Computer Stanby box

[Watercolorist]

Help! I keep periodically having an empty box come up on my computer when its in sleep mode entitled Computer Standby. The only way I've found to get rid of it is to shut down the computer or hit reset button. I've used the Norton antivirus and nothing shows up there as well as using Norton Utilities trying to get it repaired. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to correct this. Hitting Ctrl,Alt,Delete also does nothing to end the problem. Thank you, Watercolorist

 

[Halfcan]

Have you looked at the Power Options in the Control Panel?

You might be able to turn it off in there, or at least find

out if the timer running out is causing it. Then increase or turn the option off.

If that still doesn't help, you could always check the Power Management Settings in the BIOS.

Hope that helps.

Andy

 

[Dreamland]

Watercolorist - it's not a virus or necessarily a problem that must be 'repaired'. This is the expected behavior depending on the power settings for your computer. You said this happend when your computer is in 'sleep' mode - how do you know it's in sleep mode? How do you get it out of sleep mode when the box is not there?

Athiel's suggestions are the usual two methods of setting/changing the power-saving features. It's controlled by Windows in the Control Panel via Power Options, or it's controlled by your computer's built-in BIOS (independent of the operating system).

 

[Watercolorist]

Hi thank you for the help. It seems at least so far to have been taken care of by going into Power Options. I'm not sure where BIOS is and if someone could tell me for future reference I'd appreciate it. Thanks, Watercolorist

 

[Halfcan]

To get into your PC's BIOS, you must reboot your pc. when the machine first starts (before windows is loaded,) you may see a message like "Press DEL to enter setup" or something to that effect. Just keep hitting that button and it will take you in to the BIOS instead of booting up windows. Which key you use to get in will depend on the system, usually Delete, F4, or F8.
The BIOS settings determine how your pc interacts with hardware, and the operating system. These are basic level settings. Most of the time you should leave these settings alone unless you know what you are doing. But if you decide to play around, make sure to document everything. What I was talking about earlier was looking at the power managment options of the bios. Common settings are "user defined" "enabled" or "Disabled". Most times it is set to "User Defined".
Hopefully you've fixed the problem by a setting in Windows Power options, but if that didn't work, the BIOS would be the next place to make and test changes.
For more information than you probably wish to read, go here:

http://www.wimsbios.com/

Andy

 

[Watercolorist]

Hi unfortunately I'm still having problems and getting the blank computer standby box. I went into power management which is evidently what mine is called. I'm assuming this is the correct since I didn't see in the control panel a power options. Then in power management properties, I put power schemes of always on, standby 10, monitor off 10 disks off in 10. I'm I doing this correctly? Thank you for your help. Watercolorist

 

[Halfcan]

What version of windows are you running?
What kind of pc do you have?
So you are getting a blank white box, and the pc will not come out of standby mode when you hit a key or move the mouse? Can you disable standby? Do you need it?
Just an idea, go to

http://www.microsoft.com

and download any windows product updates. It's good to keep the OS updated anyway.
Sounds like windows doesn't play well with your hardware.

Andy

 

[Watercolorist]

Hi I'm running Windows 98. And yes I 'm geeting a blank standby box. I'm not sure how to disable stand by other than if I set it so the computer shuts down all the time when I hit the shut down button and the box of options comes up of shut down standby restart etc. I will check the window update site as you've suggested. I'm a little concerned about going into BIOS since I'm not a whiz at computers. I'd like to leave the computer modem on all the time so that I'm always charged and not draining the battery. I appreciate the help from you all. Watercolorist

 

[Halfcan]

You should be able to disable standby by setting it to NEVER in Control Panel > Power Options.

Not sure what you mean by leaving the computer modem on all the time.....

The BIOS is not hard, just take your time, document what you change, and only change 1 thing at a time.
If you don't feel comfortable with it then ask someone for help.

Andy

 

[Watercolorist]

Hi Andy I tried what you suggested in your last response and I think that perhaps that got it fixed. At least so far the last 2 days have been fine. Thanks again, Watercolorist

 

[Halfcan]

That good, I've always just set that setting to "never"
because I find it annoying anyway. If you want to leave your pc on, but also want save power, just turn your monitor off when you are not using. Thats what uses the most juice anyway. A running pc doesn't require a large amount of power to run, and I'd bet the StandyBy option doesn't save much anyway.
Regards,
Andy