• PC suddenly goes into sleep or hibernation mode

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    #507611

    Hello Fellow Loungers,

    Here’s the problem:
    My laptop monitor will suddenly dark while I’m working on a document. Moving my cursor, hitting keys on the keyboard, or pressing the power button briefly do not wake it up. The only ways I can wake it up are to:
    – Force full shutdown by holding down the power button for 8 to 10 seconds, releasing, then hitting power again to start
    Or, I recently found that I can
    – Close the laptop lid, wait at least 2 minutes, then open the lid. A “Resuming Windows” message appears, I enter my password, and soon I’m good to go. But for how long? This sudden forced sleep (or hibernation? Or does it matter?) may occur once a week or sometimes as much as 4 times in a day. I’ve had this problem for months.

    My software: Windows 7 64-bit

    My hardware: HP ProBook 455 G1

    Attempted remedy #1: I’ve tried adjusting all of the following settings without any noticeable effect. They are now as follows:

    Control PanelHardware and SoundPower OptionsEdit Plan Settings
    Following show Battery / Plugged in:
    – Dim the display: 5 minutes / 10 minutes
    – Turn off the display: 10 minutes / Never
    – Put the computer to sleep: Never / Never

    Control PanelHardware and SoundPower Options
    Select a power plan: High Performance

    Control PanelHardware and SoundPower OptionsSystem Settings
    Define power buttons and turn on password protection
    Following show Battery / Plugged in:
    – When I press the power button: Shut down / Shut down
    – When I press the sleep button: Sleep / Sleep
    – When I close the lid: Hibernate / Hibernate

    Password protection on wakeup: Require a password (recommended)

    Attempted remedy #2: Ran scans with the following after making sure to update them first when applicable:
    – Adware Cleaner
    – Avira Antivirus pro
    – CCleaner
    – Check for Performance Issues
    – Chkdsk.exe
    – Disk Cleanup
    – Disk defragmenter
    – Junkware Removal Tool
    – Malwarebytes Pro
    – MiniToolBox
    – MS Security Essentials
    – MS Malicious Software Removal Tool
    – MS Safety Scanner
    – Run Maintenance Tasks
    – Spybot
    – TFC – Temporary File Cleaner
    – View recent messages about your PC
    – Windows Update

    Last note: I suspect the following observation is totally unrelated/just coincidence, and therefore might be a spurious correlation and potential red herring! However, while composing this lament it occurred to me that the problem has only occurred when I’ve been using MS Word. I don’t think it’s ever happened when I’ve been using a Web browser, email, etc.

    I earnestly welcome your suggestions to remedy this problem!

    Thanks, Marc Grobman

    Viewing 9 reply threads
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    Replies
    • #1585048

      Memory problems can cause black screening.

      If you have more than one RAM module installed, you can either try it with just one stick in for a while and then swap, but as it is intermittent – that could take a while to diagnose.

      Download and create a bootable MemTest86+ disk and boot up with that, testing just one stick at a time and it’s recommended that you run 7 or 8 passes on each stick.

      http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

    • #1585053

      Does event manager show anything interesting – look at the events immediately prior to the start-up which was initiated by holding the power button.

    • #1585055

      Is there any common thread in what you are doing when this happens?

      I have seen problems from time to time where one of my computers just seems to get busy doing something. Have you checked your AV to see if it might be doing a background scan or update?

      As a debugging step, I would definitely keep track of what you were doing when it hung up. I say hung up because, other than the screen blanking, that’s what it sounds like.

      I would also just let it set for a while (go do something for 5 min) and see if it comes back by itself.

      Event logs may reveal something but can be hard to follow.

    • #1585058

      Here’s the problem: My laptop monitor will suddenly dark while I’m working on a document. Moving my cursor, hitting keys on the keyboard, or pressing the power button briefly do not wake it up.

      The HP Support forum shows a couple of threads about overheating for this particular laptop model. (For example, Probook 455 G1 overheating CPU).

      In addition to checking RAM (as suggested by Sudo15 in post #2), it might be an idea to use something like HWiNFO (I use the portable version) to check that the CPU temperature doesn’t exceed 100° when you’re working on Word docs.

