[SOLVED] Sleep option greyed out in Start Menu but not fixed by usual fix

[TimEJ]

Can anyone help please.

I did a fresh install of Windows 7

on Dell laptop

I ran the automatic driver install software from Dell and it installed all the drivers...

But still have no sleep option in Start Menu

Ive reinstalled the graphics cards' drivers (are working fine in device manager)

It has 2 graphics cards, 1 AMD, and 1 intel (both say they are working fine)

Confused...

Does anyone have any ideas pls

Thanks for reading this

 

[Lutfij]

Model for your Dell laptop? Include an SKU to the laptop. Also did you install the drivers for your laptop manually after downloading them from Dell's support site? Where did you source the installer for Windows 7?

You've mentioned, usual fix, what were they/what have you tried?

 

[TimEJ]

Hi Lutfij thx

Is Dell M6800 Service tag is JQ6R262

Yes sorry I need to reword that

the software showed the drivers and I installed them manually

 

[onespeedbiker]

I think your problem is the two graphics cards. While the graphics card in a dell M6800 is upgradeable, the new card would take the place of the old card. Assuming no upgrade has been done, than the AMD drivers would be the correct drivers and the Intel (generic?) drivers are perhaps a hold over from the install, prior to installing the AMD drivers. I would uninstall the Intel drivers and see if that solves your problem.

 

[TimEJ]

Good idea thank you Onespeedbiker

I will try

 

[onespeedbiker]

Okay I was in error, you do have switchable graphics, which means there are options in the BIOS and control panel which graphics card you want to use. https://www.dell.com/community/Laptops-General-Read-Only/Precision-M6800-video-cards/td-p/4497942 https://www.dell.com/support/articl...-precision-mobile-m4800-m6800-systems?lang=en

In regards to the sleep issue, make sure you check the Power Options in the control panel to see if sleep has been configured into the Power plan.

 

[TimEJ]

Hi Onespeedbiker, I tried to figure this out I cant see any option for "AMD Power Express" in the post you sent

Good call though sir

Thing that baffles me is in device manager both cards show together, both say "this device is working properly"

I tried to remove the intel driver then I couldn't get the other card to install at all.. kept saying no device present

Then removed the AMD card and installed the intel one, was working fine as far as the screen resolution etc.. but still no sleep option

I give up



Im actually just going to leave it

Thanks Onespeedbiker anyway

 

[geofelt]

A laptop may have two graphics adapters as yours does.
One is the integrated intel adapter, and the other is an amd discrete adapter.
The intel adapter is low power and is the default for battery usage,
The amd adapter is higher power and is the default for use when plugged in.

If you right click on the desktop, you should be able to access the amd control panel and 3d settings.
(at least this is how it works with nvidia)
There you can explicitly say which adapter to use.

 

[onespeedbiker]

Confirm you tried these fixes? BTW I would not recommend #1, better to do it manually. https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/107536-shut-down-enable-disable-shut-down-without-logging.html

 

[TimEJ]

Hi Geofelt thanks I have openned the amd control panel but I cant see any settings that choose which adapter to use.

Its possible its just not obvious, or Im just being a donut


Onespeedbiker, OK thx i will read the post

 

[TimEJ]

SOLVED:

K im happy to report this problem is solved

I ended up using command prompt to give an Energy Report

The energy report said BIOS was blocking sleep mode and that BIOS needed flashing, after changing the BIOS/setting. No Problem

The way to do it:

Open cmd.exe (command prompt)

in cmd type

powercfg -energy \EnergyReport.html

Enter

Wait 60 seconds, it will save a .html file to the c drive, just go to c drive open it youll see it there and it lists a breakdown of your system/ problems etc

Thank you everyone who reached out...