1. Issue: 2 identical Compaq Presarios (SR5510F)

[davidbaldwin]

Well, I don't know if this thread is still active but here's my issue, and 2 questions.

1. Issue: 2 identical Compaq Presarios (SR5510F) from 2008 era. Both have had Seagate hard drives replaced with WD Caviar Green (under Best Buy 3yr Perf Plan). So far they have Vista 32 Home Premium loaded with all Windows updates up-to-date. Besides that, minimal identical software installed on both. BIOS is up-to-date.

One machine will properly resume from sleep. Green power button light comes on, fans come on high then immediately reduce to normal speed, video comes on, followed by HDD activity and all is well. This machine also had the original power supply replaced at the same time as the HDD. Apparently while in the shop, the computer simply refused to start.

The other hangs on resume (green power light comes on, cpu and case fans come on HIGH SPEED and stay there, no video, then no HDD activity - must hold power button in for 5 secs to shutdown, on restart it shows "resuming windows" and after a long boot, ends up where it left off before sleep. Aside from power supply and Super Multi DVD, both machines are identical in hardware and software and settings. Also, I did see this machine resume properly ONCE, out of probably 15 troubleshooting attempts. I am wondering if it could be the power supply. If the ticking time bomb affected both hard drives and one of the power supplies - why not the other? I have tried most if not all of the other suggestions in this article.

2. Question 1: I am wondering if I need the computer to sleep. I am thinking about reduced power usage, reduced wear & tear on all components, etc. BUT, is there a way for the computer to wake itself to accomplish tasks like Windows Update, virus scans and other tasks that would take place if the comp was always awake? i.e. is there a software-based method of waking the computer to accomplish routine maintenance & scheduled tasks - then it can resume sleep again when idle?

3. Question 2: It also seems that setting the HDD to shut down doesn't really work because the HDD light continues it's once-per-second pulsing even after that time is expired. i.e. Can you really get a HDD to shut itself down without putting it to sleep?

 

[davidbaldwin]

Update: the computer that hangs after sleeping is at Best Buy's Geek Squad under warranty. They've had it since Monday and haven't called me yet... I paid for the 3yr performance plan so they can figure it out. I was hoping it was a power supply so I could get a new one. I'm guessing it's not that easy...

 

[richc46]

I think these two articles will answer all your questions.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/166809-task-scheduler-wake-up-computer.html

Disable Hard Disk Drive Turns Off or Hibernates/Sleeps into Power Saving Mode in Vista » My Digital Life

From the Digital Life Article
Whichever power plan you selected to enable, the hard disk drive will be turned off after long period of inactivity or idle.

 

[davidbaldwin]

Thanks Richc46. The article about scheduling a task to wake the computer was just what I was looking for.
:D

 

[richc46]

Good
I think that the digital article will answer the question about the Hard drive.

 

[davidbaldwin]

Well I'm back and not happy.
Geek Squad called me about a week later and said they couldn't find the problem. They sent it away to their main facility for repair. I just got it back (it's been almost 3 weeks). They replaced the new WD hard drive with another new Hitachi hard drive and said "it now resumes from sleep properly".
I get it home, plug it in, boot it up, and put it to sleep. SAME PROBLEM! I try it 10 times. No change.
It's going back tomorrow. My Performance Plan - their problem. I'm thinking power supply or motherboard.
If I wasn't in a hurray today, I would've had them prove it was fixed before I took it away. Next time I will.