# Configuring a Dell Laptop so that it doesn't resume from standby when opening the lid **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/configuring-a-dell-laptop-so-that-it-doesnt-resume-from-standby-when-opening-the-lid/539785 "2010-05-17T17:35:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pduol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@Pduol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pduol)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/configuring-a-dell-laptop-so-that-it-doesnt-resume-from-standby-when-opening-the-lid/539785/1 "2010-05-17T17:35:18Z")
My daughter has a Dell Inspiron laptop on which the switch that detects when the lid is open or closed is broken. It is so sensitive that, when on standby, the slightest movement will cause it to wake up. Is there a way to configure it so that the only way to resume from standby is to push the power button, or is she forever going to have to shut it down completely every time? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/configuring-a-dell-laptop-so-that-it-doesnt-resume-from-standby-when-opening-the-lid/539785/2 "2010-05-18T02:39:14Z")
“Slightest movement” = physical movement of the notebook itself with the lid closed? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/configuring-a-dell-laptop-so-that-it-doesnt-resume-from-standby-when-opening-the-lid/539785/3 "2010-05-18T03:23:24Z")
If you right-click on the desktop and bring up the display properties box, on the Screen Saver tab is a Power button in the lower right hand corner. There should be options there on what happens when the laptop lid is closed. See if what you are looking for is in there. I don’t think that you can change the sensitivity, but you can change the options for when the lid is closed. This is also in the Control Panel folder under Display. This is where it is in XP. I have no idea about other operating systems. ---
**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/configuring-a-dell-laptop-so-that-it-doesnt-resume-from-standby-when-opening-the-lid/539785/4 "2010-05-18T10:57:43Z")
On my Dell precision laptop it’s found in control panel-\>power options-\>advanced You can set the option for lid closed to ‘Do nothing’, which I guess is what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/configuring-a-dell-laptop-so-that-it-doesnt-resume-from-standby-when-opening-the-lid/539785/5 "2010-05-18T14:50:36Z")
> [@arnesw](#): > > On my Dell precision laptop it’s found in control panel-\>power options-\>advanced > > You can set the option for lid closed to ‘Do nothing’, which I guess is what you’re looking for. This is the answer you seek. ---
**Author:** ![Pduol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@Pduol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pduol)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/configuring-a-dell-laptop-so-that-it-doesnt-resume-from-standby-when-opening-the-lid/539785/6 "2010-05-18T16:48:42Z")
Sorry, I guess I should have said that her laptop is running XP > [@astro](#): > > “Slightest movement” = physical movement of the notebook itself with the lid closed? Yes, even bumping the table it’s on will cause it to wake from standby. > [@arnesw](#): > > On my Dell precision laptop it’s found in control panel-\>power options-\>advanced > > You can set the option for lid closed to ‘Do nothing’, which I guess is what you’re looking for. This worked! Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/configuring-a-dell-laptop-so-that-it-doesnt-resume-from-standby-when-opening-the-lid/539785/7 "2010-05-19T00:46:45Z")
Yip. I’ve had to do that to every laptop I’ve ever owned. There are always times I will want to leave the laptop doing it’s thing, but I don’t want to see the screen. And there are other times when I want it to stay off and not come on while in its case.