Dell laptop keeps timing out

Not sure why, but recently my Dell laptop (Inspiron 1720) screen goes black after a very short time, e.g. if I am watching a video, the screen goes all black, I have to move the mouse cursor to get it back.

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Stopping your computer from turning itself on while in hibernation

What could be the issue?

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To turn your personal computer off completely:

Select Start
, then select Power > Shut down.

Sleep

Sleep mode uses little power. Your personal computer technically stays on, but all actions on your personal computer are stopped, any open documents and applications are put in memory. You can quickly resume normal operation within a few seconds. Use sleep mode when you are going to be away from your personal computer for a short time.

To make your personal computer sleep:

Select Start
, then select Power > Sleep.

OR:

Select Start
, then select Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional power settings.
Perform one of the following:
1. If you are using a desktop, tablet, or laptop, select Choose what the power buttons do. Next to When I press the power button, select Sleep, and then select Save changes.
2. If you are using a laptop, select Choose what closing the lid does. Next to When I close the lid, select Sleep, and then select Save changes.
Press the power button on your desktop, tablet, or laptop, or close your laptop's lid to make your personal computer sleep.

NOTE: You can resume working by either pressing your personal computer's power button, pressing any key on the keyboard, clicking a mouse button, or opening the lid on a laptop. For more details about your personal computer, go to the computer manuals at www.dell.com/support.

Hibernate

Hibernate mode uses less power than sleep mode and is available for laptops. It takes a bit longer to resume than sleep mode does, but it will resume everything where you left off once the personal computer is powered back on. Use hibernate mode when you will not be using your personal computer for an extended time.

To hibernate your personal computer:

Select Start
, then select Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings.
Select Choose what the power button does, and then select Change settings that are currently unavailable. Under Shutdown settings, select the Hibernate checkbox (if it is available), and then select Save changes.
You can hibernate your personal computer by selecting Start, and then select Power > Hibernate.

NOTE: For further reading on the introduction of Modern Standby, read this Microsoft document on the topic and the changes in standby behavior.

To change the power plan in Windows 11 and Windows 10, perform these actions:

Start
, then type "sleep."
Select Power and Sleep settings, then select Additional power settings at the bottom of the screen. The Power Options window appears.
Select Balanced (recommended), Power saver, or select Create a power plan on the left side of the screen.
Customize your plan settings as wanted.

Stopping your computer from turning itself on while in hibernation

Update the computer's BIOS to the latest version.
For optimum performance, it is recommended that you install the latest drivers on your computer.
NOTE: Using the SupportAssist application provides automatic computer updates. For more information about SupportAssist, browse to the SupportAssist for PCs and tablets page.
Be sure that your computer is running with the latest updates for Windows. Browse to the Windows Update website to be sure that your computer is fully updated.
You can prevent your network adapter from waking your computer up automatically. To change the network settings, perform the following steps:
1. Press and hold the Windows (
  ) key, and then press the q key.
2. In the Search box type device manager.
3. Click or touch Device Manager (Control panel) in the list of programs.
4. Click the plus (+) to the left of Sleep.
5. Click the arrow to the left of Network adapters.
6. Right-click the Wireless or Ethernet and select Properties.
7. Click the Power Management tab and ensure the Allow this device to wake up the computer box is cleared.
  NOTE: Do this for both the Wireless and Ethernet adapters.
8. Click OK.
9. Close out of the Device Manager.
You can prevent any program from waking your computer up automatically or allow for major Windows computer events only by changing the wake timers. To change the wake timers settings, perform the following steps:
1. Press and hold the Windows (
  ) key, and then press the q key.
2. In the Search box type power options.
3. Click or touch Power & sleep settings (System settings) in the list of programs.
4. Click Additional power settings.
5. Click Change plan settings.
6. Click Change advanced power settings.
7. Click the plus (+) to the left of Sleep.
8. Click the plus (+) to the left of Allow wake timers.
9. Click On battery and using the dropdown menu and change to the wanted setting.
10. Click Plugged in and using the dropdown menu and change to the wanted setting.
  NOTE: In Windows 11 and Windows 10, the Important Wake Timers Only option wakes your computer only for major Windows computer events. Try setting your wake timers to Important Wake Timers Only to see if it solves your issue. When your computer is still waking up more often than wanted, you can always set the wake timers to Disabled.
11. Click OK.

Out of warranty? No problem. Browse to the Dell.com/support website and enter your Dell Service Tag and view our offers.

NOTE: Offers are only available for US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, China, and Japan personal computer customers. Server and Storage not applicable.

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This article may have been automatically translated. If you have any feedback regarding its quality, please let us know using the form at the bottom of this page.

This is an expected behavior with platforms running Dell Optimizer. For enhanced security, Dell Optimizer has a higher priority than the Windows power setting.

To modify Dell Optimizer settings:

Launch Dell Optimizer and then click Start Exploring (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Welcome screen

Select Proximity Sensor (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Dell Optimizer screen

Under Walk Away Lock, either:
- Click On to Off.(Figure 3)
- Modify Set lock timer.(Figure 3)
Figure 3: Proximity Sensor screen

Dell Optimizer, Latitude 7310, Latitude 7410, Latitude 9410, Precision 5550, Precision 5560, Precision 7550, Precision 7560, Precision 5750, Precision 5760, Precision 7750, Precision 7760