# My computer recently decided not to go into 'Standby' what causes this?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-recently-decided-not-to-go-into-standby-what-causes-this/431943
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 1, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-recently-decided-not-to-go-into-standby-what-causes-this/431943 "2008-01-01T23:35:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [January 1, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-recently-decided-not-to-go-into-standby-what-causes-this/431943/1 "2008-01-01T23:35:45Z")
I’m running an Dell 4700 desktop and I always place it into stanby when I am not going to be on it for a long while. Recently, went to start-turn off computer then I usually click the standby button…well it is now grayed out…Anyone know why this would happen?
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### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [January 1, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-recently-decided-not-to-go-into-standby-what-causes-this/431943/2 "2008-01-01T23:42:22Z")
Can I tag a question onto this: Does standby still use electricity?
If I’m not using my computer for a while I use shutdown.
I have a suspicion that standby is leaving your windows ‘on’ so all the stuff in memory goes back into memory when you come out of standby.
See this link [http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/servicesupport/techsupport/lifebook/General/RrestoreStandby.htm](http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/servicesupport/techsupport/lifebook/General/RrestoreStandby.htm)
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### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-recently-decided-not-to-go-into-standby-what-causes-this/431943/3 "2008-01-02T02:12:07Z")
Little bump…I tried the link and it didn’t work. No worries, I’ll try anything once 🙂
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### Author:  [@PuddingCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PuddingCat)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2008, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-recently-decided-not-to-go-into-standby-what-causes-this/431943/4 "2008-01-02T10:09:26Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr]
I’m running an Dell 4700 desktop and I always place it into stanby…
[/QUOTE]
Hiya. What operating system are you running? XP or Vista? I’d suggest going into Control Panel -\> Power (Power Options in XP) and looking at your settings in there. It’s going to be the Standy/Hibernate options you need.
And to answer **Lobsang** , if Standby lets you shake the mouse and be back on inside 5 seconds it’s probably not a full shutdown. In XP the full memory-save and power-off is called Hibernate. In Vista it’s lots more complex ☹
tim
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### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-recently-decided-not-to-go-into-standby-what-causes-this/431943/5 "2008-01-02T13:30:03Z")
I’m running XP - and in the power options it only gives a time limit on _when_ to standyby/hibernate…not a setting that I can see.
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### Author:  [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-recently-decided-not-to-go-into-standby-what-causes-this/431943/6 "2008-01-02T15:58:15Z")
Related question - setting my monitors to turn off after so many minutes stops working after the computer’s been on for a few days with occasional use. I’m sure I have set the monitors to go off in the currently applied power scheme. Rebooting seems to reset this behavior. I suspect my Webroot or SpywareBlaster or NortonAntivirus, because I think one of their “see how hard I’m working for you” splash screens has always been on the screen when the monitors are stuck on. Any ideas?
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### Author:  [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-recently-decided-not-to-go-into-standby-what-causes-this/431943/7 "2008-01-02T16:40:20Z")
This happened back on my old Dell Dimension 8200, i believe it was either a patch or an out dated driver. Try holding down shift when you are at that screen i beleive that changes some of the buttons around.