Windows locking into sleep mode

I have had the same issues with "locking" of my laptop. I have a dell. After a TON of research (I am a regular computer person, NOT TECH or even able to understand many of the help posts) but I believe I found the answer! There is a driver update for the display or graphics card that will ONLY INSTALL IF YOU HAVE 10% BATTERY CHARGE AVAILABLE. In my case, my battery doesnt charge (non- dell charger issue) so I am at 0% or I am plugged in with battery removed. This is the only thing unchecked and unupdated on my computer so I will have to get a new battery/charger and then run updates and I believe this will be the fix. BATTERY PROBLEMS...go figure

Same problem I had.       Try disabling all Power Saving features and options including Advanced options.  

Problem disappeared for me after doing so.   Been too lazy to re-enable one by one to determine when/if the problem would return.

screen with the word "locking" in the middle appears for half a second and my laptop goes into sleep mode 

and then i have to turn it on again

Let's take a look at all places where Windows can suspend to try to find the culprit:

1. Check closely your Display, Sleep and Hibernate settings in Power Options following this guide:  https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2843-change-power-plan-settings-windows-10-a.html
2. Display timeout has been moved to Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional Power Settings, on active Power Plan choose Change Plan Settings then adjust Display timeout.

While there check also Advanced plan settings > Sleep > Allow Wake Timers > under Battery & Plug In options set to Enable, Apply, Save.

3. If your Power Options settings are set correctly then the next suspect is the screensaver which is mysteriously setting a 1 minute timeout to blank Screensaver when some Themes are chosen. Check that now at Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen > Screen Saver Settings.
4. This could also pertain to an issue of Unattended Sleep Timeout setting in Registry.  See the Marked Answer here for what has worked for others:  https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_10-windows\_install/windows-10-keeps-going-into-sleep-after-1-minute/787e8cea-32ce-4ea0-a281-13c32a75352d?auth=1

Whenever modifying the registry, first set a System Restore point:  http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/computing/how-to-fix-windows-10-problems-with-system-restore-11364008291943

5. If System Unattended Sleep timeout is not present here's now to access it:  https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/72133-add-system-unattended-sleep-timeout-power-options-windows.html
6. More troubleshooting when PC keeps shutting down: 

https://www.tenforums.com/general-support/66513-pc-keeps-shutting-down.html

https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000689.htm

https://superuser.com/questions/1019043/windows-10-sleeps-before-set-time

7. If you suspect overheating which can shut down the PC, then install CoreTemp to monitor temps from System Tray: 

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/core-temp-monitor-cpu-temperature

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2365089/computer-shutting-down-on-its-own-maybe-its-time-to-play-it-cool.html

8. Since sleep is overwhelmingly controlled by the Display driver, Update the Display driver from the PC or Display adapter maker's Support Downloads web page for your exact model number, HP Serial Number or Dell Service Tag - from the sticker on the PC. 

While there check also for newer chipset, BIOS/UEFI firmware (very important), network, sound, USB3 and other drivers, comparing to the ones presently installed in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start Menu.

if this doesn't give you the latest or ideal driver for what you need, compare it to the driver offered by the Intel driver update Utility here: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/detect.html

or the Nvidia Update utility here: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Scan.aspx?lang=en-us

or the AMD autodect utility here:  http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/auto\_detect.aspx

For Display issues one fix that is working is to Roll back or Uninstall the Driver on the Display Device > Driver tab, restart PC to reinstall driver.

You can also try older drivers in Device Manager > Display device > Driver tab > Update Driver > Browse > Let Me Pick.

Then you will know you've tried everything in addition to Windows Update drivers.

9. Check over these other working Sleep solutions which may also be involved:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/fix-windows-10-sleep-mode/

10. If this was caused by Windows Update(s) then you can check which were installed at Settings>Update & Security>Windows Update under Update History, then uninstall them from the link there, and immediately check for these again and hide with the Hide Updates tool explained here:  https://www.howtogeek.com/223864/how-to-uninstall-and-block-updates-and-drivers-on-windows-10/

You can also use System Restore to get before the problem began, then check for Updates with the Hide Update tool and hide them: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-system-restore-windows-10

11. If this was caused by a Version Update then for 10 days you can roll it back in Settings>Update & Security>Recovery and then hide it until it matures using the Hide Updates Tool which is explained more here:  

https://www.howtogeek.com/223864/how-to-uninstall-and-block-updates-and-drivers-on-windows-10/.

12. If no power setting is causing this then go over this checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, and any needed repairs get done:  http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows\_10-performance/windows-10-performance-and-install-integrity/75529fd4-fac7-4653-893a-dd8cd4b4db00

Start with Step 4 to turn off Startup freeloaders which can conflict and cause issues, then Step 7 to check for infection the most thorough way, then step 10 to check for damaged System Files, and also Step 16 to test a new Local Admin account.  Then continue with the other steps to go over your install most thoroughly.

13)  If nothing else works then do a Repair Install, by installing Media Creation Tool and then choosing to Upgrade Now.  This reinstalls Windows while keeping files, programs and most settings in place, and is also the most stable method to advance to the latest version.   http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install

If you want you can wait a few more days for the new version to be released into Media Creation Tool then you can use it to do the Repair Install also bringing you up to the latest version by the most stable method. Watch for the MCT to change the version listed at top here:  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install

I hope this helps.  Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes.  I will keep working with you until it's resolved. 

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