Laptop won't wake up

[Bob Newman]

Vista Home Premium

I am using an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse with my laptop. All
works fine. except... when the laptop goes to sleep I cannot wake it up with
out opening it and pushing the spacebar and the laptop itself. Pushing the
spacebar on the external key board or moving the mouse will not wake it up.
This is a major inconvenience as the laptop is closed and under a riser.
Moving everything in order to open the laptop is not an option.

Suggestions please.

 

[AlexB]

I do not have a laptop but from analogous situations there is a chance that
you can go to Control Panel>>System and Maintenance>>Device manager>> Find
that External USB Controller and there might be an option: "Allow this
device to wake up computer."

 

[Bob Newman]

I can't find any such setting.

Bob

I do not have a laptop but from analogous situations there is a chance that
you can go to Control Panel>>System and Maintenance>>Device manager>> Find
that External USB Controller and there might be an option: "Allow this
device to wake up computer."

 

[AlexB]

I have Vista Ultimate, Desktop.

Control Panel>>System and Maintenance>>Device Manager>>

I get an open box with a treeView with all devices.

The very last on the list is : "Universal Serial Bus Controllers." I click
that. The node expands.

There are various onboard USB devices on the top but down below there are a
few

"USB root Hub"

Right Click>Properties>>Power Management>>

Two options:

Allow the computer to turn off the device to save power
Allow the device to wake up computer.

I guess the rest should be self-explanatory

Good luck.

Again, I am not sure if your laptop has a similar configuration. Obviously
your hardware options are more limited. What you may end up doing is going
down every USB node and checking if the Properties have Power Option Tab.

 

[Bob Newman]

I have several devices listed including two root hubs. They are the only
ones that have the power management tabs and on both of them the selection
of "Allow the device to wake up computer." is dimmed out and cannot be
chosen.

Bob

I have Vista Ultimate, Desktop.

Control Panel>>System and Maintenance>>Device Manager>>

I get an open box with a treeView with all devices.

The very last on the list is : "Universal Serial Bus Controllers." I click
that. The node expands.

There are various onboard USB devices on the top but down below there are
a few

"USB root Hub"

Right Click>Properties>>Power Management>>

Two options:

Allow the computer to turn off the device to save power
Allow the device to wake up computer.

I guess the rest should be self-explanatory

Good luck.

Again, I am not sure if your laptop has a similar configuration. Obviously
your hardware options are more limited. What you may end up doing is going
down every USB node and checking if the Properties have Power Option Tab.

 

[AlexB]

Maybe it is time for you to call the manufacturer and ask them "Why is it
that this checkbox is dimmed in my laptop?"

Just kidding

I checked my USB and lo and behold that box is also dimmed!!! I cannot make
it enabled.

Sorry.

On the other hand why in the world there is a checkbox that cannot be used?
There should be a way to get down to the bottom of it but I don't know how.

I will monitor this thread, perhaps someone will come up with an answer.

It is interesting.

I have several devices listed including two root hubs. They are the only
ones that have the power management tabs and on both of them the selection
of "Allow the device to wake up computer." is dimmed out and cannot be
chosen.

Bob

 

[Just.some.guy]

Until you find the answer, why let the laptop go to sleep? Why not just turn
it off, since moving stuff around is not an option?

 

[Bob Newman]

I think you answered your own question. If I turned it off I still have to
get it out to turn it back on, I don't see any difference between that and
letting it sleep.

Bob

 

[Just.some.guy]

Huh? I am able to shut my computer off through my mouse. I simply hit the
*orb*....and shutdown.I don't have to *move* anything. Why is yours
different?

 

[AlexB]

He puts his laptop to sleep in such a way that the lid is down.

 

[Just.some.guy]

But he said he uses an *external* keyboard, mouse and monitor. If so, then
it's like a desktop...so I still don't see what the problem is. Please
explain it to me.

 

[AlexB]

When his laptop is asleep he has to open the lid up to make it awake. For
whatever reason he does not want to do it.

He wants to click his external USB mouse and want that laptop to come up
alive with the lid still closed.

It may seem strange to me but I don't even want to ask why he needs it. I do
not care. I want to resolve this problem on a technical level.

That crazy box is dimmed in my desktop also. I want to know why?

Why do I have a checkbox that is prohibited to be used?

 

[Bob Newman]

The only reason I say I want to do it that way is that when the laptop
enters the sleep mode with the lid open in "normal" use the way I wake it up
it to touch the spacebar on the laptop's keyboard (since the lid is already
open). I guess what is happening is that when the laptop goes into the
sleep mode the usb ports sleep also so it doesn't know when I'm touching the
external keyboard.

Bob

 

[AlexB]

Bob, I think I sent you to the wrong address. I guess I cracked the problem.

I do have exactly the same configuration, except for the fact that it is a
desktop. I have a wired mouse plugged in at random in one of the USB ports.

I reviewed more carefully all the items in Device Manager box and realized
that the "mice and other pointing devices" constitute a separate node.

In that node the power option I mentioned IS CHECKED in my computer. I now
recall that I did it myself weeks ago. This is how I wake up my machines
from sleep.

I am sorry for the confusion.