Question Computer sleeps, wakes up but screens don't turn back on

Steelbom · Jan 11, 2025

Hi all,

I've had a myriad of sleep related issues with my system (sig) many of which resolved when I did a clean install of Windows Pro 11 5-6 months ago.
However, I have a new sleep related issue I haven't encountered before (or often).

When the computer sleeps, it does so successfully but when I wake it (pressing keyboard key) there is no screen output.
I hear the monitors click, the fans in the computer spin up and the keyboard lights up (although not the mouse).

Note that it exhibits this behaviour even after fresh boot with no programs open.

I use WSL2 for work so I have multiple Linux distros installed and the relevant Windows "features" that allow it to work.
I've always wondered if these could be causing issues but I've never been able to verify it one way or another. I need them, anyway.

Things I have tried:

Uninstalling some apps (but not everything)
Updated graphics drivers to the latest version
Unplugging and plugging back in all the monitors (4)
Pressing power button lightly
Adjusting power settings (High Performance -> Balanced -> Power Saver)
Disabling unnecessary startup items (EDIT -> Disabled all startup items)
Uninstalling VMware Workstation Pro, Acronis software backup
Disabling malware antibytes (premium)
Disabling iCloud
BIOS update (all settings reset, expo off, etc.)
Tried single monitor on DisplayPort and on HDMI (same result)

If anyone has any thoughts or has encountered this or a similar issue recently, would appreciate any input!

Cheers,
SB

Steltek · Jan 13, 2025

Lots of people have problems with Windows 11 sleep issues, but Microsoft apparently never seems to bother to get around to actually fixing it.

Sounds like you have done a lot. Some other things you might try:

Checking both the Windows Reliability history and the System log to see if there are any recurring errors around the time of trying to wake up the system.
If you have not done so, you might want to try to disable fast boot and also make sure hybrid sleep and hibernation are both disabled.
If there are sleep settings in the BIOS, you may want to play around with those settings
Since the mouse isn't waking up, that might be a hang point. You might try to plug it into a different USB port, or (if using a wireless mouse) try using a USB wired mouse. It also might be worth downloading and installing updated USB drivers. Does the system wake up if you unplug the mouse before it goes to sleep?
Have you checked in Device Manager to see if there is a driver installed there for your monitor(s)?
Have you tried to adjust the sleep settings for the computer? Though, I've read plenty of accounts of people totally disabling sleep only to have the system still randomly go to sleep.
Is there an updated firmware available for your nvme/SSD boot drive?
Have you run SFC /scannow to see if there are any corrupted Windows 11 system files (especially since you have been having to force-restart the system)? What about running a DISM checkhealth session to scan your system image for corruption?
Might also be a good time to do some quick memory testing.
And, finally, are you running the most recent BIOS for your board?

If you haven't done so recently, you might want to run a system backup. It is entirely possible that something will get corrupted if you continue having to force restarts while troubleshooting.

Steelbom · Jan 13, 2025

Steltek said:
Lots of people have problems with Windows 11 sleep issues, but Microsoft apparently never seems to bother to get around to actually fixing it.

Sounds like you have done a lot. Some other things you might try:

Checking both the Windows Reliability history and the System log to see if there are any recurring errors around the time of trying to wake up the system. Good idea

If you have not done so, you might want to try to disable fast boot and also make sure hybrid sleep and hibernation are both disabled. Good idea

If there are sleep settings in the BIOS, you may want to play around with those settings. I haven't noticed anything obvious, so it may not have them or they may be worded weirdly.

Since the mouse isn't waking up, that might be a hang point. You might try to plug it into a different USB port, or (if using a wireless mouse) try using a USB wired mouse. It also might be worth downloading and installing updated USB drivers. Does the system wake up if you unplug the mouse before it goes to sleep? I think this was a mistake on my part -- neither the keyboard or mouse wake up. It's just the keyboard LEDs that turn on.

Have you checked in Device Manager to see if there is a driver installed there for your monitor(s)? Yes, there is. I do see a PCI-E device in there that has a warning symbol next to it but I can't tell what it is.

