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Windows Power Settings for all GDS devices

Owned by Umberto Bombace (Deactivated)
Last updated: Aug 30, 2024 by Dan Zanet
3 min read

By default, Windows will make any computer, hard disk and USB port go to sleep after a certain set time in order to save power. This will affect both, the plugged equipment and long term tests that will need time to run. In order to avoid any problems, the following Windows settings need to be modified.

 

 

Power & Sleep settings

 

Start typing Power & Sleep settings in the Windows search bar and click on it.

 

 

 

Once the Power & Sleep window pops up, set everything to Never.

This will mean that your computer will stay on all the time and any tests running in GDSLab should not be affected.

 

 

 

After that, to the right of the existing window, click on “Additional power settings”.

 

 

 

If available, select the “High Performance” plan. Otherwise, use the current one as it can be modified.

Under the selected power scheme click on Change Plan Settings.

 

 

 

Then click on Advanced Power Settings

 

  1. Go to Hard disk → Turn off hard disk after → Set to 0/Never.

  2. Go to USB Settings → USB selective suspend setting → Set to Disabled.

  3. Go to PCI Express → Link State Power Management → Set to Off.

 

 

 

Turning off the USB power saving option in Device Manager

 

Open Windows Device Manager by pressing the Windows key on the keyboard or bottom-left corner Windows icon and type Device Manager.

 

 

Double-click on Universal Serial BUS controller → USB Root Hub (USB 3.0).

 

 

 

Open the Power Management tab and untick the option Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

 

This setting needs to be applied to all of the following:

  • “Generic USB Hub”

  • “USB Root Hub”

  • “USB Root Hub (USB 3.0)”

 

Advanced Port Settings

Connect your equipment to the computer via the USB ports.

 

Open Windows Device Manager by pressing the Windows key on the keyboard or the bottom-left corner Windows icon and type Device Manager.

 

 

Go to Ports → USB Serial Port (COM X); X= any available port.

 

Then go to Ports Settings => Advanced. Make sure the settings on the right side of the picture match your computer settings.


Repeat the same procedure for the all “USB Serial Port” in your list.

 

 

 

Once in a while, it's important to check the above settings as Windows may revert them back to default (this typically occurs during major updates).