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Article ID: 188246 - Last Review: May 10, 2007 - Revision: 4.4

"Your computer cannot go on standby because a device driver or program won't allow it" error message when you try to put your Windows 98-based or Windows Millennium Edition-based computer in standby mode

This article was previously published under Q188246
If this article does not describe your hardware-related issue, please see the following Microsoft Web site to view more articles about hardware:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/w98?sid=460 (http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=http%3a%2f%2fsupport.microsoft.com%2fdefault.aspx%2fw98%3fsid%3d460)
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SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to put Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition (Me) in Standby mode, you may receive the following error message:
Your computer cannot go on standby because a device driver or program won't allow it. Close all programs and try again.

If you close all programs and attempt to put Windows 98/Me into Standby mode again, you receive the same error message.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if a program, driver, or hardware device is preventing Windows 98 from going into Standby mode. This is also referred to as a "veto" of the suspend command Windows 98/Me sends to the computer's BIOS.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, use the Power Management Trouble Shooter (Pmtshoot.exe) tool to determine which program, driver, or hardware device is preventing Windows 98 from going into Standby mode. For information about how to obtain and use the Pmtshoot.exe tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge base:
ARTICLE-ID: 185949  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/185949/EN-US/ )
TITLE : Description of the Power Management Trouble Shooter Tool


APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
Keywords: 
kbenv kbhardware kbpowerman kbprb KB188246

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