Hi all. This site certainly has changed, I am have trouble finding things :-) My question. Sleep and hibernation mode, which is best when leaving the computer unattended for a few hours; which is the best and quickest of the two to get it up and going again. In otherwords, what is involved with each. Regards Thinking hurts my head that's why I live in West Australia

Standby just turns off the screen and hard drive, which takes less than 10 seconds. Resuming from standby takes less than 10 seconds. Hibernation saves everything in memory to the hard drive, and then actually shuts off the computer, which takes anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on how much memory you have. Depending on how much memory you have, resuming from hibernation can take anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes. Hope this answers your question, -Trent "If at first you don't succeed, skydiving may not be for you." -Our tour guide at Fenway Park in Boston, MA.

Thanks Trent M. Just what I wanted to know. I think I may try Standby and see how we go. With this warm weather the last thing I want is extra heat belched out for no reason. My Mac uses the Sleep mode and it works a dream. Lets that Windows play just as nicely. Regards Thinking hurts my head that's why I live in West Australia

One further point if you can help. Say I have my "standby" set to happen after one hour, but I have a program preforming task that will take 2 hours to complete, will the PC finish that 2 hour task first and then go into Standby or go into Standby even if the task is not completed? Regards Thinking hurts my head that's why I live in West Australia

It shouldn't go into standby if a program is in the foreground, actively doing something. One hour (or however long you have standby set) after the program finishes, it should go into standby. -Trent "If at first you don't succeed, skydiving may not be for you." -Our tour guide at Fenway Park in Boston, MA.

Thanks Trent. That is how it should be. Happy New Year to all. Regards Thinking hurts my head that's why I live in West Australia