Have you tried to adjust the sleep settings for the computer? Though, I've read plenty of accounts of people totally disabling sleep only to have the system still randomly go to sleep. I have adjusted some settings but don't want to disable it. Ideally I sleep it each night and it comes back on next morning.

Is there an updated firmware available for your nvme/SSD boot drive? Good idea, I'll check.

Have you run SFC /scannow to see if there are any corrupted Windows 11 system files (especially since you have been having to force-restart the system)? What about running a DISM checkhealth session to scan your system image for corruption? Good idea

Might also be a good time to do some quick memory testing. I'd like to avoid this haha

And, finally, are you running the most recent BIOS for your board? Yep, just updated to one from this year. I updated the monitors firmware as well.

If you haven't done so recently, you might want to run a system backup. It is entirely possible that something will get corrupted if you continue having to force restarts while troubleshooting.

Thanks for your reply!

Yeah, it's such a pain. I have noticed from Googling that there are a number of users on MSI forums (I have MSI mobo) that they have sleep issues with expo / pbo enabled. Tried disabling both but no luck. I may even resort to replacing the motherboard if I still have no luck after all this.

I'll give those a try. I think Fast Boot must be off because I have time to enter BIOS and I can't see any options anywhere.

Recap of more things I've tried:

Disabling EXPO/XMP and PBO
Changing control over waking from BIOS to OS
Increasing page file (4GB default -> 12GB)

Things to do:

Check error log
Disable hibernation
Unplug USB hub and connect mouse/keyboard directly
Drive firmware
Format old boot drives
Scan for corrupted files

WelshBloke · Jan 13, 2025

There's a hotkey to restart the video driver.
Hit winkey, ctrl, shift, and B.
If it sounds like your PC is running hit that combination of keys and see if you get any video output.

Steelbom · Jan 13, 2025

WelshBloke said:
There's a hotkey to restart the video driver.
Hit winkey, ctrl, shift, and B.
If it sounds like your PC is running hit that combination of keys and see if you get any video output.

Good to know, thanks!

It might possibly be resolved now. I found fast boot enabled in the settings. I've turned it off, disabled hibernation and restarted (and confirmed it's still off). I also re-enabled waking via BIOS (instead of OS).
It's turned back on successfully once now. Going to test it a few more times today and fingers crossed that's it. I'll give the hotkey a go if it fails again.

Steelbom · Jan 14, 2025

So, at first, I was able to get 3-4 resumes from sleep after turning fast boot off. However, the issue has returned again.
Additionally I tried:

Installing the driver updater from AMD (installed all available drivers).
Deleted partitions / Formatted all my other drives (everything is empty except for boot drive)
Connecting kb & mouse directly to computer (unplugged USB 3 hub).

However, I re-enabled hibernation and hibernated the system. It actually resumes back where I was.
So S3 sleep doesn't work, but S4 hibernate does. Fast boot / hybrid sleep is set to OFF.

Super weird. I'm going to keep testing it but this'll do if it's at least consistent.

Shmee · Jan 14, 2025

Have you tried booting to Linux and then resuming from sleep to verify if it is a Windows/software issue or a hardware/firmware issue?

mikeymikec · Jan 14, 2025

In terms of power states, hibernate is identical to the computer being shut down. Hibernate only differs from a normal power-on in that Windows recalls the contents of system memory from the hibernation file.

Steelbom · Jan 14, 2025

Shmee said:
Have you tried booting to Linux and then resuming from sleep to verify if it is a Windows/software issue or a hardware/firmware issue?

I have not yet. I might give it a try at some stage.

mikeymikec said:
In terms of power states, hibernate is identical to the computer being shut down. Hibernate only differs from a normal power-on in that Windows recalls the contents of system memory from the hibernation file.

Ah well, that explains it. My computer can successfully turn on and off

At least it restores the programs I had open, so it more or less does what I need.

Question Computer sleeps, wakes up but screens don't turn back on

Steelbom

Senior member

Steltek

Diamond Member

Steelbom

Senior member

WelshBloke

Lifer

Steelbom

Senior member

Steelbom

Senior member

Shmee

Memory & Storage, Graphics Cards Mod Elite Member

mikeymikec

Lifer

Steelbom

Senior member

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