Windows 8.1 does not go to sleep / standby automatically

[johnpombrio]

Sooo, my main computer is not sleeping. This is the 3rd or 4th time that I thought I had fixed it? Enough already.

I might be doing a clean install of Win8.1 Pro GA so see if that will clear up the sleep and Metro crashes bugs. I am getting really good at clean installs. I have most of my computer rebuilt in about a couple of hours. I keep all of my utilities on a separate disk which lets me load programs in a hurry, sometimes 5 or 6 at a time. I create a folder of stuff that I really need (passwords, profile settings for Firefox, Outlook pst file, quicken money, etc). A fast SSD really helps speed things along.

 

[Steve06]

John, go ahead with the clean install since you seem to be very well organized. I do not know why but in my case with all the software and settings it can take 2 or 3 days. That's why I'm not going to do a new clean install again.

I hope you are more successful than I because in my case, as you see, the clean install did not make anything better.

I have written to Asrock in the meantime to see if they have a suggestion.

 

[tom57]

Here are the settings that worked on my Asrock MB, hope they are helpful.

 

[johnpombrio]

Check out the article that is about networking in Windows 8 without using Homegroups.

April 2013: Builder's Bible | Maximum PC

 

[Steve06]

@John: Thanks, the article well covers the nuts and bolts of Windows networking and is useful for future reference.

@Tom: I have tried your suggestion but they do not seem to work for me. Have also started uninstalling software like Vmware Player, Cisco Anyconnect VPN, but still nothing helps EXCEPT disabling the Ethernet adapter. Very weird.

 

[johnpombrio]

I got my computer to sleep again. Windows added my User folders Documents,Music,Pictures, and Video to my Homegroups sharing. I had to manually set all these folders up on all 3 computers to share/view/edit with Homegroup. That got my machine to go to sleep again. Always seems to be shared folders on Homegroup that is doing it. Did not bother to reinstall.

In the meantime, there is a lot of discussion on the Windows Technet forums about "no sleep" issues going back to Win7! Lots to look over here:

problems with sleeping - Microsoft TechNet Search

or just punch in your terms here:

Microsoft TechNet forums

 

[Rishicash]

8.1 Standby Only Works Manually

My situation is similar but not the same as mentioned. I upgraded from W8 to W8.1 without a clean install. I used MCE Standby Tool without a problem until the upgrade and I've changed nothing. The system will go into standby if I do it manually but not automatically as before. I record a lot of TV programs at all different hours of the day and night so my PC needs to go on and off as scheduled. I have it set to to go into Standby after 30 minutes of non-use but no go unless I do so manually.

Unfortunately I don't have the patience or time to go through all of the reading, tests, and changes offered on this thread and related especially since my situation is a bit different like having nothing on HomeGroup.

I would greatly appreciate any assistance with this.

 

[Rockhound]

My situation is similar but not the same as mentioned. I upgraded from W8 to W8.1 without a clean install. I used MCE Standby Tool without a problem until the upgrade and I've changed nothing. The system will go into standby if I do it manually but not automatically as before. I record a lot of TV programs at all different hours of the day and night so my PC needs to go on and off as scheduled. I have it set to to go into Standby after 30 minutes of non-use but no go unless I do so manually.

Unfortunately I don't have the patience or time to go through all of the reading, tests, and changes offered on this thread and related especially since my situation is a bit different like having nothing on HomeGroup.

I would greatly appreciate any assistance with this.

Welcome Rishicash.

It looks like a very real potential solution to this problem has been found. There is another thread discussing this same topic and it has garnered a lot of attention. In fact there are already over 350 posts!! Instead of making you wade through all those pages, here is a direct link to the two posts that walk you through the solution. Let us know if this doesn't help you and we'll keep trying. If it does work for you, remember to give credit to all of those posters that worked tirelessly in solving this VERY stubborn bug.

How to Disable SkyDrive
Post #325 of Windows 8.1 refuses to sleep


One additional post with important configuration details:
Post #168 of Windows 8.1 refuses to sleep

 

[Rafe]

Sooo, my main computer is not sleeping. This is the 3rd or 4th time that I thought I had fixed it? Enough already.

I might be doing a clean install of Win8.1 Pro GA so see if that will clear up the sleep and Metro crashes bugs. I am getting really good at clean installs. I have most of my computer rebuilt in about a couple of hours. I keep all of my utilities on a separate disk which lets me load programs in a hurry, sometimes 5 or 6 at a time. I create a folder of stuff that I really need (passwords, profile settings for Firefox, Outlook pst file, quicken money, etc). A fast SSD really helps speed things along.

I have WIndows 8.1 Pro and have found that when logged into my Microsoft account Sleep is never entered. By chance I found that if I go to my Local Account sleep works perfectly. I have visited with MS Tech support about this and was told it would be elevated to Tier 2 if that mean anything.