Just realized that ever since installing NIS2010 on my system (which is running XP), it never goes to sleep spontaneously any more, although I can manually put it into sleep mode. I assume this is because Norton updates, scans, and performs other tasks frequently enough so that it never has a chance to sleep. Is there a way to avoid this problem by adjusting Norton’s settings (which would be my first choice) or by playing with Windows’ power settings?
Hi Bleb
You can set your computer when you want your screen saver to come on like after 30 minutes and then you can set how much longer you want to wait till your monitor shuts down. I don't let mine go completely to sleep. I just have the monitor shut off.You can do that with display on the control panel if that is what you mean.
Yes, I do have those Windows settings enabled. The problem seems to be that every time a Norton task begins, it starts the clock again and the system never goes on standby.
Hi! BlebNevus,
If you have broadband internet then Norton is probably downloading and installing updates such as Pulse updates to keep your computer secure. I recommend shutting down the computerwhen it won't be in use so that Windows can have a fresh start when you need the computer. If your computer hardware does not go through these power on and off cycles some components may fail prematurely. What is your Service Pack version? Micorsoft has issued a patch for SP2 that fixes problems with the hibernation feature of Windows XP.
Thanks for your reply. Until I installed Norton, I wasn’t having a problem with spontaneous entrance into standby mode (hibernation is something separate – not my concern here). I think you’re exactly right that frequent pulse updates explain what’s going on. Of course I can shut down the computer or manually put it to sleep, but my question was whether there’s a way to have Norton suspend the constant pulsing so that the system will go to sleep on its own, consistent with the Windows power settings I’ve chosen.
BlebNevus wrote:
Thanks for your reply. Until I installed Norton, I wasn't having a problem with spontaneous entrance into standby mode (hibernation is something separate -- not my concern here). I think you're exactly right that frequent pulse updates explain what's going on. Of course I can shut down the computer or manually put it to sleep, but my question was whether there's a way to have Norton suspend the constant pulsing so that the system will go to sleep on its own, consistent with the Windows power settings I've chosen.
BlebNevus,
You can turn off pulse updates if you want to test whether they actually are the source of your problem.
Go to Settings > Computer Settings > Updates. Set Pulse Updates to Off.
I would not recommend leaving pulse updates turned off.
Hi Bleb
You realize though if you turn off the pulse updates, then you are leaving your computer almost unprotected by not being able to get the newest updates as soon as they come out. It's the newest updates that often turn out to be the most important ones. Of course the missed updates would then be received by the next update, but in the meantime, that could lenghten the time any possible malware could get cleaned up or even prevented.
Thanks, but even if Pulse does turn out to be the primary reason my computer won’t go to sleep – it’s the most frequent but not the only task that takes place during idle time – I’m not sure where that leaves me since, as you say, I wouldn’t want to leave it disabled. I’m gathering that what I’m really looking for doesn’t exist: a setting that easily toggles on and off all those tasks that keep the computer occupied every few minutes indefinitely. I may just have to reconcile myself to the fact that for as long as I have Norton, energy- (and hard drive)-saving standby status isn’t going to happen unless I make it happen.
As I mentioned earlier, I just have my monitor shutdown after screen saver time. But I am also using System Works 12 Standard which includes NAV 2009. I have found that the background tasks do still happen while the monitor has turned black.
BlebNevus,
FWIW: I'm running NIS 2010 and Win7 x64 on a laptop that is linked to the net via wireless router. The sleep function operates normally.
Not an issue for my XP SP3 desktop.
Message Edited by Brubaker on 11-29-2009 10:42 AM
BlebNevus,
Check this forum link about a similar type problem to see if any of the suggestions help:
http://community.norton.com/norton/board/message?board.id=nis_feedback&message.id=86721#M86721
Thoughts after reading this post
NIS 2010 performs 'Idle Time' scans, i.e. when Pc is not being used, so :-
So does this just come down to " -:
Security Versus Sleep (a minimal saving of cost for power) ?
Security
Let Norton do it's 'Idle Time' scans, and if the PC is Idle long enough, when/If the scan finishes, the PC will go to sleep at the configured time after that.
Result = PC secure, with a minimal extra cost for power.
Sleep (power saving)
Force the PC to Sleep, until needed for use again.
Result = Idle Time Scans not done, less secure, but a minimal cost saving on power.
Choices - choices. I love 'em.
Nothings ever simple in this life.
