[SOLVED] Windows 10 won't turn off display or go to sleep -- what other options can I check?

[CanuckJ]

I have two monitors, both connected to my GPU via DP. Neither monitor will turn off after the specified time, nor will the computer sleep after the specified time.

What I've done:

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

I've run the 'power' troubleshooter, which reset the power settings to never for turning off the display, and 1800 for going to sleep, so 30 minutes. I then went into power management (via the original control panel) and change my plan settings so the display shuts off after 10 minutes. I've also run powercfg –lastwake and -waketimers to see if anything was keeping it awake, and it came back with nothing.

OS is Windows 10, 21H2, build 19044.1415. Not part of Insider, and nothing else in Windows Update is showing up.

Any idea what else I can check to see why Windows won't turn off the display or go to sleep?

 

[Colif]

Try a clean boot and see if it changes anything - make sure to read instructions and make sure NOT to disable any microsoft services or windows won't load right - https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows

if clean boot fixes it, it shows its likely a startup program. You should, over a number of startups. restart the programs you stopped to isolate the one that is to blame.

 

[gn842a]

Trying to get any Windows program to go to sleep or turn off at a specified time has been elusive for me for the past thirty years.

Here is what works for me.

1. I use keyboards with a "sleep mode" button. These seem to work pretty well. Currently am using Hewlett Packard HPKBAR211 model keyboard. I always use USB connected keyboards (if the keyboard starts going screwy it's too easy to mistake a battery problem for something going on with the OS or worse. I speak for myself of course.) When I get up to go for a walk I just hit the button. Computer reactivates with keyboard click or mouse click. The Function symbol is a box around a crescent moon make sure it is on any keyboard you buy.

2. Get an app. On my son's desktop (I boot it up periodically to update while he's away in school), I installed "Shutdown Timer Classic" which can be had here

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/shutdown-timer-classic/9ntdg6c9bttw#activetab=pivot:overviewtab

I use a different app on the Win 8.1 desktop which chugs away in a different room.

Shutdown Timer Classic does offer a "sleep" option, I've never used it on my kid's computer.

If you want the computer to automatically go into sleep mode following three hours of inactivity, etc., that probably isn't going to work out. It might. But really, with the apps and the keyboard sleep button, the struggle stops.

For about 30 years Microsoft Word insisted on having a default setting for footnotes--in Roman numerals. This astonished academics all over the world. It could be changed but it was a hassle. And why would you even do that? Only someone who did not give a flying fork about the function would do that. And it stayed on for decades. Was it deliberate torment? We don't know. The New Yorker even ran a long article about it.

Microsoft's elusive sleep feature is the Loch Ness Monster of functionality. It has been seen (by others). It has been reported (by others). People believe in it. But generally it is a waste of time.

My advice is: STOP trying to get these features to work and go to the Plan B alternatives outlined above.

Greg N

Edit: I would add that by turning on the household computers once a week and leaving them on for two hours, and having them shut down as outlined above, they stay updated.