Solved Power Button Sleep only works Once!

[edpalmer42]

I'm running Win8 Pro 64 bit on a Dell Precision 490 desktop. I upgraded from XP so it was basically a clean install.

I have my power button configured to put the system to sleep and it will do that ONCE after I turn it on. After that, pushing the power button does nothing until the next reboot or power cycle. Going to Charms -> Settings -> Power -> Sleep always works.

This obviously isn't a critical problem, but it's really annoying because I'm in the habit of hitting the power button and usually it just doesn't work. Has anyone heard of this problem? Is there a fix?

Things I've tried:
- searching Google - can't find the needle in the haystack
- searching this forum - nothing that matches
- checking the Event Log - nothing interesting or suspicious
- apply all Microsoft updates - no change
- disable my Comodo Internet Security - no change
- change power options and then change them back - no change
- checked if I could stop and restart the power service - nope

Does anyone have any other ideas that I could try or tools to track what's going on?

Thanks,
Ed

 

[Brooklyn567]

do you have it set for both Plugged in and on battery?

 

[edpalmer42]

do you have it set for both Plugged in and on battery?

As I stated in my message, it's a desktop so there are no battery options. I haven't found a solution so I'm using a work-around of using hibernation instead of sleep. There's actually very little time penalty involved.

Ed

 

[Brooklyn567]

If you want to try resetting the power plans to all their default values in case something got changed and forgotten about.

from the command prompt as administrator copy/type powercfg -restoredefaultschemes

See if that helps..

Also in some BIOS there are settings as to what the power button will do, maybe they are in conflict as to what you want to do through windows..

 

[XweAponX]

I always use Hibernate rather than Sleep anyway, it's better

 

[edpalmer42]

If you want to try resetting the power plans to all their default values in case something got changed and forgotten about.

from the command prompt as administrator copy/type powercfg -restoredefaultschemes

See if that helps..

Also in some BIOS there are settings as to what the power button will do, maybe they are in conflict as to what you want to do through windows..

I tried the powercfg reset, but there was no change. It still works once, whether I hit the power button or go through charms -> settings -> power -> sleep. After that, only the charms path works.

I also checked the BIOS, but didn't find any conflicts.

This computer is getting on in age so I'm not surprised that it has a few issues with Win8. I'm actually using Vista drivers which is usually okay, but who knows.

Thanks for trying,

Ed

 

[Mookalookabutu]

I'm actually using Vista drivers

That make-a source of problem. It is driver issue. Could be any one on system that is loaded into memory at all that make-a bad.

 

[XweAponX]

Hm... Are there no Windows 7 or 8 drivers for the device in question? Are these the Chipset Drivers and the AHCI drivers?

Also, are you using S1 or S3 for your sleep mode? Try S3, the setting should be in the BIOS.

 

[Brooklyn567]

Have you tried the sleep button on the keyboard?

If not try a keyboard with a sleep button on it and try that...

 

[edpalmer42]

Hm... Are there no Windows 7 or 8 drivers for the device in question? Are these the Chipset Drivers and the AHCI drivers?

Also, are you using S1 or S3 for your sleep mode? Try S3, the setting should be in the BIOS.

The Vista drivers are the most current. Yes, it's the chipset drivers. Dell & Intel abandoned this unit long ago. It has a sticker on the front that says "Designed for Windows XP. Windows Vista Capable." I wasn't even sure that I could load Win8, but various people said that Vista drivers usually work and the Win8 installer automatically found and installed them. Other than this minor glitch, it seems to be running okay.

I'm already using the S3 Bios option for sleep.

I was just checking the drivers and saw that I had an "ACPI Power Button" installed, but there was also a driver for an "ACPI Sleep Button" in the list of drivers so I tried that. No change.

Ed

 

[edpalmer42]

Have you tried the sleep button on the keyboard?

If not try a keyboard with a sleep button on it and try that...

Hey, that works! Now I'll have to find a keyboard that I like that has a sleep key.

Thanks!

Ed


Thanks!

Ed

 

[Brooklyn567]

Great news on the sleep button...

It appears that your bios has other plans for the power button..

If you feel adventurous im sure youll figure it out..

 

[Brooklyn567]

Until you find a keyboard you like I made you a batch file that will put your computer to sleep..

Run as administrator otherwise it will hibernate instead..


View attachment sleep.bat

Brooklyn!