When I do not create a keyboard event (i.e. pressing or releasing a key) for more than 5 seconds, the numlock and other LEDs on my keyboard go off. When I'm holding a key for more than 5 seconds and the keyboard 'shuts down', I also hear the device disconnected sound in Windows 8.1.
I've never had this until I got this new keyboard, a "microsoft wired keyboard 200". My USB mouse still seems to work properly even when the keyboard shuts down.
It's really annoying because I can't hold any key (including Shift or Backspace) for more than a few seconds and I constantly see the LEDs flashing.
When I press or release a button, the keyboard will go on instantly again, but when it's done by releasing a key, the "release event" will not be sent to the PC, causing the key to be "stuck" while it actually isn't pressed. This is solved by pressing it again.
Does anyone know a solution for this problem?
Best Answer
Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers
Right click on your USB Keyboard, go to Properties, then the Hardware tab.
Highlight USB Input Device (this is the part that doesn't show up under Device Manager) and click on Properties. Click on Change settings.
Go to the Power Management tab and uncheck 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'
That should do it. The keyboard wont shut off after not using it, and it wont shut off from holding down a key for 5 seconds.
UPDATE: as it was asked in comments Fix: Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is greyed out
It clearly shows that you can’t adjust the mouse which is an external hardware device; to be turned off / on while not in use. So how to change this settings? Well, a registry manipulation will help you to fix this. This fix is applicable to the devices supporting Plug-n-Play (PnP) capabilities. Here is how:
DEVMGMT.MSC Fix: Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is greyed out
Cannot turn off Mouse 4 Fix: Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is greyed out
REGEDIT Fix: Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is greyed out
5) Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\Driver Key
Where you have to substitute Driver Key obtained in step 3.
Cannot turn off Mouse 6 Fix: Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is greyed out
Greyed Power Mgmt 2 Fix: Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is greyed out
That’s it!