Re-Enable Sleep Mode in Windows Vista
If you’ve found that your Sleep mode menu is dimmed out in Windows Vista, it’s most likely because Media Center disabled the option when it feels that media is being shared. This is an easy setting to fix, but it’s a little tough to locate without some assistance.
First, you’ll need to open Control Panel. To make things easier, type in “power” into the search box, and then click on “Power Options”. (for command line hackers, you can just type powercfg.cpl,1 in an admin mode command prompt and get right to the good stuff)
In the resulting screen, click the “Change plan settings” link underneath the currently selected plan.
In this screen, click “Change advanced power settings”.
Now you’ll need to browse down to Multimedia settings \ When sharing media.
Change both of the options to “Allow the computer to sleep”. The menu item for Sleep should be back to normal.
Funny side note: This article was in response to an email from a reader, who signed it “Sleepless in Jersey”. Thanks for the grin =)
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I am not able to get the right settings for sleep and wakeup on Vista. When it does go to sleep it will not respond to the mouse or power button to come alive again. What steps should I take from the beginning to get settings right.
Per my previous message, I found this fix. Vista has been such a pain. Seems the disk clean-up tool, kills hybernation and hybrid sleep modes:
Below works, my PC now has both Hybrid Sleep and Hybernation.
==========
SYMPTOMS
After you use the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows Vista, you may experience the following symptoms:
You cannot see the Hibernate option in Power Options.
When you use the sleep feature, the computer does not recover its settings if power is lost.
CAUSE
This problem occurs when the Disk Cleanup Tool disables the hibernation file. The hibernation file must be enabled to access the hybrid sleep feature and the hibernation feature in Windows Vista.
When the hibernation file is disabled, and the hybrid sleep feature is enabled, a backup of open programs and open files will not be saved to the disk when you use the sleep feature in Windows Vista. Additionally, if the computer loses power while the Windows is in sleep mode, open programs and open files will not be recovered, and any unsaved work will be lost.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem in Windows Vista, run the powercfg -h on command at an Administrative command prompt to enable the hibernate feature and the hybrid sleep feature. To run this command, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click All Programs, and then click Accessories.
2. Right-click Command Prompt, click Run as administrator, type powercfg -h on, and then press ENTER.
Perfect solution!
Thanks! It solved part of the problem. Now “Hibernate” is back, but “sleep” function is still unavailable (in the shade of grey). Any suggestions?
My “Dell” computer does not go into sleep mode. I followed all the steps here and it still does not go into sleep mode. I had this problem before and now it’s back again. The Dell tech that solved this problem last time said it had something to do with my DSL connection always being on. He changed some setting and it was working great again. But now for some reason it is not working again. This is all very confusing. Please help.
Thanks.
Sal – go to Device Manager and expand Network Adaptor. Select your adaptor and then the Power Management tab. De-select the “Wake on’ check box(es). Good luck.
Thanks so much! Now I don’t wake up in the morning to find the battery in my Toshiba laptop dead anymore.
You helped greatly, more than I can say for Dell or Best Buy
This is completely amazing!!!
My computer laptop would never go to sleep, and i was getting really worried.
Microsoft not Dell could figure it out!
Thanks so much!!!
pippo, thank alot for putting this solution. It works perfect for my desktop. I had same problem as Sal. so Sal do it and it will work
and thanks Pippo.
I hope this thread is still alive! I tried your powercfg fix however this is the line i get:
the request is not supported
the followong items are preventing hibernation on this system.
there are one or more legacy drivers installed:
VgaSave
an internal system component has disabled hibernation
Please Please Please Help!
If it helps it seems my hibernation option only vanished AFTER i updated my Pc-Cillin…
That worked a treat! THANK YOU PIPPO.
Thanks bro. You’re an angel!
I am still having a problem with my sleep being greyed out. I have tried all the suggestions above. I have hibernate but no sleep.
I have been in contact with Dell for weeks trying to solve this problem and only yesterday I found this post from Pippo. How come Dell doesn’t know about this solution? Thanks Pippo.
GREAT! Now I can finally use the sleep function instead of having to turn off and on the computer all the time. Now working the way it should have been all the time. Many thanks Pippo and to the howtogeek website people. Regards, John S.
Now i can not only choose between turn off functions but also switch between languages. thanks!
Thank you so much! Your solution has solved a problem that has bugged me for months – I never would have thought to look at multimedia settings. Great work!
hey guys
i tried everything you’ve said here but i still have my sleep grayed out
and it happened after i installed the sp1 updates or whatever that thing was…. please can anyone help??!
Hi. I’ve tried the suggestion and my SLEEP MODE did not come on. I think ever since I installed updates like the Safari Internet…maybe waaay before that, I lost BOTH my Hibernation and Sleep Mode. I didn’t know what I do. I even tried the Device Manager but I couldn’t find the Network Adapter. I’m very stressed because I lost my Hibernation and Sleep mode. Please help me!
I have tried all the suggestions from above. The last suggestion where I have to go to command promt, it prompted me with the answer that says
The following items are preventing hibernation on this system.
There are one or more legacy drivers installed. an internal system component has disable hibernation.
any help from any body will be greatly appreciated
I’m in the same boat as everyone else that’s lost the sleep funtion. Funny thing, when I contacted Microsoft to ask for help, they suggested this website. Not that I’m say this place isn’t good, it’s just odd that they can’t fix their own problem. I’ve tried all the suggestions and I’ve got nothing in return, I have no idea why it suddenly stopped working. And I get the same message as Wilfredo when I try the command prompt. I’m so confused. Help… Thanks.
I, as well, used to be able to click “Sleep Mode” and the computer would seemingly “power down” and the blue light would flash. I have a Dell, and now, for whatever reason (even after all these solutions) can neither see Hibernation mode or have Sleep Mode work properly. Any programs that can be INSTALLED to fix this?
thank you guys my problem was solved,I tried so many things but in the end it had something to do with the network adapter, now my pc. sleeps and hibernates thanks…….
This has been such an annoying problem for me. The solution for me is pippo’s reply on March 20, 2008. Finally I have my Dell working as it should have been working months ago!
I tried enabling hibernation in my laptop thought the commnad prompt but there was an error
” The system could not create the hibernation file. The specific error code is 0cc000007f
I am still having the problem of no sleep mode or hibernation, was there ever a resolution?
I also get the message with the vga save issue as mentioned above.
If your sleep button is still disable after trying all available options. This is because your current VGA graphic card does not support sleep mode.
To get more details on why sleep more cannot be enable.
Go to CMD in administrative mode.
type powercfg /L
It will list down the reasons on why your computer cannot sleep.