Still can't get Win 8.1 to sleep on my Desktop computer

Tseg

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Jun 11, 2013
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Through Win 8.1 Preview and now into Win 8.1 final release I've been unable to get my desktop computer to automatically go to sleep. It will do so if I manually click <sleep>. I've toyed with the Sleep options and Advanced Sleep options but still no automatic sleep. My monitor will go to sleep mode but my computer keeps chugging away and the power light does not change from white to orange (unless, as mentioned, I manually put it in Sleep mode).

Any suggestions?
 

Tseg

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Jun 11, 2013
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OK, I made a bunch of tweaks based on internet research... with advanced Sleep mode adjustments, network/Homegroup tweaks, streaming network tweaks, etc... I did not think they did anything (but now realized I did not restart my system). This morning, after a fresh boot, my system fell asleep! HOWEVER, I could not awake it using my mouse... had to press the button, and once it woke up my monitor started to lose connection every 2 to 3 seconds for 1-2 seconds. I tried undoing all I changed, but with no success. Finally, I had to do a Refresh back to a restore point I set before trying to make the initial adjustments. That solved my monitor issue, but now my system does not sleep again. Nothing is ever easy.
 

Tseg

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Jun 11, 2013
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SOLVED!!!!

After many hours and many trials and tribulations I believe I have resolved my Sleep issue. The end result is I went to Local Services through the control panel and clicked Properties of these 3 services:

•Bonjour (compliments of Apple with my iTunes application, that supposedly is worthless)

•Home Group Listener

•Homer Group Provider


I changed the first 2 to Manual and turned Off, I changed the last one to Disabled (I think that's what it was) and turned to Off. I'm fairly certain it is the Home Group items that cause the Sleep issue and I threw in Bonjour for good measure. I don't use Home Group so no issue for me, but apparently this function communicates continuously with the Ethernet and the computer interprets this dialogue as a large downloading network file so chooses to not put the computer to sleep... I think it is an OS/Ethernet hardware (specific to my Dell) incompatibility.


To test I set both Monitor and Computer to sleep at 1 minute. The monitor sleeps like clockwork at 1 minute but the computer does not sleep for another 1 1/2 minutes... not sure why the delay, but I tried multiple times and always the same result. I'll keep my fingers crossed that this case is closed.

I'll give das_stig credit for the answer as he was on the right path.
 

Octanum

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Jul 16, 2013
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I'd just like to say thanks for the solution. Spent way too much time thinking it was something I did, when it turns out to be a bug in the OS...

Also, just stopping HomeGroupProvider did the trick for me. Was the only service I had on at the time.

EDIT: I also noticed something weird. After I stopped the service once and rebooted, it still runs, but now it doesn't affect whether or not the monitor sleeps... I'll probably probably permanently disable it, providing the problem reappears.
 

Jeseem Shajahan

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Mar 2, 2014
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Open My Computer --> on top menu bar there is a computer option click on that --> Open control panel -->Power options --> left side there is option that change when computer sleeps.

If you don't want your monitor to sleep or computer to sleep check on 'never' option and then save changes

If you didn't get the power options from control panel, on top right. view by:Category to view by: large icons

 

Tseg

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Jun 11, 2013
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The issue is I wanted it to sleep and it was not going to sleep. After that was resolved (Homegroup bug) the secondary issue was I could not get it to wake up with a simple mouse movement, but finally found that solution as well... turned off option to have USB's shut down.

There is a secondary benefit to keeping the USB powered in that my camera and many new cameras recharge using USB, so they can continue to charge even if the computer sleeps.