PC going into standby shortly after WoL

[tom1681]

I have three PCs which import data between two databases. When there is no data waiting, a server removes a file from a shared directory. The import PCs check the existence of this file and if it's not there they suspend themselves using the command 'rundll32 powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState'. The power settings in control panel are all set to 'always on'.

When data is waiting to be imported the server wakes the import PCs up using a WoL command.

This works fine on two of the PCs, but one of them goes back to sleep after a few minutes of being woken up. The only way to keep it awake is to move the mouse/press a key once it's been woken up via WoL.

I'm using a program called fullresume.exe to wake the PCs up fully once the WoL command is received, but this still isn't enough to keep this one PC awake.

All the PCs have different hardware so I'm guessing this particular configuration is causing this, but I've got no idea how to solve it! Just being able to view a log file with the reason it's gone back to sleep would be a start (nothing in event logs).

The PC in question is a Dell Optiplex 170L running XP Pro SP3 with all updates installed. The other two PCs that behave as expected are a much older Compaq and a slightly newer Dell.

Can anyone shed any light on this please?

Thanks in advance.

 

[guitarzan]

One thing to try tweaking is the power options on the NIC:

Go to Control Panel, Network Connections and double-click the connection
Click the Properties button, then click the "Configure" button next to the adapter
Click the "Power Management" tab, and un-check "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power

 

[tom1681]

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately if I un-check "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" the options to allow WoL are disabled and so the PC can't be woken up by the server in the first place!

 

[kjv1611]

What about application logs? Did you check the application, not system logs, to see if the waking application gave any hints there? Or what about that application? Does it keep its own logs? - many applications do.

Otherwise, have you tried pouring some coffee into the computer? I know that sometimes works for me when I can't seem to wake up - like after lunch.

Well, don't seriously pour coffee on a computer - just thought I'd add that in case anyone took that seriously.

 

[tom1681]

Application log doesn't reveal anything either I'm afraid.

I meant to say before that I know for a fact that the script that checks the presence of the file and performs the suspend is not running and suspending the PC as it also kills off the data import application before suspending - this application is still running when I manually wake the machine after an incorrect suspend.

I won't resort to the coffee just yet...

 

[linney]

See what is available with Powercfg, in so far as querying what this machine is configurable to be able to do.

Commands like the /DEVICEQUERY switch might throw some light on the machine concerned?

Powercfg Command-Line Options

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc748940(WS.10).aspx

How to use Powercfg.exe in Windows Server 2003 (or XP)

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=324347

Are any security programs interfering with any script you are trying to run?

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560

Are any Power settings in the Bios causing the problem? Is there any Bios update available?

Can you make use of a program like this to see what is going on with that machine?

Process Monitor v2.8

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-au/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx

Among other interesting things this next link talks about a program called dumppo.exe which if you can get hold of it might be worth looking at?

S3 Sleep in Windows XP.

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1469199

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=d...&ie=&oe=&redir_esc=&ei=nXrHS7qpO4z-7AOPqOnIDA

 

[tom1681]

Thanks for all the pointers - I'd tried most of those things already though.

I got hold of dumppo ok and that showed that all three PCs were configured the same.

Process Monitor didn't show anything I wasn't expecting - I couldn't see what had initiated the suspend though which is really what I want to find out. Does anyone know what to look for in ProcMon with regards to suspend?

 

[linney]

These might help with Process Monitor.

Process Monitor Forum

http://forum.sysinternals.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=19

Need tutorial for Process Monitor

http://forum.sysinternals.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13724