      Example output:
      46057-cpu_temp
      Click to enlarge

      If it does exceed 100°, then the HP ProBook 455 G1 APU overheat? thread includes the following:

      And do something else to reduce the temperature a little bit of your CPU.
      Go to Power Settings, Change Plan Settings, Change Advanced Power Settings.
      Then, Processor Power State, then Maximum Processor State, It’ll be on 100% probably. Knock it down to about 90%.
      I reduced the temperature to 17 degrees, with no noticeable drop in performance.

      Hope this helps…

    • #1585060

      Hello again, fellow Loungers,

      I had thought that if I was lucky, that maybe after a day or two, one or two people might post suggestions. I’m stunned by your numerous, rapid, thoughtful responses.

      Please accept my apology for what you’re about to read: I have a full day planned, and we’re Thanksgiving hosts tomorrow. I won’t be able to seriously review and respond to your replies for probably a day or so. But I definitely will, and am very grateful-thankful! For your thoughtful replies.

      Best wishes to you all!
      Marc

      • #1585276

        Hello again folks,

        Thank you very much for your responses. My replies and update follow.

        Post #2 – Modules Check: Although I noted that Sudo15 kindly provided a link to a tutorial, this approach was a little intimidating to me. I’ve decided to first try what to me are the simplest and easiest investigations. If those do not help I’ll certainly give this a try.

        Posts #3 & 4 – Event Manager: I was unaware of Event Manager, or what it appears my PC calls “Event Viewer,” until now! But it’s OK to laugh; I don’t mind!

        EV shows a large number of “events.” I do not know how to interpret them, but have pinned EV to my start menu, so the next time the screen goes out, I will force a shutdown, and as soon as the PC’s running again will report EV’s readings back to you kind folks.

        Post #5 — Overheating: Given that revelation that my exact model is known for overheating, this seemed like a real possibility. Plus, I felt I had the “expertise” to follow the suggested diagnostic route.

        The only HWinfo temperature readings for “CPU” of any sort I saw were categorized differently than those shown on the screen grab that Rick Corbett posted. I’ve printed those from two different readings below

        After PC on for ~3 hours, little use of Word:
        CPU [#0]: AMD A4-5150M
        Figures in Degrees Centigrade
        ………………….Current………..Minimum……..Maximum……..Average
        CPU (Tct)…………72.1…………….70.4………….96.3…………..82.9
        CPU Package….. 121.1…………..119.4…………145.3…………131.9

        One hour later, after using Word for about a half hour:
        CPU [#0]: AMD A4-5150M
        Figures in Degrees Centigrade
        ………………….Current………..Minimum……..Maximum……..Average
        CPU (Tct)…………66.1…………….64.8………….94.9…………..78.2
        CPU Package……114.1…………..113.8…………143.9…………127.2

        It seems that if “CPU (TcT) is the basis for determining overheating, I’m in good shape, but in an alarming condition if “CPU Package” is the relevant measure. If you folks say it’s the “CPU Package” then I’ll definitely and immediately follow the advice about the power plan settings.

        Please let me know what you think about these readings.

        Thanks, Marc

        • #1585279

          My apologies: I meant ‘event viewer’ – but that is daunting on first viewing (more so on W7 than XP, which I am using).

          Forget that for a mo’: those temperatures are very high, and (if real) could easily be causing the shutdowns. I say ‘if real’, as monitoring programs often have trouble properly identifying signals from the myriad of hardware components and control chips out there. First off have a look for dust in the fan inlet/outlet.

          According to http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Bulldozer/AMD-A4-Series%20A4-5150M%20-%20AM5150DEC23HL.html%5B/B%5D%5B/url%5D your CPU has a max operating temp of 105C, but I wouldn’t expect it to run close to that, under the circumstances you mention above, if the cooling was up to par.

          Further to that, this review http://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-ProBook-455-G2-Notebook-Review.141740.0.html%5B/B%5D%5B/url%5D shows similar temp differentials between CPU and CPU package (whatever that means – a real differential of 50C between neighbouring items seems unlikely), but levels much lower than yours, in spite of the fact that their’s were measured during a stress-test, so would be expected to be high (scroll down to the temperature section).

