[brucedonath]

I've been using hibernate a lot on my Dell laptop running WinXP SP1. Now, it will not restart. Fan starts, disk light flashes briefly, and then turns off, all in about 1long second.Yes, this could be a disk failure, despite no indications or noises up to this point. Is there anyway to restart the computer and ignore the hibernated file? I'm using my ON button to restart.Thanks!

[mphenterprises]

Hi Brucedonath. We just had a thorough discussion about this same situation not too long ago. Please refer to this thread for full details.My concerns are:- Why haven't you updated your Service Pack to SP2?- Can you please provide your full computer specifications?- Have you had a restarting problem in the past?

[rgreen4]

First - let me URGE you to upgrade to XP SP2. Service Pack 2 is downloadable, and on broadband it is not that bad. (I was on dial-up when it came out and ordered the CD).Second, are you confusing Hibernate with Stand By?Stand by mode is when it saves battery/energy by shutting down after a period of activity and is reactivated by moving the mouse. After a long period of inactivity, it may then go into Hibernate.Hibernate on Laptops is usually activated by closing the lid, and can only be restarted by hitting the power button.It is almost the same as shutting down, but saves your work as is, and when you restart, takes you back to where you were.To Quote from Windows XP Pro - The Missing Manual:[quote:2af2915762]Waking up your PCTo bring your computer out of standby mode, just move the mouse or press a key....To bring the computer back from hibernation, you generally have to press the power key.[/quote:2af2915762]That exactly the way my HP Laptop works, I close the lid, it hibernates. When I restart by pressing the power button, it take a few seconds and is then back where I left it.If this is not the situation you are experiencing, please explain further so we may help.

[smax013]

[quote name='rgreen4']First - let me URGE you to upgrade to XP SP2. Service Pack 2 is downloadable, and on broadband it is not that bad. (I was on dial-up when it came out and ordered the CD).> > > > Second, are you confusing Hibernate with Stand By?> > > > Stand by mode is when it saves battery/energy by shutting down after a period of activity and is reactivated by moving the mouse. After a long period of inactivity, it may then go into Hibernate.> > > > Hibernate on Laptops is usually activated by closing the lid, and can only be restarted by hitting the power button.> > > > It is almost the same as shutting down, but saves your work as is, and when you restart, takes you back to where you were.> > > > To Quote from Windows XP Pro - The Missing Manual:[quote:8fc1b6fde5]Waking up your PC> > To bring your computer out of standby mode, just move the mouse or press a key....> > To bring the computer back from hibernation, you generally have to press the power key.That exactly the way my HP Laptop works, I close the lid, it hibernates. When I restart by pressing the power button, it take a few seconds and is then back where I left it.If this is not the situation you are experiencing, please explain further so we may help.[/quote:8fc1b6fde5]I will point out that closing the laptop lid will not always put it in hibernate mode...it depends on how your have your power settings configured, I believe. If you have hibernate turned off (i.e. you don't allow it the option of hibernation), then I believe that closing the lid will just put it in stand by mode (unless it is unplugged and you leave it in stand by mode too long, in which case it just shuts off or dies due to draining the battery). I know this is the case on my MacBook Pro...just not sure if it translates into the Windoze world...I seem to recall it does from when I had a Compaq laptop...but my memory is a little hazy.

[rgreen4]

Even though in the power options section of control panel, hibernation is not enables, closing the lid activates hibernate. There must be an override on laptops to not only protect the battery but the MB and CPU. If it did not enter hibernation, then some one would put it into a case while still on, and without ventillation, the laptop would be damaged. I have never seen a recent windows based laptop that did not enter hibernation when the lid is closed.Unfortunately, since brucedonath has not come back, it is difficult to understand how he has his machine set up and what has changed.

[brucedonath]

Thanks for the comments and ideas.I have hibernate set up on the power switch. And it has been working fine up to now.It is when I returned to restart and 'reawake' the computer that I encountered my problem - reawakening from hibernate is just not happening - lights flicker, fan starts but all shuts down in just about one second. Thanks. Bruce

[rgreen4]

What do you do then?Do you just hold the power switch down until it boots or what?If you could descibe the process and what the machine does, we will have a better idea.

[brucedonath]

Okay, here's what happens.The machine is already in hibernate mode.I push the power button, the power lite goes on, the fan goes on, the disk lite flashesbriefly and then it all stops - lights off, fan off, quiet. All within 1 or 1.5 seconds.Bruce

[rgreen4]

Ok, lets clarify a couple of things, you are on a laptop correct?The machine is in hibernate - and won't come out of hibernate by pushing the power button. So how do you get the machine to start up? Or does it not start at all?

[brucedonath]

The machine does not start at all. quiet.

[rgreen4]

OK, I don't think this is a problem with hibernation. Are you on the AC adapter or are you running from the battery only?

[brucedonath]

Thanks - I found that the power cord had fallen out of the line 'transformer'and power was the issue. Battery was on its own and died!Feeling stupid here for such a cockpit error, but you asked the right question!Signing off on this, sheepishly!Bruce

[rgreen4]

Not a problem, we all are the sum of our experiences and the little "oops's" in life. I had actually started down another path when I remembered a similiar situation I had encountered. I was recovering from surgery last year and was staying at a friend's home. I was connected to the office computers though his DSL when suddenly my laptop died. It was very hot and I though over heated so I put it down for a while. After it had cooled down I tried to boot and the response I got was the same, the lights flashed on and back off and it wouldn't boot. I figured it was toast. Then I noticed the cord was halfway out.Its still working great (after recharging!).