Windows 8.1 refuses to sleep

[mrguylh]

I have also been having sleep issues and tried just about everything including installing the Spring Update. Nothing so far has provided a reliable fix but I have found a satisfactory work around for me. I'm using a program called Standby Helper and so far has worked flawlessly even when the built in window's timer fails. The tool has its own built in timer and parameters. I'm not sure what all of the parameters do and I did have to change a parameter called idle count from 10 to 1 to get it to work. I also had to create a shortcut to the program and place it in the window's start up folder to get it to auto run. During testing, I was able to confirm in the event viewer that it was working even when the window's timer failed.

Interesting. Is this just a simple standalone command line utility or does it install something?

It's a stand alone program with a UI. There are screen shots on the website.

 

[NCguy]

I have also been having sleep issues and tried just about everything including installing the Spring Update. Nothing so far has provided a reliable fix but I have found a satisfactory work around for me. I'm using a program called Standby Helper and so far has worked flawlessly even when the built in window's timer fails. The tool has its own built in timer and parameters. I'm not sure what all of the parameters do and I did have to change a parameter called idle count from 10 to 1 to get it to work. I also had to create a shortcut to the program and place it in the window's start up folder to get it to auto run. During testing, I was able to confirm in the event viewer that it was working even when the window's timer failed.

Interesting. Is this just a simple standalone command line utility or does it install something?

It's a stand alone program with a UI. There are screen shots on the website.

But there is nothing to have to uninstall, correct? Its just s standalone exe?

 

[linw]

Can't see any install evidence. Nothing in registry.
It just seems to add a service and a systray item. Rt click the systray icon for Settings.

 

[orbitalfenestra]

Frustrating.

I just downgraded back to Windows 8 because SLEEP is more important to me on my HP Pavilion Notebook than having 8.1 is. My sleep problem became a full shutdown issue (as in I could not even shut the thing down with out fans spinning full-bore and screen shutting off, then the system locking-up. Holding the power button down for 3 seconds was the only thing to make it shut down. If it went into sleep, it would just spin the fans and run the CPU up really hot.

Sadly, I now that I am back on 8.0, I cannot upgrade to any of the better apps in the app store, either. MS wants to blackmail me into loading the problematic 8.1 before I can do that. This is very, very sad, because I was actually FINALLY starting to find some apps that I enjoyed using (Facebook, NCAA College Basketball, etc). I must "upgrade" before these apps are available now.

So now I am stuck with what is sort of like a handicapped Windows 7 married to the worst aspects of an unworking app store.

I've noticed this problem too. When the random sleep issue occur, there is a slight chance that the next reboot or shutdown will fail. I don't know why or if all PC's are affected, but it happened to me a few times.

 

[4xMeister]

I have been following this thread since the beginning - I have tried everything to get multiple computers to sleep - laptops, desktops, all-in-ones, etc. They each have issues sleeping since Windows 8.1. I have tried the spring update - still no luck.
My solution which I have on ALL of my systems, which I have used now since shortly after Windows 8.1 came out is as follows:
(I figured I should finally chime in and share with all the helpful people on this thread!)
I have a free program called "Screen Launcher" setup as my Screen Saver. It lets you run any executable program when the screen saver timer kicks in. You can get it here:
Screen Launcher Free Download
I then have the "Screen Launcher" start psshutdown.exe which is available free from MS TechNet here: PsShutdown
put psshutdown.exe in a folder like C:\ and use the command in "Screen launcher" like this:
C:\psshutdown.exe -d -t 0
That's it.
Now set the screen saver to the time out period you want and the computer will sleep like clockwork!
The only issue with this configuration is that it works so good that it will put the computer to sleep even if the computer is doing something it should finish up before sleeping (like a backup) which normally keeps Windows from sleeping until it's finished. So, I just set the Screen Saver for like an hour - so anything that wakes the computer has plenty of time to finish before this configuration puts it back to sleep.

Happy ZZZZZZZZ's!

