This is a copy of my post in the Operating Systems section, but it didn't get any response there.
Since this is actually a motherboard issue, I decided to post it here again.
My computer would fail to enter the sleep mode in Vista Ultimate 64 - so I unchecked "Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby" for all the mice and the keyboard.
It helped - Vista would enter sleep, but would Blue Screen on Wake-up.
Then I came across this article on ASUS website, and it seems to have solved my problems!
I simply changed the Jumpers' positions from +5V to +5VSB, for all the USB ports and the Keyboard/PS2 port (3 jumpers in case of my motherboard).
Apparently Vista has +5VSB enabled by default, and the motherboards might have +5V enabled, which results in conflict. At least that's what happens in case of some ASUS boards.
I have also had problems with APC UPS unit and its Power Chute software, connected to the PCI card with the USB ports. It would give me the message "Unable to communicate with the Battery Backup" on Wake-up. Connecting the UPS to the MB USB port with the +5VSB enabled seems to have cured this issue, too. I left my printers/faxes/gamepads connected to that PCI card, since there is no option of +5VSB for that.
BTW, I would experience the same problem with XP Home, so this issue is not exclusive to Vista.
Here is the solution from ASUS:
"This is VISTA OS problem. VISTA does not allow system to enter Standby mode, if "Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby" for an USB or PS/2 wake supported device (such as mouse or keyboard) has been checked under "Device Manager", while the used USB or PS/2 port has not switched its power mode to +5VSB, which allows delivery of standby power to USB or PS/2 ports under soft OFF state.
As VISTA enables this option per default, and motherboards often set USB power modes to +5V at the same time, this two settings may result in conflict, hence causes this trouble.
To fix this, simply uncheck "Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby" for your USB mouse and PS/2 keyboard under "Device Manager", if you do not desire to wake the system via your USB mouse and/or PS/2 keyboard. (Wasn't enough for me, I HAD to enable +5VSB - JG)
If wake from USB mouse and/or PS/2 keyboard option is required for your application, simply turn off your PC, set the particular USB port used to connect your USB mouse, and/or your PS/2 port(depending on if you wish to allow wake from PS/2 device) to +5VSB as per the instructions in your user manual, then turn it on again, and disable "Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby" for devices you do not wish to use to wake your system from, and your system will be able to enter and wake from standby mode in your desired manner."
Good luck - hope it helps YOU, too!
Since this is actually a motherboard issue, I decided to post it here again.
My computer would fail to enter the sleep mode in Vista Ultimate 64 - so I unchecked "Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby" for all the mice and the keyboard.
It helped - Vista would enter sleep, but would Blue Screen on Wake-up.
Then I came across this article on ASUS website, and it seems to have solved my problems!
I simply changed the Jumpers' positions from +5V to +5VSB, for all the USB ports and the Keyboard/PS2 port (3 jumpers in case of my motherboard).
Apparently Vista has +5VSB enabled by default, and the motherboards might have +5V enabled, which results in conflict. At least that's what happens in case of some ASUS boards.
I have also had problems with APC UPS unit and its Power Chute software, connected to the PCI card with the USB ports. It would give me the message "Unable to communicate with the Battery Backup" on Wake-up. Connecting the UPS to the MB USB port with the +5VSB enabled seems to have cured this issue, too. I left my printers/faxes/gamepads connected to that PCI card, since there is no option of +5VSB for that.
BTW, I would experience the same problem with XP Home, so this issue is not exclusive to Vista.
Here is the solution from ASUS:
"This is VISTA OS problem. VISTA does not allow system to enter Standby mode, if "Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby" for an USB or PS/2 wake supported device (such as mouse or keyboard) has been checked under "Device Manager", while the used USB or PS/2 port has not switched its power mode to +5VSB, which allows delivery of standby power to USB or PS/2 ports under soft OFF state.
As VISTA enables this option per default, and motherboards often set USB power modes to +5V at the same time, this two settings may result in conflict, hence causes this trouble.
To fix this, simply uncheck "Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby" for your USB mouse and PS/2 keyboard under "Device Manager", if you do not desire to wake the system via your USB mouse and/or PS/2 keyboard. (Wasn't enough for me, I HAD to enable +5VSB - JG)
If wake from USB mouse and/or PS/2 keyboard option is required for your application, simply turn off your PC, set the particular USB port used to connect your USB mouse, and/or your PS/2 port(depending on if you wish to allow wake from PS/2 device) to +5VSB as per the instructions in your user manual, then turn it on again, and disable "Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby" for devices you do not wish to use to wake your system from, and your system will be able to enter and wake from standby mode in your desired manner."
Good luck - hope it helps YOU, too!