If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will post and let me know.
Message Edited by boneidle on 11-29-2009 10:47 AM
Marty: Yes, I checked out that thread first, but the poster there was concerned about a computer that crashed when manually put into sleep mode -- a different situation.
Brubaker: When you say that your computers' sleep function operates normally despite running NIS, you mean they will, at the appropriate time, spontaneously (not just on your command) go into standby mode (not just turn off the monitor)? If so, I'm surprised since my computer was doing that without a problem up until the day I installed Norton . . . and has never done so since then.
Hi! BlebNevus,
I can set my power options to handle tasks such as Standby and Hibernation without them failing to work properly. After contacting Microsoft the question was brought up do you have more than one gigabyte of system memory? If so, you need the hibernation patch which corrects both standby and hibernation issues.
BlebNevus wrote:Marty: Yes, I checked out that thread first, but the poster there was concerned about a computer that crashed when manually put into sleep mode -- a different situation.
Brubaker: When you say that your computers' sleep function operates normally despite running NIS, you mean they will, at the appropriate time, spontaneously (not just on your command) go into standby mode (not just turn off the monitor)? If so, I'm surprised since my computer was doing that without a problem up until the day I installed Norton . . . and has never done so since then.
BlebNevus,
Yes, that's just what I meant. Note, however, that I was describing a laptop running Win7, not XP.
I don't normally use power management on my XP desktop but, just for you, I gave it a try. Same result for both standby and hibernate. When the designated time has elapsed, it kicks in.
Hi everyone,
I'm having a standby issue with the same symptoms as BlebNevus and trying to find the cause. My computer is a Dell Inspiron 8600 1.6GHz Centrino system with 1GB of memory. I've been trying to track down the cause and this is what I've seen so far.
A well used Windows XP SP3 and no antivirus ------------ all standby settings work.
A well used Windows XP SP3 and NIS 2010 --------------- any setting over 30 minutes and standby fails to work.
A clean install of Windows 7 with or without NIS 2010 --- all standby settings work
By fails to work I simply mean it doesn't appear to even try - as though my system idle timer has been reset. I'm wondering if something NIS does every 30 minutes or so in combination with whatever services and processes might be running on XP SP3 might be putting my CPU usage over the 10 percent mark long enough to reset my system timer. It's the only idea I've been able to come up with so far that makes sense from what I've seen above.
So those of you who have been successful with standby on XP and NIS 2010, have you been using a standby setting over 30 minutes and if so, do you have CPUs comparable to a 1.6GHz Intel Centrino or less?
What are your computer specs, BlebNevus?
Thanks!
Nerdbird: I'm using a Dell Inspiron 530 with an Intel Duo Processor -- 2.2GHz. 2 GB of RAM.
If I had to guess, I'd say the most relevant factor of those you mentioned is the number of minutes before standby kicks in.
I'm going to reduce that variable and see if it makes a difference.
BlebNevus,
If your CPU couldn't do what NIS needs doing while staying under 10 percent usage then I would have thought many more people would be having this problem. So much for that idea. Please let us know if standby works for you if set to 30 minutes or less.
Thanks
NerdBird wrote:Hi everyone,
A well used Windows XP SP3 and no antivirus ------------ all standby settings work.
A well used Windows XP SP3 and NIS 2010 --------------- any setting over 30 minutes and standby fails to work.
A clean install of Windows 7 with or without NIS 2010 --- all standby settings work
NerdBird,
-- I'm not seeing any problems on a laptop running Win7 x64 and NIS 2010.
-- On a XP SP3 system with NIS 2010, standby works normally with a short (5 min) delay.
-- On the same XP system, when delay is set to 45 min, it does not work.
The XP system is running a 2.8Ghz Pentium 4 with 2.5GB RAM.
It does appear that delay time is a trigger for the problem, but apparently only in XP. Has anyone checked Vista?
Thanks Brubaker,
Additionally, I read that network activity can reset the system idle timer. I didn't mention it before but I thought I had eliminated that as a possibility by doing tests both with and without being connected to the network on the setup that was exhibiting the problem.
I'm not convinced the system idle timer is being reset, actually. I tried a program called IdleClock and monitored the timer for over an hour and it never reset without me touching the mousepad or keyboard. Of course, I'm assuming IdleClock is working as expected but I don't know for sure.
I'm not sure where to go from here. Any ideas, interested folks?