I am running Window XP. Standby mode has ALWAYS made my computer freeze - to the point where NOTHING works and i have to switch it off at the WALL. Therefore i never used it.

However, yesterdayand today every now and then, when i move the mouse, and the screen saver clears, i am left with the XP screen saying "preparing for standby mode" .

This is only happening on occasion and the rest of the time, the screen saver clears like normal and the screen goes back to whatever i was working on. I can not pinpoint that i'm doing anything different from when it's normal to when the "preparing for standby mode" screen appearsI can't tell you why it's happening, but I can tell you how to disable standby so you won't have the PROBLEM any more

Right-click on your desktop and choose Properties.
On the Screen Saver tab click the Power button.
Set the SYSTEM Standby option to Never.

I tend to prefer to prevent my computers from entering standby (even my laptop) because of issues similar to this in the past. I know there are known issues with standby with certain virus protection programs.

Hope this helps!thanks so so much! You've helped heaps. no problem