 

[NCguy]

I have been following this thread since the beginning - I have tried everything to get multiple computers to sleep - laptops, desktops, all-in-ones, etc. They each have issues sleeping since Windows 8.1. I have tried the spring update - still no luck.
My solution which I have on ALL of my systems, which I have used now since shortly after Windows 8.1 came out is as follows:
(I figured I should finally chime in and share with all the helpful people on this thread!)
I have a free program called "Screen Launcher" setup as my Screen Saver. It lets you run any executable program when the screen saver timer kicks in. You can get it here:
Screen Launcher Free Download
I then have the "Screen Launcher" start psshutdown.exe which is available free from MS TechNet here: PsShutdown
put psshutdown.exe in a folder like C:\ and use the command in "Screen launcher" like this:
C:\psshutdown.exe -d -t 0
That's it.
Now set the screen saver to the time out period you want and the computer will sleep like clockwork!
The only issue with this configuration is that it works so good that it will put the computer to sleep even if the computer is doing something it should finish up before sleeping (like a backup) which normally keeps Windows from sleeping until it's finished. So, I just set the Screen Saver for like an hour - so anything that wakes the computer has plenty of time to finish before this configuration puts it back to sleep.

Happy ZZZZZZZZ's!

I guess nothing is perfect but ordinarily most people want their screen saver interval to be a lot shorter than their system sleep timer. While this seems like a good solution it appears to me that you would lose the ability to have separate timers?

 

[4xMeister]

Inability to have separate screen saver and sleep timers

I have been following this thread since the beginning - I have tried everything to get multiple computers to sleep - laptops, desktops, all-in-ones, etc. They each have issues sleeping since Windows 8.1. I have tried the spring update - still no luck.
My solution which I have on ALL of my systems, which I have used now since shortly after Windows 8.1 came out is as follows:
(I figured I should finally chime in and share with all the helpful people on this thread!)
I have a free program called "Screen Launcher" setup as my Screen Saver. It lets you run any executable program when the screen saver timer kicks in. You can get it here:
Screen Launcher Free Download
I then have the "Screen Launcher" start psshutdown.exe which is available free from MS TechNet here: PsShutdown
put psshutdown.exe in a folder like C:\ and use the command in "Screen launcher" like this:
C:\psshutdown.exe -d -t 0
That's it.
Now set the screen saver to the time out period you want and the computer will sleep like clockwork!
The only issue with this configuration is that it works so good that it will put the computer to sleep even if the computer is doing something it should finish up before sleeping (like a backup) which normally keeps Windows from sleeping until it's finished. So, I just set the Screen Saver for like an hour - so anything that wakes the computer has plenty of time to finish before this configuration puts it back to sleep.

Happy ZZZZZZZZ's!

I guess nothing is perfect but ordinarily most people want their screen saver interval to be a lot shorter than their system sleep timer. While this seems like a good solution it appears to me that you would lose the ability to have separate timers?

NCGuy,
You are correct. I should also point out - for this configuration to work - YOU MUST set your Power Options to NEVER 'Turn off the display' - otherwise the Screen Saver never kicks in and the computer hence, never goes to sleep.

 

[snerd]

I just wanted to post that after adding an account for my grand son, my computer sleeps every time now. I have no idea what that may add to the discussion, but I also could never get my Win 8 or 8.1 Pro to sleep automatically. Now it does.

 

[Wynona]

I just wanted to post that after adding an account for my grand son, my computer sleeps every time now. I have no idea what that may add to the discussion, but I also could never get my Win 8 or 8.1 Pro to sleep automatically. Now it does.

Maybe the kid scared the insomnia out of it!?!?

 

[snerd]

I just wanted to post that after adding an account for my grand son, my computer sleeps every time now. I have no idea what that may add to the discussion, but I also could never get my Win 8 or 8.1 Pro to sleep automatically. Now it does.

Maybe the kid scared the insomnia out of it!?!?

After posting, i remembered that I have also installed the StartIsBack start button on my desktop, so that could also be the explanation.

 

[NCguy]

I just wanted to post that after adding an account for my grand son, my computer sleeps every time now. I have no idea what that may add to the discussion, but I also could never get my Win 8 or 8.1 Pro to sleep automatically. Now it does.

Maybe the kid scared the insomnia out of it!?!?

After posting, i remembered that I have also installed the StartIsBack start button on my desktop, so that could also be the explanation.

I'll bet it's only been a day or so since you made those changes?

 

[snerd]

I'll bet it's only been a day or so since you made those changes?

No, about 3 weeks now and it sleeps on schedule every time.

