standby mode

[Silent Knight]

My computer goes into Standby mode while I'm using it. My OS is XP. I ran a memtest (http://hcidesign.com/memtest/) and it tested the unused ram and went up to 18700% coverage without finding any errors. Any suggestions?

[Avatar28]

Is the computer going into standby? Or shutting down completely and the MONITOR is going into standby? If the latter, I would try booting to, say, your BIOS and seeing if it happens there. Or start hitting F8 before windows loads and boot to safe mode and see what happens there. If it's only happening when booted to normal mode, I would suspect a likely software issue.

[Charlie in Dayton]

Check the BIOS settings. You can set sleep mode to kick in after X minutes of non-use, or after X minutes whether used or not (I think). Best bet is just turn sleep mode off.

NOTE -- letting a machine run forever and a day is not good. Here at The Computer Help Desk at The Major Midwestern Metropolitan College Of Higher Knowledge, we see this all the time. Due to memory leaks (the failure of terminated programs to return their memory allocation to the available memory pool), your machine will eventually run very short on thinking memory and virtual memory, and become painfully slow. The fix is as simple as closing everything down normally and turning your machine OFF for ten minutes by the clock. All memory is reset to a neutral state, all the files are properly closed, virtual memory on the hard drive is freed up. For those who like to let their machine run, this shutdown procedure is recommended at least twice a week.

[Van Rijn]

My computer goes into Standby mode while I'm using it. My OS is XP. I ran a memtest (http://hcidesign.com/memtest/) and it tested the unused ram and went up to 18700% coverage without finding any errors. Any suggestions?

By "using it" do you mean typing or using the mouse? It is quite possible for the PC to go into standby if you aren't actively operating the computer.

What are your "Power" settings? To check this, go to the desktop and right click on the screen. Select "Properties." Click on the "Screen Saver" tab then the "Power" button. What does it say there? If you have a short "Standby" time, you can extend it, or turn it off.

What programs are you running? Some programs can cause serious problems.

Is this recent? Has the computer's behavior changed recently?

Have you run a virus and spyware check recently?

Charlie makes a good point about rebooting. I assume you have done a complete shutdown and reboot.

[Silent Knight]

The computer goes into standby mode and the fan turns off. I recently replaced the ram and was thinking maybe XP doesn't approve. It usually goes off the first ten minutes of use, but then allows me to stay on longer after that. Could it be caused by overheating? I have no idea how to check BIOS. I don't leave my computer on all the time. I turn it off when I go to bed or class. I can leave it off for 12 hours and it still does it when I turn it back on. I mean using the mouse, but I think it has also happened while using the arrow keys. The system standby is set to never and I disabled hibernation. About the only programs I use are eudora and IE and it happens while using both.

I posted this to FWIS:
I'm not exactly sure what you mean. When it goes into standby mode it turns the fan off. I put some ram into it on Monday and it has been doing it ever since. I bought the ram from someone at school. Someone suggested it could be faulty ram, but the memtest didn't find anything. Usually it goes into standby the first 10 minutes after I start using it and then it doesn't for a while. Just a few minutes ago it went into standby mode about 10 times with a few minutes. Just barely the printer stopped it from going into standby mode. The back of my computer feels pretty warm, maybe it is a temperature thing, but I don't know how to check my current temperature. I went into properties from the desktop and disabled hibernation, but that didn't help.

About a week before I put in the ram I got a new motherboard, but didn't use the computer during that time because I didn't have any ram.

[Silent Knight]

I downloaded Everest and it says I have 191 mb total memory, but the chip is a 256 mb. Do you think this is the problem?

[grewwalk]

It might be a problem. If Everest is truly reporting the total memory installed (and not subtracting out certain used memory), then there's something going on. I don't know Everest so read it carefully. Check how much memory the system is reporting on bootup also. This number should count up to a specific number and is slightly higher than what's installed.

A good memory test program can usually identify if the memory is bad. I don't know if they can identify motherboard memory access problems, though. One way of finding out (if your OK with entering the insides) would be to use just one stick of memory in one slot, boot and check memory totals. Shutdown and move to the next slot, and so on. Repeat with each stick of memory, and if you wish, use a memory test prog on each (just make sure of good grounding practice handling everything.)
This can help identify motherboard problems.

***

Now with your problem of going to sleep mode. Even though it sounds like a WIN problem, make sure you have a good surge protector (or UPS) on your computer (and all peripherals). Power problems can cause all sorts of hard to diagnose gremlins. Just recently diagnosed a computer going to sleep mode because of the stove's ignitor backfeeding through the A/C. His PC ran great afterwards but his power supply fried shortly after.

Also try safe mode in windows. (F8 repeatedly after the keyboard test and before the WIN startup screen) If it is a program or driver, this is a good place to start. Safe mode will not load up any drivers and most programs (anything in the Startup group in the Start menu will load so maybe temporarily move them)

Plus, there is a "Fix XP" feature in XP (probably on the CD), I don't use XP so I can't help you on this.

It would be a good Idea to learn how to enter the BIOS and check on sleep settings (although your description lends me to believe that there isn't a problem here). Usually entered with the DEL key during bootup and before the WIN screen appears. Likely when the memory test is being done.

***

Hope this isn't information overload - I have a habit of rambling on about such things. Good luck.

[Sammy]

In XP pro, power management is done via the Control Panel. Go to "My Computer," bring up Control Panel, and go to Power Options. You can choose various timings for Stand By status or defeat Stand BY.

If your PC goes into Standy By AFTER you do this, then worry about a RAM or BIOS problem.