Windows 7 provides several options for conserving power when you are
not using your PC. These options include Sleep, Hibernate, and Hybrid
Sleep and are very useful if you are using a laptop. Here’s the
difference between them.
Note: this article is meant primarily for beginners.
Obviously ubergeeky readers will already know the difference between
power modes.
Sleep Mode
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that is similar to pausing a DVD
movie. All actions on the computer are stopped and any open documents
and applications are put in memory. You can quickly resume normal,
full-power operation within a few seconds. Sleep mode is basically the
same thing as “Standby” mode.
The Sleep mode is useful if you want to stop working for a short
period of time. The computer doesn’t use much power in Sleep mode.
Hibernate
The Hibernate mode saves your open documents and running applications
to your hard disk and shuts down the computer, which means once your
computer is in Hibernate mode, it uses zero power. Once the computer is
powered back on, it will resume everything where you left off.
Use this mode if you won’t be using the laptop for an extended period of time, and you don’t want to close your documents.
Hybrid Sleep
The Hybrid Sleep mode is a combination of the Sleep and Hibernate
modes meant for desktop computers. It puts any open documents and
applications both in memory and on your hard disk, and then puts your
computer into a low-power state, allowing you to quickly wake the
computer and resume your work. The Hybrid Sleep mode is enabled by
default in Windows on desktop computers and disabled on laptops. When
enabled, it automatically puts your computer into Hybrid Sleep mode when
you put it into Sleep mode.
Hybrid Sleep mode is useful for desktop computers in case of a power
outage. When power resumes, Windows can restore your work from the hard
disk, if the memory is not accessible.
Where are the options?
The Sleep and Hibernate options are accessed using the arrow button next to the Shut down button on the Start menu.
If you don’t see the Sleep option or the Hibernate option, it may be for one of the following reasons:
- Your video card may not support the Sleep mode. Refer to the documentation for your video card. You can also update the driver.
- If you don’t have administrative access on the computer, you may have to refer to the administrator to change the option.
- The power-saving modes in Windows are turned on and off in your
computer’s BIOS (basic input/output system). To turn on these modes,
restart your computer and then enter the BIOS setup program. The key for
accessing BIOS differs for each computer manufacturer. Instructions for
accessing BIOS generally displays on the screen as the computer boots.
For more information, see your computer’s documentation or check the
website for your computer’s manufacturer.
- If you don’t see the Hibernate option, the Hybrid Sleep option is
mostly likely enabled. We will explain how to enable and disable the
Hybrid Sleep mode later in this article.
How Do I Wake Up the Computer?
Most computers can be woken up by pressing the power button. However,
every computer is different. You might need to press a key on the
keyboard, click a mouse button, or lift the laptop’s lid. Refer to your
computer’s documentation or the manufacturer’s website for information
about waking it from a power-saving state.
