Laptop doesn't sleep/hibernate/shutdown when lid closed - Battery Damage

Right now I'm doing a reinstall of Windows to see if that's the problem. This is what happened

• Several weeks ago, one time, after closing the lid, I opened it to find a black screen with mouse cursor...i.e. computer still on and unresponsive. I thought I had a corrupted display driver so I reinstalled. All seemed good.
• A few days ago I went to use my laptop only to find it wouldn't wake. I plugged it in to find that battery had drained to 0%. I thought my battery was going bad...even though battery health was rated as excellent. It had suffered notable wear though as a result of the full discharge. Company just sent me a new battery...battery was 6 months old and still under warranty.
• I just got done reinstalling the battery (with a torn fingernail to show for it...not fun getting the back cover off of a Dell XPS 15). I closed the lid...5 minutes later I opened it to find a backlit screen with mouse cursor. I now suspect that my computer is not going to sleep or shutting off with lid closed.

Other thoughts...I'll see if the repair by reinstall fixes anything. Otherwise, what else could be the cause or that I should try?

Does manually putting the laptop to sleep work? In the past every time I had trouble with sleep it was because of the video driver. I know you posted that you reinstalled it. Was it just a reinstall or did install a newer driver? If just a reinstall, check to see if a newer driver is available. You could also try an older driver.

Your problem is caused by what I call the modern standby(S0 sleep) plight on humanity. There have been many, many threads regarding the problems it can cause, mainly sleep/wake issues, battery drain and overheating up to and including catching on fire. You can do an advanced search on this forum for 'modern standby' and find more reading than you can get through in a month.

Depending on the device and its options, you can approach this in several ways. Make sure you have the latest UEFI bios .You can see your current available power options by typing powercfg -a from a command prompt.

1. Not many modern laptops allow for S3 sleep which is what we've all been accustomed to, See if you are one of the lucky few that allows to disable modern standby and return to the old S3 sleep. Disable Modern Standby in Windows 10 and Windows 11 Tutorial

2. If you don't need network connectivity during Modern Standby, then you could disable this for both on battery and plugged in that should stop the biggest part of the battery drainage. Enable or Disable Modern Standby Network Connectivity in Windows 11 Tutorial

3. Use hibernate instead when closing the lid rather than S0 sleep. It's not ideal, but it's the best you can do if a device does not have S3 sleep available.
How to enable hibernate Enable or Disable Hibernate in Windows 11 Tutorial

Ways to hibernate after it is enabled Hibernate Computer in Windows 11 Tutorial

I urge you to run this command [in either cmd or PS window of terminal]
PowerCfg -a
to reveal which power-sleep states you have.
I think glasskuter is probably right about your computer having S0 Modern standby instead of S3 Sleep but it is worth checking before taking any action.
If you do have S0 Modern standby then you do not have sleep [S3 Sleep] as we have come to know it for decades.

• S0 Modern standby is not a sleep state but a very low power idle state.
• In some tests I did recently, I found that S0 Modern standby consumed as little power as S3 Sleep.

I assume you know that your Dell Downloads & drivers, Documentation section almost certainly includes a downloadable Service manual that tells you how to replace internal parts.


All the best,
Denis

A PC, or even a laptop, is nothing more than a tool, or appliance, and like any such device should be turned OFF when not in use. Follow that simple rule and you'll never have any problems with Sleep or Hibernate.*

* I also make sure that in "Power Management" I do specify that there will be no sleeping or hibernating.
And I run a little script to permanently turn Hibernate OFF.

Cheers Mates!
TM

mccnavy,

I believe that your problem is worth investigating & resolving.
Many of us have used sleep and hibernation for many years without problems & to great benefit and there's no reason to expect S0 Modern standby to be any different.


All the best,
Denis

What model Dell XPS 15 do you have?

Mine is a Dell XPS 15 9510 (listed below in My Computers). It was new on Feb 23, 2022, so I've had it for just over a year. It's my main computer and is used more than 12 hours every day. I seldom ever turn if OFF and simply close the lid. I'm very pleased with it. For me, Modern Standby has never had an issue.

What does Dell support have to say about your problem other than replacing the battery?

Thanks for the quick responses...some of which was already done:

1) Sleep, hibernate, and Shut Down work(ed) fine manually. I will check which sleep states are available.
2) Hibernate is enabled as I found a long time ago that Sleep (or Modern Sleep if that's what's happening) would consume a little battery.
3) I had the most current Intel and Nvidia drivers installed before the incidents. I just finished doing a repair by reinstall...and computer just went into hibernate as it should when I closed the lid. I did just make sure to completely remove the Windows installed Intel drivers and extensions (very outdated) using device driver and Driver Explorer. I reinstalled newest Intel drivers and checked the "clean install" box.

I'll keep an eye on it (i.e. close lid...wait a minute...open and see if it is indeed off) for a few days to see if it is fixed...otherwise, as you mentioned, I will manually put it in Sleep/hibernate before closing the lid. Shouldn't have to do this. Also, I thought Windows would've automatically shut down at low or critical battery level to prevent full discharge (i.e. to 0%) and battery damage.

