Windows locking into sleep mode

Trevor -

Unplug power and remove battery, press and hold power button for 30 seconds to release all power from circuitry, plug back in and power up to see if any change.

I will give you steps and tools needed to access the Repair Mode to try all repairs to get Windows started, and if not to do the automated Reset or the superior Clean Install after rescuing your files. I will be standing by to help as needed and will not let you fail.

1. Use whichever method works in this link to access Advanced Startup Options: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanced-startup-options-boot-windows-10-a.html. Easiest may be to force shut down the PC (by holding in the power button) three separate times to trigger the Startup Options. If one of these methods work, then go to Step 3.
2. If none of the other methods work it may be necessary to Create Windows 10 Installation Media on another PC following the steps in the middle of the downloads page here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install Make sure to uncheck the box for Recommended Settings to choose only the licensed version.

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutorials/23010-bios-boot-menu-f-keys-hotkeys-system-manufacturer-oem.html

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, then on second screen choose Repair Your Computer. If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first. There is always a way to get the media booted and I will guide you until it does, even if necessary to reset the BIOS to defaults via several methods.

3. In the Advanced Troubleshooting options try to System Restore to a point before the problems began, try the new Uninstall Updates button, then Startup Repair, then if necessary from Startup Settings try to get into Safe Mode with Networking, or lastly Safe Mode.

If Startup Settings aren't available you can force Safe Mode from the Command Prompt following Step 5 here: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10, or using the command to unhide F8 Advanced Boot Options here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/22455-enable-disable-f8-advanced-boot-options-windows-10-a.html where you can also try the old reliable Last Known Good Configuration.

4. From Safe Mode w/Networking work through the Windows 10 Install Integrity 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.

More on how to diagnose in Safe Mode:

https://www.pcmag.com/news/354269/how-to-use-safe-mode-to-diagnose-a-pc-problem

Update your drivers from the PC's Support Downloads web page. Compare the latest drivers with the ones presently installed in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start Menu. Make sure you have the latest BIOS, Chipset, Display (Video), Sound, USB3, Bluetooth, Network and all other drivers, or else download and install the latest now.

5. If Safe Mode doesn’t work or help stabilize things then return to Advanced Troubleshoot options. Next try Command Prompt to run System File Checker to find and fix broken system files: https://www.wintips.org/how-to-run-sfc-offline-system-file-checker-tool/, a full Disk Check: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/check-hard-drive-fix-failures-windows-10/, run the Bootrec and BCD repair commands as well as other fixes from Troubleshooting Windows 10 Failure to Start: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows\_10-performance/troubleshooting-windows-8-and-10-failure-to-start/bcf8503c-1b39-4827-9734-a64fef725d0f?tm=1461970966687
6. If none of the repairs work return to Troubleshoot options to Reset Your Windows 10 PC.
7. Better yet use the same booted media to do the vastly superior Clean Install following the gold standard Clean Install in this link which compiles the best possible Install of Windows which will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given, has zero reported problems, and is better than any amount of money could buy: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows\_10-windows\_install/clean-reinstall-windows-10-upgradefactory-oem/1c426bdf-79b1-4d42-be93-17378d93e587
8. There is a step to Rescue Files from the booted media or Repair Mode Command Prompt first: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows\_10-update/rescue-files-when-windows-wont-start/862c143f-9239-4e63-8968-635e8ba9efd6
9. To test hardware, Dell and HP have onboard diagnostics triggered by powering up and pressing the F12 and ESC key respectively.
10. Test the RAM overnight to stress it with the best bootable test memtest86, following these steps which test both the sticks and the slots:

https://www.wikihow.com/Test-PC-RAM-with-MemTest86

11. Test the hard drive with diagnostics:

https://www.lifewire.com/free-hard-drive-testing-programs-2626183

Best is to use the manufacturer's own if there is one, otherwise use Seatools bootable long test: http://blog.nowherelan.com/2013/04/04/boot-seatools-off-of-a-usb-drive/

12. Follow this up with a full Disk Check: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/check-hard-drive-fix-failures-windows-10/
13. If it doesn't pass both tests then replace the hard drive with an SSD which is the best upgrade you can give the PC, better than a new higher end PC without one, especially if you do the Clean Install from Step 6. It's easy to find a video online that shows how to swap in the SSD for your model PC.
14. Stress test the rest of the hardware:

https://techguided.com/best-tools-to-stress-test-p-cpu-ram-gpu/

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/how-to-stress-test-graphics-cards,5449.html

https://appuals.com/how-to-run-a-cpu-stress-test-using-prime95/

I hope this helps.

Hi all, 

I hope everyone read this reply,

1. I too have a new hp laptop and it also started when i updated windows and bios, my laptop is nearly a month old, specs are ryzen 7 3750h gtx 1660ti.
2. tried all the solutions but none of them worked for me, contacted hp support they told me to do a factory reset using their cloud restore, did that but got stucked with another error leading to no os installed in the drive, went to service center, the guy there installed windows 10 1803, 
3. now the problem is still there but the locking comes only once! when i press the power button after locking screen, the game resumes from that point and the laptop doesnot goes to locking again, 
4. i think this proves that the hardware is fine and this is a software issue indeed, i just wish they could provide the previous bios version ASAP.
5. if someone could do the same as i did and report back then it would be helpful for the others too.

If you want to report this to Microsoft use the Feedback Hub app in Start Menu where developers are tasked to process consumer feedback. They will not even see it here. This is a tech forums staffed mostly by volunteers trying to help others with your problems.

If you want to post back a Share link from your Feedback here others who see this thread can vote it up and add to it. 

 I do not work for Microsoft but am a user like yourself trying to help others here.  But there's only so much I can do, and as you can see we have tried everything under the sun (and moon) to fix a PC Locking like that. 

Has anyone here done the Clean Install following the illustrated steps in this link which include everything that works best in Windows 10:  http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows\_10-windows\_install/clean-reinstall-windows-10-upgradefactory-oem/1c426bdf-79b1-4d42-be93-17378d93e587 ?

The reason I suggest this is that no one who has adopted the install in the above link has ever come back to report further problems I've seen, including another version failure. This is because everything in Windows 10 is dependent upon the quality of the install, especially Version Updates which will choke on lesser quality installs.

It is also one of life's great learning experiences that will permanently make you the master of your PC because you will learn everything that works best and how to keep it that way. 

As long as people are polite and trying to help others here then I will keep the thread open.

The battery has been identified as the culprit in several of these cases. On my HP I found that one of the two battery hold in tabs was in the off position allowing the battery to be loosely connected. The power cord often wiggles out partially from moving the laptop around and intermittently disconnects. I pushed in the battery and set the lock tab. I'll have to see if this fixes the problem. I'm pretty sure it will.