Windows 10 and 11 - Power settings, Sleep - "Never", yet laptop still switches off

Thanks Greg - for clarity I'm a Developer with a similar level of experience to you, though not in the power management subsystem of Windows.

This is a brand new Dell system with the latest NVidia drivers. While I'm still trying to re-create this and derive the fundamental root fix, the issue seems to have resolved itself, through the following registry change: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/72133-add-system-unattended-sleep-timeout-power-options-windows.html

Before:

After:

While I'm aware that Microsoft shifted to a model whereby they stopped doing detailed testing of their products (including Windows) and instead are much more reliant on a combination of Agile-style automated testing and "pre-release" testing by users, I am surprised that a developer would arbitrarily remove such a key setting from Windows, presumably at the behest of a product manager.

Ex Microsoft employee (on Windows 10 bugs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9kn8_oztsA

For most people writing Word documents or similar items on a laptop Modern sleep seems a reasonable choice and should be the default. This conserves power while still making the system responsive when required. I understand that decision.

However: when a system is set to "never sleep" and then goes to sleep / standby - in my case terminating a critical backup - it seems as though the "light testing" model has deep flaws. As far as I can see the "never sleep" option (by default, without implementing any of the 11 points you raise) still has the system going to sleep / standby and being unresponsive. The removal of the "unattended sleep timeout" and behaviour of -actually- going to sleep I would characterise as a bug. At a guess the bug goes unfixed due to the "most people use Word" paragraph above.

Similarly - Windows Update seems to ignore the impact of forced reboots losing work, or to start up machines that are in Hibernate mode while in backpacks (as I have had Windows do). This seems an attitudinal change from Microsoft with regards to customer perception of the product.

Hi Dave,

I'm Dyari. Thanks for reaching out. I will be happy to assist you in this regard.

Kindly click on Start > In the Search box type Turn Screen Saver On or OFF > Change screen saver to None and untick the box of "On resume..." > Click OK and check to see if your computer goes to sleep or not.

Please let me know if you need further assistance and keep me updated.

Stay safe

Hi David. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, specializing in Installation, Performance, Troubleshooting and Activation, here to help you.

You said you have it set to Sleep Never, but that it turns off. Are you saying it actually shuts down to where you have to power it back on, or is it possible it's suspending in some other way. If this is not what you are asking then please clarify.

If so, Let's take a look at all places where Windows can suspend to try to find the culprit:

1. Check closely your Display, Sleep and Hibernate settings in Power Options following this guide: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2843-change...
2. Display timeout has been moved to Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional Power Settings, on active Power Plan choose Change Plan Settings then adjust Display timeout.

While there check also Advanced plan settings > Sleep > Allow Wake Timers > under Battery & Plug In options set to Enable, Apply, Save.

3. If your Power Options settings are set correctly then the next suspect is the screensaver which is mysteriously setting a 1 minute timeout to blank Screensaver when some Themes are chosen. Check that now at Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen > Screen Saver Settings.
4. This could also pertain to an issue of Unattended Sleep Timeout setting in Registry. See the Marked Answer here for what has worked for others: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Whenever modifying the registry, first set a System Restore point: http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/computing/how-t...

5. If System Unattended Sleep timeout is not present here's now to access it: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/72133-add-s...
6. If you suspect overheating which can shut down the PC, then install CoreTemp to monitor temps from System Tray:

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/core-temp-monito...

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2365089/compute...

7. Since sleep is overwhelmingly controlled by the Display driver, Update the Display driver from the PC or Display adapter maker's Support Downloads web page for your exact model number, HP Serial Number or Dell Service Tag - from the sticker on the PC.

While there check also for newer chipset, BIOS/UEFI firmware (very important), network, sound, USB3 and other drivers, comparing to the ones presently installed in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start Menu.

if this doesn't give you the latest or ideal driver for what you need, compare it to the driver offered by the Intel driver update Utility here: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/...

or the Nvidia Update utility here: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Scan.aspx?lang=e...

or the AMD autodect utility here: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/P...

For Display issues one fix that is working is to Roll back or Uninstall the Driver on the Display Device > Driver tab, restart PC to reinstall driver.

You can also try older drivers in Device Manager > Display device > Driver tab > Update Driver > Browse > Let Me Pick.

Then you will know you've tried everything in addition to Windows Update drivers.

8. Check over these other working Sleep solutions which may also be involved:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/fix-windows-10-sle...

9. Do you know when this started? See if you can System Restore to a point before the problem started:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-system-r...

System Restore is your first line of defense and can take you back to a point before a problem began like a time machine. If it doesn't help then you can undo it. Read about it first in the tutorial above and then try restoring to just before this started. If System Restore is not enabled on C drive do that now so it's available in the future.

If the problem repeats or System Restore doesn't work then check which Windows Updates were installed at Settings > Update & Security > Windows Updates > Update History, uninstall them there or System Restore again, then immediately check for and block the Updates with the Hide Updates tool explained here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/8280-hide-s...

10. If no power setting is causing this then go over this checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, and any needed repairs get done: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Start with Step 4 to turn off Startup freeloaders which can conflict and cause issues, then Step 7 to check for infection the most thorough way, then step 10 to check for damaged System Files, and also Step 16 to test a new Local Admin account. Then continue with the other steps to go over your install most thoroughly.

11. If nothing else works then do a Repair Install, by installing Media Creation Tool and then choosing to Upgrade Now. This reinstalls Windows while keeping files, programs and most settings in place, and is also the most stable method to advance to the latest version. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

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Thanks for following up David. I think there's a good chance they might listen to someone with your knowledge and presentation. But we're also learned to keep our expectations low. But I hope anyone else who finds this thread will add their feedback too, to give it momentum.

Keep me posted on your progress as I will be here to help until the case is resolved.

Thanks - I'm trying to definitively find the specific setting that succeeds in resolving this, and testing (by uninstalling it) that this is the case. This will take a day or so. I've also now submitted through the feedback hub, though given this has been going on for years my faith in a resolution is low.