TraderGary said:

What model Dell XPS 15 do you have?

Mine is a Dell XPS 15 9510 (listed below in My Computers). It was new on Feb 23, 2022, so I've had it for just over a year. It's my main computer and is used more than 12 hours every day. I seldom ever turn if OFF and simply close the lid. I'm very pleased with it. For me, Modern Standby has never had an issue.

What does Dell support have to say about your problem other than replacing the battery?

Click to expand...

Same as you...it's is a 9510. No major issues until now. I didn't consult with Dell as I've found their support ineffective. This is the second time I've replaced the battery so I knew how to do it...hardest part was removing the back cover (super sharp) and the actual power cable. Dell quality can be a little off...minor issue in the process is that battery now only has only 7 screws (instead of 8) holding it in. I found that Dell had stripped one of the screw holes (through the motherboard) during construction when it was built a few years ago....screw was sitting there loose. I opted to leave it out this time rather than risk it ending up falling out and causing harm. I just don't want to have to replace the battery again for a while! The one I just replaced was still showing 0% wear after 7 months because I was careful with it...so to have Windows seemingly cause this is disappointing.

There are several issues to discuss in your last post but it's not worth doing so until we know if it is an S0 Modern standby or an S3 Sleep computer.

Denis

Try3 said:

There are several issues to discuss in your last post but it's not worth doing so until we know if it is an S0 Modern standby or an S3 Sleep computer.

Denis

Click to expand...

Just checked...available states are S0 and Hibernate.

mccnavy said:

Same as you...it's is a 9510. No major issues until now. I didn't consult with Dell as I've found their support ineffective. This is the second time I've replaced the battery so I knew how to do it...hardest part was removing the back cover (super sharp) and the actual power cable. Dell quality can be a little off...minor issue in the process is that battery now only has only 7 screws (instead of 8) holding it in. I found that Dell had stripped one of the screw holes (through the motherboard) during construction when it was built a few years ago....screw was sitting there loose. I opted to leave it out this time rather than risk it ending up falling out and causing harm. I just don't want to have to replace the battery again for a while! The one I just replaced was still showing 0% wear after 7 months because I was careful with it...so to have Windows seemingly cause this is disappointing.

Click to expand...

Ouch! With a screw loose like that, the entire computer should have been replaced under warranty! That's a hardware defect right out of the box! This is my 5th Dell computer and, for me, both Dell products and Dell support have been excellent. It's why I stay with Dell.

What BIOS version do you have? My XPS 9510 is at BIOS 1.19.0.

When I start my day, I first run Dell Command | Update, and then I run Microsoft Update. I only run the drivers that are installed by Dell using Dell Command | Update. Dell Command | Update also does my BIOS updates.

TraderGary said:

Ouch! With a screw loose like that, the entire computer should have been replaced under warranty! That's a hardware defect right out of the box! This is my 5th Dell computer and, for me, both Dell products and Dell support have been excellent. It's why I stay with Dell.

What BIOS version do you have? My XPS 9510 is at BIOS 1.19.0.

When I start my day, I first run Dell Command | Update, and then I run Microsoft Update. I only run the drivers that are installed by Dell using Dell Command | Update. Dell Command | Update also does my BIOS updates.

Click to expand...

Yep...agreed...not something you'd find unless you open up the laptop. I've had a few Dells...wife is using an old XPS 13 9350 still going strong but I have not had the best luck lately. Before the 9510 I tried a 9500 but it had 1) terrible loose trackpad, 2) bad backlight bleed (they tried replacing it with another screen that had scratches), and 3) inferior speakers. I returned it and waited a year. Until now, the 9510 was alright but, it is disappointing to find a loose screw and stripped hole.

BIOS is same as yours...1.19.0 (latest).

mccnavy said:

Just checked...available states are S0 and Hibernate.

Click to expand...

OK.

mccnavy said:

Sleep (or Modern Sleep if that's what's happening) would consume a little battery.

Click to expand...

• Yes, my small number of tests revealed that it consumes about the same amount of power as S3 Sleep does in an equivalent computer if you turn off its network connection capability
• S0 Modern standby can be set to maintain its network connection so you could, for example, continue to receive email so it would all be there for you to look at when you return to the computer. I leave it like this but there is always the risk that it will be very active in S0 Modern standby if it starts running Windows update & downloads-installs a big update.
• S0 Modern standby can be set to turn off its network connection instead. It's up to you.
• I try to get the best of both worlds. I leave S0 Modern standby in its connected state but I prevent Windows updates by setting all my network connections as "metered" so it does not run WU automatically [whilst in S0 Modern standby or any other state].
• You might notice how pedantic I am being about the terms used. S0 Modern standby is not sleep but an idle condition. It's important for us never to use the word sleep because people think we mean S3 Sleep.
• MS is not so pedantic. If you look at your power options you'll see [or can set it up to see] Display off after ... [S0 Modern standby starts when the display turns off] and Sleep after ... [This sends S0 Modern standby straight into a deeper idle state during which, for example, no task scheduler tasks can run]. MS also include the word Sleep in the Start menu, Power section on S0 Modern standby computers.
• Again, it's up to you but I set my display to turn off after 1 minute yet set the Sleep after to Never so that my Task scheduler tasks can run and jobs I'm already running continue [such as my long backup scripts].

mccnavy said:

Dell quality can be a little off.

