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Possible Duplicate:
Disable power LED blinks during Vista hybrid sleep?

I have a laptop that when sleeping is perfectly quiet, which is great. What isn't so great is trying to sleep with led lights that get brighter and brighter, then dim, then get brighter... all to let me know the computer is sleeping.

Well I also want to get some sleep.

How do I make my computer play dead (Dark and silent)? Eg: appear hibernated, (no lights, no moving HDD...) without hibernating, or shutting down my PC.

It would be even better if I could have the status lights work normally between the hours of 8 AM to 8 PM but I don't expect such an elaborate solution.

I do however want the answer to only affect the computer's software, not the hardware. No cutting cables or masking tape...

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    @wizlog - I would be shocked if there were such a thing. The operating system doesn't control those lights period, let alone when the machine is in a low power state.
    – Shinrai
    Dec 9, 2011 at 20:46
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    @Shinrai What do you mean? Can you please cite something?
    – wizlog
    Dec 9, 2011 at 20:56
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    The real key takeaway is that when your computer is asleep, the operating system isn't responding to anything anyway. So there's nothing in the operating system that'll be able to do this.
    – Shinrai
    Dec 9, 2011 at 21:05
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    Since you don't want a hardware solution, and Windows is asleep, I don't see much you can do. Maybe you can reprogram the BIOS? But perhaps you can train yourself to sleep anyway? I have been sleeping for a number of years in various rooms with one and sometimes two computers, and other things with blinking lights, and even though I am a light sleeper I usually manage to sleep anyway. (And just wait until you get small children. Blinking lights? Ha!) Dec 10, 2011 at 9:44
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    @wizlog It's the same question because they're asking how to control the chassis LEDs from their OS while in a sleep state, just as you are. The answer is the same: you can't, because it's beyond the OS' control. Aside from the exact OS and exact choice of sleep state, how is your question different? Dec 12, 2011 at 5:18

4 Answers 4

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I found out that a piece of black electrical tape, taped over the LEDs strip on your laptop, dims the lights wonderfully. The lights are still visible through it, but they are way dimmer and much less irritating. You can buy such tape in the electrical section of a general hardware store (Home Depot, Ace, etc.) anywhere in the world.

As far as I know, there is no generic way to disable these lights or change the way they act through software. Your laptop may have a way to control it, but I highly doubt it. I owned several Sony Vaio laptops and they lacked such function.

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  • I did this, too. Very effective.
    – LarsTech
    Dec 10, 2011 at 3:26
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    If there is a way to control the light behavior when asleep, it would be in the BIOS. Dec 10, 2011 at 4:23
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    Question says "no masking tape". Top answer says "electrical tape". So - you think he's OK with tape on his laptop, just so long as it isn't masking tape? Seems unlikely to me.
    – user31438
    Dec 10, 2011 at 10:40
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    The original question didnt say no masking tape...
    – Mauro
    Dec 10, 2011 at 18:17
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    @Mauro - It was in the original question, according to the revision history. But I do agree that opaque tape is the most pragmatic solution.
    – Mark Booth
    Dec 10, 2011 at 21:55
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I recommend LightDims (not affiliated). They help me slumber deeply. They are fairly cheap and easy to peel off again. I have done some research on this a while ago and I was not able to come up with technical solution. My worries were with my modem. Before that I used a cardboard box, which is not practical for notebooks and such.

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Regardless what brand/model laptop you have, not sure there is an easy way to make the lights stop. But a simple way to solve the problem (light bothering you) is to put it in another room or in a drawer. Or maybe cover it with a box or towel.

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  • I can't really move my laptop (I have tons of cables going in and out, and strings tied to the screen...). I also try to keep my room looking clean, so... I don't think a towel wouldn't really work. Can you please find a way?
    – wizlog
    Dec 9, 2011 at 20:52
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    If you really want the possibility of an answer, you should edit your question to include the brand and model of laptop you have.
    – CharlieRB
    Dec 9, 2011 at 21:00
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    But I don't want the solution to only pertain to my specific make and model, then the question would be meaningless to anyone who has a different computer than me (aka everyone). All Sony F series laptops have the same lights in the same places. They all come with the exact same manual...
    – wizlog
    Dec 9, 2011 at 21:03
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Yeah, I've got a Sony. Dunno why they don't offer some configuration option to turn off the blasted "snoring" light that goes on and off, on and off, on and off.

What I do is place a few sheets of paper under the front of the keyboard, fold them over onto the keyboard, and shut the lid.

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