Sleep mode question

[Podmark]

Is there a way to change what takes you out of sleep mode in Windows Vista? I have a computer that requires the power button be pressed but I'd prefer to just move the mouse or hit the space bar as I've used on other computers.

[cmdrkoenig67]

I just move my mouse and mine comes out of sleep mode...I don't think I've ever changed the settings, but I would imagine you'd have to go to the control panel to change them to what you'd like.

Dana

[Previsionary]

yeah, vista hasn't "changed" the way it enters into and out of sleep mode, though you should be able to configure that either in control panel or some other place as documented in your PC's/Lappy's documentation. But to clarify, you should be able to leave sleep mode/"display turned off" mode pretty easily unless you're required to enter a password. Once it hits hibernation mode, I think that's the time you have to start using the power button.

[Podmark]

yeah, vista hasn't "changed" the way it enters into and out of sleep mode, though you should be able to configure that either in control panel or some other place as documented in your PC's/Lappy's documentation. But to clarify, you should be able to leave sleep mode/"display turned off" mode pretty easily unless you're required to enter a password. Once it hits hibernation mode, I think that's the time you have to start using the power button.

Maybe thats the problem, hibernation mode. What effects when it goes into hibernation.
I did look for options to change how to come out of sleep mode but didn't find anything useful.

EDIT: I've just read that it's affected by the individual computer manufacturers rather than a Windows setting. Disappointed.

[zuludelta]

EDIT: I've just read that it's affected by the individual computer manufacturers rather than a Windows setting. Disappointed.

It might still be possible for you to change those settings by going into your BIOS. Press F1 (or F2, or Del, or whatever the manufacturer suggests, but most mobos respond to F1) to access your BIOS during start-up, and see if there's an option there that allows you to toggle power-saving options. Just a shot in the dark, though, I haven't looked at the newer motherboards and BIOSes out there (particularly the ones re-jiggered to work with Vista).   

[Podmark]

EDIT: I've just read that it's affected by the individual computer manufacturers rather than a Windows setting. Disappointed.

It might still be possible for you to change those settings by going into your BIOS. Press F1 (or F2, or Del, or whatever the manufacturer suggests, but most mobos respond to F1) to access your BIOS during start-up, and see if there's an option there that allows you to toggle power-saving options. Just a shot in the dark, though, I haven't looked at the newer motherboards and BIOSes out there (particularly the ones re-jiggered to work with Vista).   

Yeah I'm a little nervous playing with that kind of stuff. Haven't really done anything with them before. But I'll take a look.

[daglob]

As somebody else suggested you might try Control Panel. While some such things do depend on the individual manufacturer, there still might be a way to change it from there.

I don't know if there is a TweakUI for Vista: it used to be useful for changeing some settings that weren't easily accessible. I was dissapointed in the XP version.

If all else fails, there are newsgroups devoted to some computers. I hope it isn't a Thinkpad; I've never been able to get the moderator of that group to respond to my request for membership. Anyway, there might be step-by-step directions for changing the wake mode trigger (or whatever it's called).

[Panther_Gunn]

In XP, you can find these settings in Power Options in the Control Panel.  You can tell it when/if to turn off the monitor, turn off the HD, go to Standby, and Hibernate.  I would think they wouldn't have changed the locations of things that much in Vista.

Also, speaking in the same terms is helpful.  Hibernate is power completely off, all RAM is saved to the HD (helpful if you have a long boot process); Standby is most things shut down, still consuming minimal power to keep RAM going, fans spinning, etc; "Sleep" mode, I suppose, could be considered when the screensaver comes up, and monitor and/or HD power off.  From what I've seen, most PC's require a power button press to come out of Standby (and obviously, Hibernate), vs. just the movement of the mouse or a keyboard click to come back from screensaver/monitor off/HD off.

Personally, unless you're really concerned about using extra juice because you've been away from the computer for too long (as opposed to consciously shutting it down), Standby isn't all that useful in a regular PC, or a laptop plugged into the wall.  In Battery mode, that's a much different issue.  Unless you're somewhere operating from your battery, I'd recommend just turning off the Standby option alltogether (set to Never).  If you don't ever use Hibernate, make sure you turn that off, as well, as it reserves HD space at all times that's equal to your RAM size.

[UnfluffyBunny]

right click desktop -> personalize -> screensaver -> change power settings -> change plan settings -> put the computer to sleep: never