Save power on your T60 and older ones

[AssPenny]

Here is a temp fix from MS about the power drain issue with Core Duo notebooks and possible other older designs.

CAUSE

Windows XP SP2 installs a USB 2.0 driver that initializes any connected USB device. However, the USB 2.0 driver leaves the asynchronous scheduler component continuously running. This problem causes continuous instances of memory access that prevent the computer from entering the deeper Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) processor idle sleep states. These processor idle sleep states are also known as C states. For example, these include the C3 and C4 states. These sleep states are designed, in part, to save battery power. If an otherwise idle portable computer cannot enter or maintain the processor idle sleep states, the computer uses its battery power more quickly than you expect.

RESOLUTION

Warning: Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk. To resolve this problem, add the EnIdleEndpointSupport entry to the USB registry key. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate, and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\USB

Note: If the USB subkey does not exist, create it. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Select the Services key. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.
b. Type USB in the New Key #1 box to name the new key "USB."

3. Right-click USB, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
4. In the New Value #1 box that appears, type EnIdleEndpointSupport, and then press ENTER.
5. Right-click EnIdleEndpointSupport, and then click Modify.
6. In the Value data box, type 1, leave the Hexadecimal option selected, and then click OK.
7. Quit Registry Editor.

[hoya]

has anyone tried this?

I use a GPS receiver on my T43 (via USB) so this is one issue that definitely affects me, though I am disinclined to destabilize my system at this point.

[donking!]

The latest news on this topic:

http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/02/14/micro ... drain_bug/

Microsoft is coming out with a patch, including a BIOS update, to deal with this problem.

Also, it does appear this is a problem not just with the core duo platform, but with older one's as well.

http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.aspx?i=2693

[wpwood3]

Is there any update on this issue?

I thought Microsoft was going to issue a patch that solved this issue since the registry hack is really a stopgap fix. There is still a problem if you suspend or hibernate.

The KB article posted by AssPenny above appeared in AnandTech and Slashdot as well as Tom's Hardware Guide.

It's odd but, Microsoft still has not made this registry fix public ( kb-899179 ). I assume it's because they are still working on a patch that is easier to implement and resolves the suspend/hibernate issue. I don't know if there are any evil side effects that are causing the delay in making a fix public.

Have any of you new T60 owners implemented this registry hack?

[ericssonboi]

In the original instructions should be..

how to BACK UP YOUR REGISTRY