I have my computer set to put the monitor to sleep in twenty minutes if there is not any activity. At times the monitor will go to sleep and at other times it will not go to sleep. Is there a way to correct this problem since the monitor it is only doing this every once in a while?

Hi Wayne937,Step 1: Try running sfc (system file checker) scan to find and fix missing or corrupt system files.a. Click Start, click Run, type cmd and click ok.b. On the command prompt, type sfc /scannow and hit enter.c. If prompted, enter the Windows XP CD to complete the scan.Note: The service pack version on the CD should match with the service pack version installed on the computer.d. Restart the computer and check the difference.See Description of Windows XP sfc scanStep 2: Check if any non Microsoft program is causing this issuea. See How to configure Windows XP to start in a "clean boot" stateb. If the issue does not persist. From the article, follow Method 1 and Method 2 to find out if any program is causing the issue.c. Once you've found the culprit i.e. the program that's causing the issue, then uninstall it.Note: From the article do not forget to follow "Steps to configure Windows to use a Normal startup state"Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Syed, my computer has been doing this for over the last two or three years. I completely restored my XP Gateway, (I have SP3 installed) Computer about two weeks ago and it is still doing the same thing as it did before I restored everything. I tried the SFC you mentioned, but I do not have any windows XP disc with SP3. When I was asked for the disc I put in the Gateway XP disc (OEM) but it would not accept this disc. even though it said it was an XP operating system disc. I have been checking on this, and the way I understand it, is that the computer will not accept an (OEM) disc under any circumstance when trying to use SFC. The only option I see here that I can use is option #2. Thank you so much for your advise. I will check out option #2 and see if I should proceed with this procedure, or not. The thing I don't understand is the fact it turns off ok at times, and at other times it will not. Thanks again. Wayne

You want your monitor to go into its standby or power saving mode, right?I am thinking of "my system sometimes won't Hibernate" problems... and I know yours is not the same but maybe you will get some ideas. If you are using Hibernation and set it to something like 30 minutes, if there is any single process that causes the CPU to use 10% even for a fraction of a second, the Hibernate time gets reset back to zero and starts over. You will have to figure out what that somethings is (after ruling out the more obvious things).Does your system have installed Windows Search, Skype, MagicJack, RSS feeds, any kind of Instant Messenger, Internet Messaging, any kind of malware scanners doing scans or doing automatic updates like MSE, AVG, Norton, McAfee, Bit Defender? There were some screen save issues a long time ago, bu I think they were wrapped up into SP3. Another memory I have is to change the screen saver from None to something else or from something to None (any custom screen savers installed)? I don't remember all the details...Once you figure out what the deal is, you can decide what to do about it (or you could just try things).I am not a "tryer" and little is known about your system, but if you provide some more details on your configuration, maybe someone will spot something: What is your system make and model?What is your XP Version and Service Pack?Describe your current antivirus and anti malware situation: McAfee, Norton, Spybot, AVG, Avira!, MSE, Defender, ZoneAlarm, PC Tools, Comodo, etc.Please provide additional information about your system:Click Start, Run and in the box enter:msinfo32Click OK, and when the System Summary info appears, click Edit, Select All, Copy and then paste the information back here.For video driver information, expand the Components, click Display, click Edit, Select All, Copy and then paste the information back here.There will be some personal information (like System Name and User Name), and whatever appears to be private information to you, just delete it from the pasted information.This will minimize back and forth Q&A and eliminate guesswork.Don't guess what the problem might be - figure it out and fix it. I need YOUR votes and points for helpful replies and Propose as Answers. I am saving up for a pony!

