Sony VAIO - Hibernation Keeps Happening Issue

I have had my Sony VAIO SZ340P with Windows XP SP2 for almost a year. (Since May of 2007). The only issue I have had with it is what seemed to be random re-hibernation after coming out of hibernation.

Problem Details
1. Hibernate laptop by button or closing the lid.
2. Transport laptop
3. Un-hibernate laptop
4. Screen comes up for a few seconds then automatically goes into hibernation again.

For months I thought it was related to hibernation or starting back up with various conditions; was it plugged in when hibernating, was it running just on battery when starting back up, if I hibernated by closing the lid. It was really annoying and couldn't pin point it.

I scoured the Internet and didn't find anything on it. Finally I fixed it and I thought it was worthy of posting about it so maybe it would help someone else if they googled it.


Solution
1. Go to "Power Options" under Control Panel
2. Go to the "Advanced" tab
3. Under the "When I close the lid of my portable computer:" select "Do nothing"


My assumption is that somehow the event of closing the lid gets triggered even if the computer is already hibernated or is hibernating or is coming out of hibernation... and once it comes back up, it sees the trigger and back into hibernation it goes. It has never looped, it was always just one or zero time. It probably has not affected anyone but me, but I hope it helps someone!

Multi Monitor and Computer with Synergy

I've been a long time advocate of dual monitor setups. It started at my last job where all developers we given premium setups with dual monitors. This was all 6 years ago so it was quite an investment in the development staff. After a day at work with that productive setup I had to go home to a single monitor... OMG it was the worst thing ever.

It was not long before I had it setup at home. The advantages of a dual monitor setup has been widely documented, but what I have recently graduated to is 3 monitors on 2 computers. YES you heard that right 3 monitors on 2 computers.

There is one keyboard and one mouse for these two computers. No KVM, no switch, no Raritan. It is all possible with Synergy, and I don't mean something Steve Jobs says. Synergy allows you to use a single keyboard and mouse across multiple computers... all over IP.

Here's my basic setup:

1. Sony Vaio Laptop (Main Computer) - All tools, portable to work at random coffee shops, hooks up to 22" wide screen when at home, Synergy Client

2. Old Desktop (Secondary Computer) - Some tools, runs VMs, stays at home, connected to dyndns, main keyboard and mouse, one 19" LCD, Synergy Server

With the hook up to Synergy, I don't even have to use the laptop keyboard or even hook up a keyboard or mouse to it... all happens magically over Synergy. I make use of this setup by separating long term work functions and distraction prone functions. I provide a little more detail in my last post.

Unplugged Experiment Part 2 - Transformed to Distraction Separation

About a month ago I had an Internet outage that forced me to change usage patterns. It also gave birth to an "Unplugged Experiment".

In the first week I did disconnect for the 1/4 of the day like I said I would, but then I changed it to having email and chat on a separate computer and heads down type of work happened on another. I know that is not exactly the same, but what did happen was a clear separation of what I considered "work" and "distraction".

The separation allowed me to not have pop up messages, sounds and flashing windows in my my working console. I believe most people can accomplish the same thing with a multiple monitor setup, but I've used a dual monitor setup for so long that I am using both monitors pretty actively.

The second computer uses its own monitor, the sound is not hooked up to the main speakers... basically a little more separated. (I will be following up with a post about my multi-computer and multi-monitor setup that I believe helps my productivity.) Everything that has a tendency to be more of a distraction is on the secondary setup. Email, chat, RSS feeds, site stats and the majority of web browsing.

This allows me to have development tools, PowerPoint, Word, image editing and anything else that requires more long term focus on my main setup. So not totally unplugged, but separated enough to be effective.