Windows XP ignores power settings

[Ronno6]

It's been a long time for this one.

The Box is a Dell Dimension 8400
Intel Pentium 4 3.4ghx
Ram 2.5gig
Video Radeon X300 series
40 gig C drive
120gig WD K drive
All else is what came from Dell.
Does that help ?

[MilesAhead]

Don't know but someone familiar with Dell may know something. Speaking of which, do they have forums? Many times on manufacturer's sites you learn about quirks you can't find anywhere else. I had 2 Pentium 4 HP pavilion PCs for years and I didn't know there was an Easter Egg to set the fan speeds. They'd overheat and lock up on me. Until I asked around on an HP user site.

[Ronno6]

Maybe I'll give that a shot. Thanks for your interest.

[doctorhardware]

I am thinking, that there may be a bug with the video card, and that is why it is not shutting down properly. If the computer does not shut down the signal from the video card is not turned off. That is why the monitor will not shut down properly.

[Ronno6]

A possibility, I suppose. But, reaffirming the power settings that are still shown in the Settings screen returns things to working as they should-for a while.
I dunno, but I guess I have to live with it.
Thanks

[MilesAhead]

The only other possibility I can think of is some application is changing the registry setting. You might try Sysinternals process monitor Registry Monitor function to track it down:

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

[MilesAhead]

A possibility, I suppose. But, reaffirming the power settings that are still shown in the Settings screen returns things to working as they should-for a while.
I dunno, but I guess I have to live with it.
Thanks

I'm just curious. Are you running Chrome browser?
I was looking through a thread on another site and the person claimed Chrome hosed his power settings. Just a shot in the dark.

[Ronno6]

Thanks for your continued responses.
I have Chrome installed, but seldom use it. I've gotten used to Firefox, and that's what I use about 99.99% of the time.
I'll have to look into the Registry Monitor function you refer to. My son is a MS certified pro and we'll be riding our bicycles 125 miles together this weekend. I'll have to bounce that one off him somewhere on a screaming downhill........
Once again, the settings themselves remain constant-nothing actually changes them,XP just does not employ them. I do not have to change anything when I "re-apply" them. Just click on the 5 minute monitor setting, hit "Apply" then "OK" then "OK" on the power schemes screen.