Click to expand...

I agree.

mccnavy said:

Hibernate is enabled

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I also find that a useful alternative.
I tend to let it sit on my desk in S0 Modern standby if I'm pretending to think about something but put it in Hibernate if I want to carry on using the same applications after, say, walking into town to use my computer there.

mccnavy said:

I had the most current Intel and Nvidia drivers installed before the incidents

Click to expand...

I haven't anything useful to add about the main problem.
The only times I've experienced such problems I have found that reinstalling the display driver has fixed them.
I only obtain drivers from Dell until they lose interest after a couple of years & I switch over to the device makers. So I installed Dell drivers for the display until they stopped issuing them & then I downloaded from Intel instead.

mccnavy said:

I just finished doing a repair by reinstall

Click to expand...

You reinstalled Windows and all your drivers or you ran a "Repair install" procedure?
I appreciate that you reinstalled your display driver afterwards anyway.

mccnavy said:

when I closed the lid

Click to expand...

I think it would be worth going into Power options and checking the section Change what the buttons do.
You might wish to ease testing until the fault is fixed by changing Lid close to Do nothing if that choice is available to you [it might not be].
You might also simply things, until the fault is fixed, by checking that Display off after is set to whatever you want yet Sleep after is set to Never. Then, as you say, you can just start S0 Modern standby by letting the Display go off and you can forcibly Hibernate it when you want to.
If you use the "Sleep" option in the Start menu, Power section then that sends the computer straight into the deeper phase of S0 Modern standby that I mentioned above. You might usefully avoid doing that until the fault is fixed.

mccnavy said:

I thought Windows would've automatically shut down at low or critical battery level

Click to expand...

Yes but ...

• If the percentages set in Power options, Advanced settings are set very low then any battery that is not brand new might be exhausted by the time that those percentages are reached.
• In addition, as a battery ages, internal defects can have a greater effect. If the battery loses charge very rapidly due to a defect at, say, 5% charge then if the battery is also wearing out it might be reaching that 5% before you know it. With old batteries, I increase my Low-Reserve-Critical to much higher levels to make sure they take effect before the battery just gives up and crashes.

I have an Event viewer, Custom view definition that you can use if you want to check when power state transitions between active use, S0 Modern standby & Hibernation.
Event viewer, Custom view, Power - Sleep-Hibernate-S0 transitions [post #40] - TenForums
This works in both S0 Modern standby computers and in S3 Sleep computers.



All the best,
Denis

Denis...thanks...I'll keep an eye on things for sure to see if maybe something got corrupted and now I've fixed it. By Repair by Reinstall, I meant that I downloaded the ISO and ran Setup again. It's worked for other issues in the past. Your theory on the battery may be right...I did go ahead and bump the percentages up for both Low Battery and Critical Battery threshold...hopefully I'll never need them to kick in:)

Would you consider adding your XPS 15 9510 to "My Computer" below as System Two? It would be interesting to compare specs since we have the same model.

Did you ever try using Modern Standby? As said earlier, I've always used it on my XPS 15 with no problems.

I've never had the overheating issue many have talked about. I purchased the Dell EcoSpruce 15.6" Laptop Carrying Backpack and often put my XPS 15 9510 in it and haven't had any problems. I do "Shut Down" first though.

mccnavy said:

I downloaded the ISO and ran Setup again

Click to expand...

Understood. That's a Repair install procedure.
Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade - ElevenForumTutorials
It's also a useful method of updating to new Windows Versions [hence its alternative name of In-place upgrade]

mccnavy said:

Low Battery and Critical Battery threshold

Click to expand...

I imagine it might be a typo but you did omit Reserve battery level [which is only a notification dialog, no action takes place].

TraderGary said:

I've never had the overheating issue many have talked about.

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I've never really understood that particular problem either.
I do sometimes leave computers in my rucksack when they are in S0 Modern standby or S3 Sleep.
I do wonder if the incidents have occurred when S0 Modern standby has been in its Connected state and the computer has been working hard on, say, a windows update. - But that does assume it's connected to the internet while travelling and I doubt that is very common. I can do it since my mobile phone's hotspot is my normal internet connection and I might forget to turn it off from time to time.
- Similar hard work might be seen if Sleep after on an S0 Modern standby computer is set to Never [as mine is] and intensive backup etc scripts run.



All the best,
Denis

As I recall, Microsoft does recommend "Powering Down" before transporting a laptop in a closed case with no airflow. That's why I always "Power Down" before putting my laptop in my backpack.

Yep...always power down when traveling. Also...just got off the phone with Dell...they are going to send repair technician to replace the palm rest that apparently has the "screw hole" for my replaced battery.

mccnavy said:

Yep...always power down when traveling. Also...just got off the phone with Dell...they are going to send repair technician to replace the palm rest that apparently has the "screw hole" for my replaced battery.

Click to expand...

That's great! Dell Support strikes again!