          Is the fan running constantly, and noisily? How hot does the fan exhaust feel? If it is close to 100C you will know about it. If you have equipment to do it, try measuring the exhaust temperature (a meat thermometer would do).

          • #1585284

            Thank you! I’ve changed the Maximum Processor State for all four plans that my power settings offer, for both plugged-in and battery operations. I’ll take a look in a few hours and see if there are changes.
            Regards, Marc

          • #1585286

            Thank you, mngerhold! I’ve changed the Maximum Processor State for all four plans that my power settings offer, for both plugged-in and battery operations, down from 100% to 90%. I’ll take a look in a few hours and see if there are changes. When my PC guy came by six months or so ago to install more memory I used a can of compressed air to blow out any accumulated dust in the guts. But the inside did look quite dust-free even without my doing that.

            I believe the fan is running constantly but have never really paid attention. I’ll start paying attention to that now. The exhaust air feels comfortable–sort of like a heating pad–but I suspose that doesn’t tell us what the temperature is inside the unit or by the CPU. But I’ll stick a thermometer by it and tell you what it says when I also report if the power plan settings make a difference.

            Regards, Marc

    • #1585273

      Hello again folks,

      Thank you very much for your responses. My replies and update follow.

      Post #2 – modules check: Although I noted that Sudo15 kindly provided a link to a tutorial, this approach was a little intimidating to me. I’ve decided to first try what to me are the simplest and easiest investigations. If those do not help I’ll certainly give this a try.

      Posts #3 & 4 – event manager: I was unaware of Event Manager, or what I guess what my PC calls “Event Viewer,” until now! But it’s OK to laugh; I don’t mind!

      Event Viewer and saw it shows a large number of “events.” I do not know how to interpret them, but have pinned EV to my start menu, so the next time the screen goes out, I will force a shutdown, and as soon as the PC’s up and running will report EV’s readings back to you kind folks.

      Post #5 — overheating: Given that revelation that my exact model is known for overheating, this seemed like a real possibility. Plus, the suggested diagnostic route was one that I felt I had the “expertise” to follow.

      The only HWinfo temperature readings for “CPU” of any sort I saw were labeled differently than those shown on the screen grab that Rick Corbett posted. I’ve printed those from two readings below

      09:25AM: After PC on for ~3 hours, little use of Word:
      CPU [#0]: AMD A4-5150M
      Figures in Degrees Centigrade[/I]
      Current Minimum Maximum Average
      CPU (Tct) 72.1 70.4 96.3 82.9
      CPU Package 121.1 119.4 145.3 131.9

      10:10AM: After using Word for about a half hour:
      CPU [#0]: AMD A4-5150M
      Figures in Degrees Centigrade
      Current Minimum Maximum Average
      CPU (Tct) 66.1 64.8 94.9 78.2
      CPU Package 114.1 113.8 143.9 127.2

      It seems that if “CPU (TcT) is the basis for determining overheating, I’m in good shape, but in an alarming condition if “CPU Package is the relevant measure. If you folks say it’s the “CPU Package” then I’ll definitely and immediately follow the advice about the power plan settings.

      Please let me know what you think about these readings.

      Thanks, Marc

    • #1585281

      Unfortunately I can’t find any mention of CPU (TcT) on the HWiNFO site. I think it may mean CPU (Temperature Critical Temp) but that’s just a guess.

      The best thing may be to ask in the HWiNFO forum itself. The author – Martin Malík – appears to answer questions quite quickly.