 

[johnpombrio]

I have also been having sleep issues and tried just about everything including installing the Spring Update. Nothing so far has provided a reliable fix but I have found a satisfactory work around for me. I'm using a program called Standby Helper and so far has worked flawlessly even when the built in window's timer fails. The tool has its own built in timer and parameters. I'm not sure what all of the parameters do and I did have to change a parameter called idle count from 10 to 1 to get it to work. I also had to create a shortcut to the program and place it in the window's start up folder to get it to auto run. During testing, I was able to confirm in the event viewer that it was working even when the window's timer failed.

I am going to give this a try. Thank you Mrguy! Welcome to the forum and we appreciate you pointing out the program.

 

[NCguy]

I have also been having sleep issues and tried just about everything including installing the Spring Update. Nothing so far has provided a reliable fix but I have found a satisfactory work around for me. I'm using a program called Standby Helper and so far has worked flawlessly even when the built in window's timer fails. The tool has its own built in timer and parameters. I'm not sure what all of the parameters do and I did have to change a parameter called idle count from 10 to 1 to get it to work. I also had to create a shortcut to the program and place it in the window's start up folder to get it to auto run. During testing, I was able to confirm in the event viewer that it was working even when the window's timer failed.

I am going to give this a try. Thank you Mrguy! Welcome to the forum and we appreciate you pointing out the program.

I wouldn't want the timer to be any less than 60 minutes for sleep. Do you guys have any concern about the monitors being on that long?

 

[mrguylh]

I have also been having sleep issues and tried just about everything including installing the Spring Update. Nothing so far has provided a reliable fix but I have found a satisfactory work around for me. I'm using a program called Standby Helper and so far has worked flawlessly even when the built in window's timer fails. The tool has its own built in timer and parameters. I'm not sure what all of the parameters do and I did have to change a parameter called idle count from 10 to 1 to get it to work. I also had to create a shortcut to the program and place it in the window's start up folder to get it to auto run. During testing, I was able to confirm in the event viewer that it was working even when the window's timer failed.

I am going to give this a try. Thank you Mrguy! Welcome to the forum and we appreciate you pointing out the program.

I wouldn't want the timer to be any less than 60 minutes for sleep. Do you guys have any concern about the monitors being on that long?

Thanks for the welcome John.
NCguy, I'm using Windows timer to turn the display off and StandbyHelper for sleep.

 

[NCguy]

I am going to give this a try. Thank you Mrguy! Welcome to the forum and we appreciate you pointing out the program.

I wouldn't want the timer to be any less than 60 minutes for sleep. Do you guys have any concern about the monitors being on that long?

Thanks for the welcome John.
NCguy, I'm using Windows timer to turn the display off and StandbyHelper for sleep.

I'll give that a try. That would be ideal.

 

[mrguylh]

I wouldn't want the timer to be any less than 60 minutes for sleep. Do you guys have any concern about the monitors being on that long?

Thanks for the welcome John.
NCguy, I'm using Windows timer to turn the display off and StandbyHelper for sleep.

I'll give that a try. That would be ideal.

Just a reminder I had to lower the idle count setting in the program to get it to work. Default is 10 but I changed it to 1. Not exactly sure what that setting does or if other values may also work.

 

[johnpombrio]

Here is how to download and use Standby helper.

1. Download from here:
StandbyHelper - 1.0.0.5 - andy vt's tools & blog

2. Create a folder and unzip the contents.

3. Run the program and change these four settings. change the idle minutes to the time you want the computer to sleep but first check it using one minute to see if the program allows your computer to sleep. I set mine to a time AFTER my 30 minute sleep timer on the power setting, making Standby helper a backup to my Windows sleep timer:



3. Create a shortcut for the .exe file:



Finally, add a copy of the shortcut to the
C:\Users\John (whatever your User Name is)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup



You should see the icon in your Notification area on startup. It starts minimized!:



So that is now my backup sleep mode. The computer does not falls asleep while I am watching a movie or video. It still takes a minute or two to go to sleep, like Windows sleep does. Nice find!

 

[Wynona]

Nice to have, John, even though my computer sleeps (for now). I may need to use it if 8.1.1 messes things up.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Here is how to download and use Standby helper.

Nice little tute and that may all be well and fine, but what happens if and when the sleep issue gets solved and fixed with code? Now there's a 3rd party program in the way.