Windows 8.1 refuses to sleep

[Faolan]

I tried to disable Windows Error Reporting because I run a program which is notorious for causing explorer.exe to crash from time to time. I need this program and there is no alternative to it, so I have to put up with it. Nevertheless, everytime it crashes it creates a Windows error report of the size of >350 MB! (And no, it's not a dump file, it is an actual error report.) I don't mind sending error reports to Microsoft, but this is just ridiculous. Even if I don't send it, it still stays on my PC until the next reboot. Leaving my PC running (and sleeping) for several days causes them to amount to several GBs. There is nothing wrong with my PC, I have the same problem on my Notebook running Windows 7, where I had no trouble disabling WER.

@linw - Disabling Windows Error Reporting will not help your PC sleep. But some ways of disabling it will cause sleeplessness. My findings will only help people who have previously disabled WER. (Windows Error reporting service is only running if there was an error.)

@Gork - werfault.exe is just a process belonging to Windows Error Reporting. Keeping it from running is just one way of disabling WER. But there are several different ways to disable it. Some of them caused my previously sleeping system to not sleep.

We have already established, that there are several different causes for sleeplessness in W8.1. Getting a non-sleeping system to sleep, you may only know about the latest change you made. Making changes to my sleeping system and causing sleeplessness, and even being able to reproduce it, I can also tell that it is a cause. Still, it only holds true for my system and may not have an influence in yours.

 

[linw]

Last sentence is very true!

 

[Gork]

I checked my Windows Error reporting service and it is already stopped. Don't know how that is. Mmmmm.

Mine was too, set to manual. Just for giggles I tried setting error reporting to never and it didn't help the computer sleep:
From check/send data to never: CP > Action Center > expand Maintenance arrow > Settings

 

[Faolan]

I NEVER said disabling Windows Error Reporting will help your computer sleep. On the contrary, some ways of disabling it will cause sleeplessness.

 

[naidz]

so did you guys find an actual solution to the problem?
Edit: This idea came up in mind atm , the sleep troubles started after i bought gaming gear (keyboard and mouse) with fancy led's and stuff. Ive noticed that few times booting was delayed if i would not unplug one of those devices . Sometimes they even delay the shutting down procedure.

 

[johnpombrio]

Faolan, thank you for your observations. I went to services and changed my error reporting from manual to automatic and will see if it makes a difference. I too frequently turn off error reporting on browsers and such as some pages display fine but Windows objects to some minor bug and splashes a message box about something I could care less about and can do nothing to change. Like Linw, I will report back in a bit if that helps or not.

 

[Gork]

I NEVER said disabling Windows Error Reporting will help your computer sleep.

I understand this - hence my "just for giggles" comment...

 

[linw]

Didn't take long! I disabled the Windows Error Reporting service yesterday afternoon and it has stopped sleeping in less than a day.

Back to local login and 100% sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[orbitalfenestra]

What a strange behaviour indeed! XD

 

[linw]

Don't know about strange. Seemed quite normal to me.

 

[Deihmos]

I wouldn't want to use a local account but when I tried it the pc eventually stopped sleeping so it made no difference.

 

[linw]

Just shows what a nasty and complicated problem this is. Works for me but not you. There are just too many variables for any of us to make any sense of this.

 

[linw]

Just done the monthly updates. Reverted to MS login - again. Shows how sad and sick I am!!!!!!!!!!!!

Running a sweepstake for how many hours before it stops sleeping. I've picked 8.

 

[linw]

I was wrong - sleep lasted about 6 hrs. Ho Hum.

 

[Gork]

I was wrong - sleep lasted about 6 hrs. Ho Hum.

My testing is usually 4-6 hours after each change which I think (hope) might make a difference. So that seems about right. Er - wrong... So VERY WRONG! Ugh.

Anyway, thanks for letting us know the latest updates don't seem to fix the issue.

 

[Noun0]

Sleep lasted about 3 hrs each time.

 

[NCguy]

I just installed the 8.1 Tuesday patches which I understand is actually 8.1 update #2.

Looks like I've gone from bad to worse if you can believe it. Now, when I manually attempt a shutdown the PC completely ignores the activation of the shutdown button for about 30 full seconds, then it kicks in and shuts down. Apparently it still reacts to the sleep button instantly.

Anyone else experiencing this or am I the only lucky one this time?

 

[kenJ]

I just installed the 8.1 Tuesday patches which I understand is actually 8.1 update #2.

Looks like I've gone from bad to worse if you can believe it. Now, when I manually attempt a shutdown the PC completely ignores the activation of the shutdown button for about 30 full seconds, then it kicks in and shuts down. Apparently it still reacts to the sleep button instantly.

Anyone else experiencing this or am I the only lucky one this time?

After sleeping fine for 4 months, the patch is causing erratic sleep for me. My (wireless) mouse now wakes the computer even when I have unchecked the allow this device to wake computer box. It also appears to be randomly waking up and running for several hours, sleeping and then coming back on after a few minutes. Will be monitoring this forum to see what others report.

Update:

It appears that either wake on packet match or magic packet is likely the cause. I have disabled both on my network card. So far, so good. Will report back later.

 

[linw]

@kenj - these are disabled on my card.

@NCguy - my shutdown is fine. Guess you just got lucky!! Sounds like it is having trouble closing down a program(s). But who would know with these systems? I did have great success with a Vista system that related to the wait-to-kill value in the registry. It was set way too high. Have a look here Windows: Speed Up Shut Down Time via Registry | a Tech-Recipes Tutorial
It is probably fine but worth a quick look. Just checked mine. It is the default 5000.

 

[Barbee]

I have 8.1 too, but I don't have a home group, I don't think anyway. I have three computers in the house but I don't share anything with them. I still can't get my computer to sleep. It's driving me crazy because I sometimes have to sleep in this room when we have my granddaughter overnight and it goes on and off all night long. Is there an easy fix?