JoseIbarra, below is the list of things you requested: I think I have listed everything you have requested.SYSTEM INFORMATION LIST.OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home EditionVersion 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600OS Manufacturer Microsoft CorporationSystem Name WAYNESystem Manufacturer GatewaySystem Type X86-based PCProcessor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~2593 MhzBIOS Version/Date Intel Corp. BF86510A.15A.0043.P07.0308011434, 8/1/2003SMBIOS Version 2.3Windows Directory C:\WINDOWSSystem Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1Locale United StatesHardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"User Name WAYNETime Zone Eastern Daylight TimeTotal Physical Memory 1,536.00 MBAvailable Physical Memory 799.25 MBTotal Virtual Memory 2.00 GBAvailable Virtual Memory 1.96 GBPage File Space 3.35 GBPage File C:\pagefile.sys COMPONENTS DISPLAY LISTName ATI Radeon X1550PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_7142&SUBSYS_30001787&REV_00\4&38B71F77&0&0008Adapter Type ATI display adapter AGP (0x7142), ATI Technologies Inc. compatibleAdapter Description ATI Radeon X1550Adapter RAM 512.00 MB (536,870,912 bytes)Installed Drivers ati2dvag.dllDriver Version 6.14.10.6652INF File oem6.inf (ati2mtag_RV515 section)Color Planes 1Color Table Entries 4294967296Resolution 1280 x 800 x 60 hertzBits/Pixel 32Memory Address 0xE0000000-0xEFFFFFFFMemory Address 0xFF9F0000-0xFF9FFFFFI/O Port 0x0000B800-0x0000B8FFIRQ Channel IRQ 16I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BBI/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DFMemory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFFDriver c:\windows\system32\drivers\ati2mtag.sys (6.14.10.6652, 2.70 MB (2,829,824 bytes), 9/22/2010 1:37 PM) Name ATI Radeon X1550 SecondaryPNP Device ID PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_7162&SUBSYS_30011787&REV_00\4&38B71F77&0&0108Adapter Type ATI display adapter Secondary AGP (0x7162), ATI Technologies Inc. compatibleAdapter Description ATI Radeon X1550 SecondaryAdapter RAM 512.00 MB (536,870,912 bytes)Installed Drivers ati2dvag.dllDriver Version 6.14.10.6652INF File oem6.inf (ati2mtag_RV515 section)Color Planes Not AvailableColor Table Entries Not AvailableResolution Not AvailableBits/Pixel Not AvailableMemory Address 0xFF9E0000-0xFF9EFFFFDriver c:\windows\system32\drivers\ati2mtag.sys (6.14.10.6652, 2.70 MB (2,829,824 bytes), 9/22/2010 1:37 PM) I have AVG for my antivirus. No malware scanners, no screen savers.I have windows live messenger (It could be this causing my problem) It notiifies me when I get e-mail.I do not use hibernation. The only power function I use is putting the monitor to sleep.Does your system have installed Windows Search, Skype, MagicJack, RSS feeds, any kind of Instant Messenger, Internet Messaging, any kind of malware scanners doing scans or doing automatic updates like MSE, AVG, Norton, McAfee, Bit Defender? My system does not have any of those that you have listed above with the exception of AVG antivirs, Search. Of course, I do keep window on automatic update.Thank you, Hose.

Good job.Your info look normal.You may have some clues though and I which I could tell you exactly what it is but I don't know.My notes list those applications because at some time or another when they are installed and running, in their idleness they periodically check the Internet for updates or something "to do". I don't use Windows Search, AVG or Live Messenger, but somebody else may know how to at least temporarily turn off their checking for things to do business, or you could disable them temporarily and see how your system behaves. If Live Messenger is notifying you about emails, it has to wake up and check once in a while.Since you problem is intermittent, it may take a while and be frustrating. You can think about turning your time down to 5 minutes and see if you can make it fail more often, make the adjustment and repeat your test. I don't think I would like it very much either.It was just a thought as I was thinking about some other situations where (maybe it was AVG checking for updates) that was sometimes interfering with Hibernation. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't work and everything looked okay but AVG Control Center auto updates was then disabled at that made it work every time (with the consequence of now having to do manual AVG updates). It was a while ago though - maybe it is fixed now.I think Windows Search does some indexing things periodically too, but am not going to install it again to try to remember. I uninstall it most of the time when tuning up for maximum performance. It might jog someone else's memory though.Good luck!Don't guess what the problem might be - figure it out and fix it. I need YOUR votes and points for helpful replies and Propose as Answers. I am saving up for a pony!

Thanks for your help JoseIbarra. My AVG only checks once a day for updates so I have ruled this out as a culprint as I know the time it checks for updates. The thing that bothers me is the fact it only does this periodically and that makes it hard to investigate what is causing the problem. I realize that this is not a serious problem, but I like to have everything working correctly. I might stumble on to a fix one of these days, but until then I will not let it bother me any. Thanks again.

Thanks for your help JoseIbarra. My AVG only checks once a day for updates so I have ruled this out as a culprint as I know the time it checks for updates. The thing that bothers me is the fact it only does this periodically and that makes it hard to investigate what is causing the problem. I realize that this is not a serious problem, but I like to have everything working correctly. I might stumble on to a fix one of these days, but until then I will not let it bother me any. Thanks again.