XP-PRO Stand-by mode

[busterb]

Last few weeks computer won't stay in standby. I've ran everything I can think of, no luck. Checked Bios, no wake on lan. All programs that have auto update. Disabled the LAN. Damifino?

[BigV]

Hey... what do you mean "stay in standby"? I don't understand.

Your computer can be in one of five states: On, off, broken. These are self explanatory. Two other states are ... kind of partway in between on and off, standby and hibernate. In both of these cases, the intention is to have the computer in a power saving state, but ready to return to On and in use quickly. They do this by shutting down non essential components.

For standby, the system is still running, but the display is turned off, the hard drive is parked, the network card is turned off, only the cpu and memory are active. This still draws power, but much less than the regular running state. When you press a key, or open the lid, or whatever wakes it up, POOF, it's up almost instantly, right where you left off.

For hibernate, the complete system state, what's running, the contents of the memory, everything is recorded and written to a special file on your hard drive. Then the system is shut down completely--no power. When the system is restarted, the first thing it does is look for and find the hibernate file, and then it restores everything that is in that file to the running system--just like when you left it.

The big difference between these two is speed and power. Standby is faster, since it doesn't have to write a file, or read a file. But it requires more power since the computer is never off. One risk is that since the computer isn't off and doesn't write any files, if you lose power, you're screwed. Like if the battery drains completely.

Hibernate is slower since it has to write the file on the way down, and then read the file on the way up. But, it consumes NO power, and can last indefinitely. But you pay in time.

So, I don't understand what you mean by "stay in standby". Would you help me understand, please?

[zippyt]

if you have a prog checking yer e-mail or seeing if something else updated that can bump you out of standby

[mbpark]

Busterb,

First of all, what kind of computer is it?

Your Windows XP computer needs updated ACPI power management drivers and the latest BIOS to go into standby properly. I had this issue with my Dell, and had it with my Thinkpads (I had with my 770X, R31, T42, and now my work T61 - the 380D ran Windows 98 and I never tried it). The same goes for Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X (Apple does everything for you and it works), Linux, or any of the BSDs. It's really hard with the latter two since the ACPI spec is written around proprietary MS code.

What probably happened is that one of the Microsoft updates messed with the ACPI power managment drivers. You want to grab the latest BIOS and drivers for your machine.

[busterb]

Hey... what do you mean "stay in standby"? I don't understand. Big V. When I click stand by, the kbrd & mouse shuts down, No signal to monitor. After X amount of time, the damn thing is up and running again. BTW I'm cognizant of all the states you mention.
Mitch. The mobo is an Asus M2N4-SLI. From 2007, so wonder if cmos batt. is going out?
Drivers and Bios looks ok, if I'm reading the asus site correct. Bios is 0901 rev111 101. According to SIW.exe
This crap just started a few weeks ago. Which is why I ran, superantispyware, spybot, hi-jack this, and malwarebytes + spywareBlaster.
Not sure what you mean about the ACPI drivers.
Asus web site, I hope.

[ZenGum]

Is your machine rapture compliant?

[busterb]

Zen. Have ya been told today?

[BigV]

thanks for the extra info busterb. The question I'm leading up to is why do you use standby at all?

Is your computer a laptop? Is battery use an issue? Are you just trying to reduce your power consumption?

[busterb]

Are you just trying to reduce your power consumption?
Yes. And it takes a long time for a cold, full boot.

I might be fixed. New chipset drivers last night. Stayed in standby for about 10 hrs.

[mbpark]

BusterB,

Go here: http://support.asus.com/Download.asp...4-SLI&p=1&s=24

Grab the latest BIOS (you're behind), the chipset driver, and the cool & quiet drivers.

[busterb]

Thanks Mitch. I download Version 1301 . Guess I just don't understand much about Bios. As I am a little afraid of it. I did update the bios on a biostar board before I put it together.
Clear as mud, I guess.
Thanks.
Now I have this. WTF. Afraid to click exit or cut the @#$ computer off.

[busterb]

got-er done by using floppy and EZ flash

[busterb]

Out of standby again this AM.

[tw]

Originally Posted by busterb

Out of standby again this AM.

I'm not sure this is clear. Does it go into standby and come out later? Or does it not go into standby?

For example, computers can monitor peripherals (ie a modem or NIC). Then power up when the 'interrupt' is received. Even if the modem does not exist, that signal wire can act like an antenna; be triggered by unusual EM fields. That function (and other hardware devices that can wake up a machine) also must be disabled in the BIOS.

That would be an example of a computer in standby and later coming out of standby. Other functions (including an internal timer sometimes found in power controller hardware) can also cause a wakeup.

Again, does it not go into standby? Or does it mysteriously leave standby mode?

[busterb]

does it mysteriously leave standby mode?
Yes. Just found the Google update folder and renamed it. Google update was running in task manage when I got up this morning.