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Question

How to wake Win8 laptop w/ external mouse/keyboard?

Jul 25, 2013 6:34AM PDT

I use a Gateway NE56R49u Windows 8 laptop, which I sometimes use to connect to a Dell computer monitor via VGA and an external keyboard and mouse using USB. I want to be able to use the monitor with the ext. mouse and keyboard while the lid of the laptop is closed, however, everytime I close the lid the system goes to sleep and won't turn back on even if I move the mouse or press a key on the keyboard. I've tried going to Device Manager and enabling the mouse and keyboard to wake my Windows 8 laptop but that seems to have no effect on what happens when I try to wake my laptop when the lid is closed. I am able to do this on a Windows 7 laptop (HP Pavilion g6), but how can I configure my windows 8 laptop so I can do the same on my Windows 8 laptop?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Manual please.
Jul 25, 2013 6:40AM PDT

I didn't find the manual so I can't see if this is documented.

Since power settings are widely documented about Windows 8 such as http://techmell.net/windows-tips/change-windows-8-power-options-launch-setting-details/ and hundreds more I'll not write how to change this to not sleep on lid closure.

As to the wake on USB as there is no manual I can't look to see if there is a USB Wake in the bios. Find the manual so folk can check that out.
Bob

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But can I do this without setting the computer to not sleep?
Jul 25, 2013 6:53AM PDT

That's not really what I was looking for - my HP Win 7 laptop can just sleep when the lid closes and I can wake it up without opening the lid just by pressing a keyboard key or mouse button

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Without a manual I can't answer.
Jul 25, 2013 7:05AM PDT

This is not a Windows issue. If the maker doesn't reveal how to wake on USB we don't have much choice here but to go into each control area and see if there is a solution.

But since I don't own your laptop I can't do that for you.

You bring up a good question. Should all laptops mandate such a feature? Wouldn't that be a tax of sorts?
Bob

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PS. Read this link.
Jul 25, 2013 6:54AM PDT