Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Automatic Hibernation/Standby...

Mar 11, 2004 12:38AM PST

I recently reinstalled Win XP Home on my computer. About 3 weeks after this, the computer started going into "hibernation/standby" automatically after a brief period of non-activity. When this happens, hitting any key brings up the "user menu" and clicking on my name restores the computer to the ready mode.

While it's a bit of a pain, this is really not a bad thing if in being offline prevents any outside access to my computer. My question is "What is turning on this mode to revert to hibernation/standby?" I would like to setup my wife's computer to act the same way.

I realize that hibernation and standby are two different modes, but I'm not sure what actual mode I'm going into and hence my use of "hibernation/standby" above. I suspect it's standby since there is almost no waiting to the computer to come back up after clicking on my user name.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re:Automatic Hibernation/Standby...
Mar 11, 2004 7:03AM PST

Have a look in the Power Options section of Control Panel for available adjustments to Hibernate/Standby.

- Collapse -
Re:Automatic Hibernation/Standby...
Mar 11, 2004 7:46AM PST

Standby: The computer goes into low-power mode, with monitor off. Pressing any key will bring the computer to life, with what you were aorking on. It can be password protected.

Hibernation: The computer goes to sleep, with no power being consumed. However, just before the computer goes into hibernation mode, the computer temporarily saves what you were working on. This being so, there must be enough HD space for hibernation to work. To reactivate, the power switch must be used, i.e. like normal boot up, but the computer will " return to Windows" to the screen just as you left it.

Hibernation is used mostly on laptops/notebooks, as it can be set to activate just before the computer goes off due to low battery, thus saving your work temporarily.

Both can be set at 'Power'(or the like) at Control Panel to activate after a period of inactivity or at the press of a key....

- Collapse -
automatic standby and hibernation compaq 5300 us windows xp
Nov 9, 2005 11:19PM PST

what is the difference between the hibernation mode and the standby mode. Also explain the other modes?