      Hope this helps…

    • #1585295

      Hello again,

      Initially, changing the processor rates from 100% to 90% did not seem to make much difference:
      14:30: Four hours after reducing Maximum Processor State from 100% to 90%
      CPU [#0]: AMD A4-5150M
      Figures in Degrees Centigrade
      Current Minimum Maximum Average Change in average from previous reading
      CPU (Tct) 69.3 66.5 94.8 80.2………+2.0
      CPU Package 122.6 113.8 143.9 127.2……… N/C

      Minimum/Maximum ranges:
      CPU (Tct): 66.6/94.8 = 28.2C
      CPU Package: 113.8/143.9 = 30.1C
      Fan vent exhaust reading: 27C

      But then I decided to change power plans, and…. Whoa-ho- ho!!!
      15:30: One hour after changing power plan from High Performance to Balanced
      Figures in Degrees Centigrade
      Current Minimum Maximum Average Change in average from previous reading
      CPU (Tct) 56.1 56.1 58.3 56.6………-23.6
      CPU Package 104.9 104.5 107.3 105.2………-22.0

      Minimum/Maximum ranges:
      CPU (Tct): 56.1/58.3= 2.2C
      CPU Package: 104.5/107.3 = 2.8C

      Fan vent exhaust reading: 26C. However, the exhaust velocity is greatly diminished because I can barely feel heat from it now. So I’m guessing that the fan is not runnning now.

      So things now are not only operating at lower temperatures, but with much more temperature stability. I note also that the average temperatures for both CPU tct & package now are within 5 degrees of the results (Stress Test and Prime95) in the review mngerhold referred to in Post #8.

      I am cautiously optimistic we’ve solved the problem. But if the problem resurfaces, I’ll use Event Viewer and report back to this thread. But for now, I’m happy, and very appreciative to you all. I regret only that I had not seen the review in Post #8 before I bought this unit. I got it just after losing a well-performing Lenovo Thinkpad. At the time horror stories were all over about W10’s deficiencies, and this HP ProBook was the only Windows 7 machine I was able to find.

      Thanks all!
      Marc

    • #1585296

      Hello again,

      Initially, changing the processor rates from 100% to 90% did not seem to make much difference:
      14:30: Four hours after reducing Maximum Processor State from 100% to 90%
      CPU [#0]: AMD A4-5150M
      ……………………………Figures in Degrees Centigrade
      ……………………….Current…..Minimum…….Maximum….Average…… Change from previous reading
      CPU (Tct) …………..69.3…….…..66.5…….…..94.8……..…..80.2………..+2.0
      CPU Package ……122.6………..113.8…..…..143.9………..127.2………..N/C

      Minimum/Maximum ranges:
      CPU (Tct): 66.6/94.8 = 28.2
      CPU Package: 113.8/143.9 = 30.1
      Fan vent exhaust reading: 27C

      But then I decided to change power plans, and…. Whoa-ho- ho!!!
      15:30: One hour after changing power plan from High Performance to Balanced
      ……………………..Current…..Minimum…….Maximum….Average…… Change from previous reading
      CPU (Tct) ……..……56.1 …….…..56.1………….58.3……..…..56.6………..-23.6
      CPU Package ……104.9 ………..104.5…..…..107.3…………105.2……….-22.0

      Minimum/Maximum ranges:
      CPU (Tct): 56.1/58.3= 2.2
      CPU Package: 104.5/107.3 = 2.8

      Fan vent exhaust reading: 26C. However, although I hear the fan, the exhaust velocity is greatly diminished because I can barely feel heat from it now.

      So things now are not only operating at lower temperatures, but with much more temperature stability. I note also that the average temperatures for both CPU tct & package now are within 5 degrees of the results (Stress Test and Prime95) in the review mngerhold referred to in Post #8.

      I am cautiously optimistic that we may have solved the problem. If not, I’ll use Event Viewer and report back to this thread. But for now, I’m happy, and very appreciative to you all. I regret only that I had not seen the review in Post #8 before I bought this thing, which has always performed poorly. I got it after losing a much-better Lenovo Thinkpad, when horror stories were all over about W10’s deficiencies, and was desperate to find a machine still running Windows 7.

      Thanks all!
      Marc

    • #1585300

      @ marcgrobman

      You could look at using a suitable “cooling pad” for your laptop, e.g.: “Coolermaster Notepal-U3 Plus” ( http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/notepal-series/notepal-u3-plus/ ).

      46070-Notepal-U3

      • #1585316

        Hi Coochin,

        I was not aware of such a product. Although the coolermaster.com website doesn’t seem to be working now I see several sites offering it and similar products. I like the idea that it doubles as sort of a carrying case. Great! I’ll check it out later when I have more time. Thanks!

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