I can't get my PC to sleep mode any more!

Hello group- newbie here.

I am using Windows 7, and I think that when I did a Windows Update something went wrong and my ability to let the computer go to sleep was wiped out.

I've been searching in google for a solution and tried a couple things to no avail.

I go into Control Panel, systems settings, power options and now it just gives me an interval when to shut down the computer, nothing about "sleep".

I used to have it so that it would automatically go to sleep after a few minutes, then all I'd need to do is come back and move my mouse and it would wake up.

Now I've been getting by just shutting down, but that is pretty inconvenient if I need to get right back on.

My PC is a Dell, so I went to their site and did a diagnostic and it indicated that my driver was outdated and needed an update. They did it while I waited (took about 15 minutes to run their diagnostic program). Then I rebooted and went in to control panel and still the system won't go to sleep.

I am considering throwing up my hands and just going for Windows 10, perhaps that is the solution?? I thought I'd try in here.

Thanks for listening!!

Did you scan for malware.?

https://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/w...ill-not-sleep/

Thank you I tried methods #1 and #2, method #3 is a little daunting to me, I am not sure of startup programs, etc.

If you'd rather not use the command line, scroll down a bit in "Method #3" and start where it says "You can also prevent the devices from waking a Windows 7 computer using Device Manager.".

Thanks Spyware Dr- I tried method 3 using the device manager. However, that didn't help my issue.

Sorry to hear that; it worked here. Hopefully someone else with some other ideas to try will be along soon.

Quote:

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I go into Control Panel, systems settings, power options and now it just gives me an interval when to shut down the computer, nothing about "sleep".

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You mean you don't see sleep listed like in Method #2? When I open Control Panel > Power Options, and click Change plan settings, the sleep setting is right there.

Did you check Task Manager to see if any applications are open in the background? Something might be preventing the system from sleeping.

I don't see the point in upgrading to Win10. If you do an upgrade, it will just carry over any existing issues.

I had some same problem, try to normally reboot your PC twice, after use sleep mode.
If it not help, may be need to reinstall Windows

I need a little help to figure out which programs in task manager are keeping my PC from sleeping. Do I do the msconfig command?

I mean when I use Method 2 there is no "sleep" option, it's just a "shut down" option. So I keep switching from 15 minutes to 10 minutes and see if that works but no it doesn't.

Can you post a screenshot? So you're saying instead of "Put the computer to sleep:" it says "Shut down:"?

Is this a laptop or a desktop? You didn't post the make/model.

Msconfig tells you what runs on startup. If you look in Task Manager, see if there are any processes using a lot of CPU other than "System Idle Process".

Sorry about that- I have a Dell desktop. I'll work on making some screencaptures this evening.

Here are some screencaps of my PC and task manager, hopefully you'll be able to see something about my system that is going off

First, my PC stats, then some screen caps of power settings, task manager. Hopefully this will work, any recommendations are appreciated!!! Thanks.
Attachment 9921Attachment 9923Attachment 9925Attachment 9927

It looks like there is an issue with your video card in Device manager. Have you updated your drivers?
https://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topi...de-option-gone
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...e79d2e2?auth=1

I see Plex is running. That's for media sharing, so it might prevent your system from sleeping.

I went in to my NVIDIA driver and tried updating, and this is what I got:
Attachment 9929

You tried updating from Device Manager? You need to download the drivers from Nvidia.

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

This is what came up for Win7 64 for the GT 720:
http://www.nvidia.com/download/drive...x/123934/en-us

Thank you! OK I'll try the Nvidia site. Do you know if I should do the x32 or x64 driver? I see that I have both on my computer.

According to your screenshot, you have Windows 7 64-bit (x64).
What do you mean you have x32? Do you have more than one version of Windows installed?

No I am sorry about that confusion. When I go into programs that are installed on my PC, one file says "Programs" and the other says "Programs (x86)". That was what I meant to say - what is X86?

x86 = 32-bit
Programs (x86) is the folder where 32-bit apps are installed.
https://www.howtogeek.com/129178/why...es-x86-folder/

Thank you for your help! Please forgive my ignorance in this, but I went to the GeForce site and it looks like they are drivers for people who play games, what would this have to do with my problem about the computer not being able to sleep?

Did you check out the links I posted on post #15? The video card drivers can affect the sleep mode. Also, there is a yellow exclamation point warning on your video card in Device Manager.

Even if you don't play games, the GT720 still needs to have the proper drivers installed.

I tried but failed with NVidia- here is a screenshot

Attachment 9931

I just checked Windows Update- there's something about NVIDIA drivers! I think I'll try this:

Attachment 9933

So you downloaded 385.69-desktop-win8-win7-64bit-international-whql.exe and it gave you that error?

You can try the Windows Update driver, I guess. I prefer to get the driver directly from the vendor.

You could also check out the Dell support site for your model. It would probably be an older set of drivers, but the main thing is to get the video working properly.

Here's a quick update-
I went to the link from Nvidia, and tried the download, and got the error message back. When I went into Windows Update, I saw that Nvidia update and tried it, but I got an error message. I'll post a screenshot when I get home (at work now).

Did you try the drivers from the Dell site yet?
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/...s-8700/drivers

I'm guessing it would be the nVIDIA GeForce 5xx/6xx/7xx Series Graphics Driver

Midknyte- thank you so much for your patience. I tried the Dell site you linked and they were able to download 1 of 2 driver updates. After I shut down, Windows Update tried to update the driver software and failed.

Attachment 9935

I went back into GE Force NVIDIA and tried to register with the GE Force Experience to see if they could trouble shoot, but I need to create an account, after I put my email, another required field is "Display name". Everything I try gets a pop up saying name already exists. I tried my name, the display name GT720, nothing works.

My biggest problem is all these programs that I am going to

Windows Update
Dell
Nvidia

My antivirus is eset, but they give me a pop up to allow these other places to run.

I don't know what else I can try with my limited technical skill. I just wish there was a PC trouble shooting program I can use that can detect and update all my existing drivers and clean up all the unnecessary ones. Is there such a thing?

For now, I am just shutting down my PC when I'm done, but it would be so nice to get back to just letting it sleep when I'm gone and jiggle the mouse to get me back up and running. I appreciate your help with this and sorry if I am not understanding the proper methods to fix this.

Who is "they" at the Dell site? I only see one driver file listed.
Did you download "Video_Driver_77P69_WN_9.18.13.3185_A00.EXE"?

Like I said, I don't use Windows Update to install drivers.

Sorry, but you may need to get a more tech savvy friend to help you. There is only so much we can do on a forum.

Unroll the update and re update will be the best option.