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Computer won't stay in sleep mode

14 years ago

I have a Dell Dimension C521. From the moment I first got it, I have not been able to keep it in sleep mode. It goes on and off every few minutes and if left alone, will eventually cause the screen to be frozen with multi colored vertical lines, requiring me to turn the machine off manually. I called CS immediately the first time it happened, and they didn't seem to understand what I was describing. Not surprisingly, I couldn't understand them either! My question is this: Is this something I can fix myself with some sort of adjustment? I am not very literate when it comes to computers, so if I can do this myself, I need simple instructions!! I would greatly appreciate any help anyone can give me! TIA

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Comments (3)

mikie_gw
14 years ago
You might look at the MultiMedia settings on your power plan and if not set, set to allow computer to sleep.

To get there on my vista its;
Control Panel / Power
Change Advanced power settings
MultiMedia

Perhaps look through all the settings there and you possibly may see something that you realize 'might' be the culprit.
bbbluz ~ DonnaB
14 years ago
Hi, As mikie stated above, go to your power settings in the control panel. In Vista, I have several options on the left of the window. Scroll down to "Change when the computer sleeps." Click. Then look for your sleep option. You can set this option to your liking. Don't understand it completely. Glad this topic came up. I learn something new everyday here!
bbbluz
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gardurnit
14 years ago
It's a little complex because two or more controlling software's might be trying to control the machine's behavior.

First educate yourself about what brings it out of sleep mode.
I know that the modem can (by a phone call coming in the comptuer
can be woken up so as to take the call be it a fax or internet)

Since dialup is dead to most people know that the network card
can work the same way. So turn off the 'wake upon lan" or similar setting that means this: When the LAN (network card) gets
a request to transfer data it wakes up the computer. You can
shut this off but where?

It can be set in many places. The bios might have a setting.
Windows might have a setting for it. And any software for the
network card itself could have a setting. (This is often part of
the Windows setting section)

Go poke and search these bits first. Without knowing the network
and modem cards are not going to wake up the computer you
are wasting time. Verify they aren't at fault first. I'll check back in a few days.

Andre

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