Different Windows versions offer different power settings to make your PC less of a power hog. Some of them are automatic and some are adjustable, but all will cut the power usage of your PC or laptop when it’s not being actively used. Let’s take a look at some of the power settings.

Standby Mode (XP)

Standby Mode in Windows involves cutting the power to your hard drive and monitor. Your computer is still on, but drawing a very small amount of power. When your PC or laptop goes into standby, your data is stored in RAM (random access memory). This allows it to “recover” or turn back on pretty quickly when you press a key or hit the power button. This is a mode that laptops take advantage of because it helps to conserve battery life.

The drawback to standby is in case of a power outage, you will lose your data because it is only stored in RAM.

Hibernate (XP)

With Hibernate Mode, your PC has actually shut down and isn’t pulling any power at all. Your data and desktop get saved to the hard disk in the hiberfil.sys file, a large file that kind of collects everything that you’re working on when your PC goes into hibernate. To recover your data, push the power button and your computer will go back to where you were.

However with no power going to the PC and with your data being saved to your hard disk, it takes longer for your computer to recover from hibernate than it does from standby.

Sleep (Vista & 7)

You can set your computer to automatically go to “sleep” after a certain period of time with no activity has passed. Sleep saves any of your open documents and programs to RAM and then puts your computer into a low-power state. You can easily resume your PC-doings by pushing the power button.

Hybrid Sleep (Vista)

Hybrid Sleep is a similar low-power mode, but it saves your open data and programs to the hard disk like hibernate mode and RAM like sleep mode. That way your work is safe in case of freak power failures AND if the power doesn’t go out, your computer can recover faster.

Check your computer’s hybrid sleep setting by:

1. Go to your Start button and open your Control Panel.


2. Click on System & Maintenance and then open Power Options.


3. Select a power plan and click Change Plan Settings.


4. Click Change Advanced Power Settings. Here you will be able to see what your Hybrid Sleep settings are under the Sleep heading.

Monitor Sleep (XP, Vista, 7)

You can put just your monitor to sleep, keeping your data safe and active while reducing the power your PC is using. To return to your work and wake up the monitor, just press a key or move the mouse. To adjust your monitor sleep settings:

1. Go to Start and click on your Control Panel.


2. Open Power Settings.


3. Under Settings for Home/Office Desk power scheme you can adjust the “Turn off monitor” time.


4. Click OK.