Never

I have unchecked the box under Enable Hibernation

Are there any other settings involved?

FWIW I have 2.5g of RAM

This post has been edited by Ronno6: 08 September 2010 - 07:26 AM

#14 dc3

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Posted 08 September 2010 - 09:40 AM

Just curious, but why do you have the hdd set to shut down after an hour?

Under Power Schemes, how do you have it set?

On the off chance that there are corrupted files, try using sfc with the scannow option,this will scan and repair important Windows files.

Go to Start> Run and type in sfc /scannow and then click on OK.

This post has been edited by dc3: 08 September 2010 - 09:46 AM

#15 Ronno6

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Posted 08 September 2010 - 11:14 AM

I do not understand the question about how it is set under Power Schemes.
Power Schemes Settings are as I indicated.

I do not know why the HDD setting is to turn off after 1 hour. XP Default maybe? If it should be set to something else, please advise.

I ran the sfc/scannow as suggested. No problems were indicated.

Thanks